OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Warwick Scholarships

Note: The 2008 application deadline has passed. Please check back in late 2008 for information on the next call for applications.

The scholarships, which are offered for a period of twelve months, are designed to enable scholars to pursue a taught postgraduate course at the University of Warwick.

Each scholarship provides twelve months’ tuition fees at the University of Warwick, a stipend to cover living costs (for one person only), and return air travel from the scholar’s home country. On completion of the scholarship, scholars will return to their home countries.

Eligible Countries

Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Mongolia.

Eligible Subjects

Scholarships are available from 29 September 2008 in the faculties of arts, sciences, and social studies. The funding does not cover MBA, MPA, all Medical School courses, diploma, certificate or research courses, the 2-year MA in Social Work or part-time courses.

Criteria

Applicants will normally be expected to:

wish to study full-time at the University of Warwick for a one-year master's degree;
be nationals of, and normally resident in, the selected country during the academic year in which they apply for the award; applicants who are temporarily out of the country (for a total period of less than three consecutive months) may be treated as being resident;
have completed an undergraduate degree or been awarded an equivalent qualification by 28 September 2008;
be proficient in the English language, both spoken and written. The University would expect candidates to have normally achieved at the time of taking up the award a score of TOEFL 600 (Paper based), TOEFL 250 (Computer based), TOEFL Internet based 92) or IELTS 6.5;
have not already been awarded a university doctorate from another academic institution;
have not already received or be currently receiving financial benefit from a previous HMG-funded scholarship (British Government);
not be employees, employees� relatives (of former employees who have left employment less than two years before) of FCO (including FCO posts), the British Council, the Educational Advising Centers or other OSI-NSP representations in the region and the participating universities.

Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously studied outside of their home country.

Application Process & Deadline

Only the application forms provided by Soros foundations or Soros Educational Advising Centers should be used. These forms are deliberately different from the university's standard forms so that the University of Warwick can easily recognize them as part of a competition application. If applicants use standard forms provided by the University, there is a risk they could be treated as a normal application.

The completed forms and other documents must be returned to the local Soros Foundation or Educational Advising Center at the addresses below by 7 February 2008 at the latest. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

A completed application must include:

(a) Two copies of the completed application form.
(b) Two referees' reports in signed and sealed envelopes.
(c) Transcripts of undergraduate and any postgraduate study. If the Transcript is not in English you must provide a translation bearing an official stamp. Applicants may not translate transcripts themselves.
(d) Applicants for courses in the English Department should include two pieces of written work on a literary topic previously submitted as part of your Undergraduate degree.

Only complete applications will be considered.

Candidates may apply for only one course of study at the University of Warwick.

Selection Procedure

The local Soros Educational Advising Center or Soros foundation will forward the applications to the University of Warwick. Academic staff at the university will compile a short-list.
Short-listed applicants will be invited for an interview and an English language test in their home country in April 2007. Candidates should be available for the interview at any point during this period of time. The local EAC or foundation will inform candidates in early April whether they have been short-listed or not.
Interviews will be carried out by representatives of OSI, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the University of Warwick.
The final awards will be decided jointly by the University, the FCO, and OSI. Candidates will be informed in mid-June. Certain candidates may be offered reserve places for scholarships which means that there is a possibility that they will be given a scholarship, if one of the successful candidates withdraws from the program. The scholarship period begins in late September 2008.

Additional Information

Applicants can read the university's Graduate Admissions Prospectus, a copy of which they can find at the local Soros Educational Advising Center or Soros foundation. Applicants will not, however, be able to take this copy home.

Visit the university's postgraduate homepage, www.warwick.ac.uk/study/postgraduate, for further information.

Contact Information

Applicants are urged to make use of all written documentation available, including the university's Graduate Prospectus and the guidance notes included with the university's application form. Any queries about these guidance notes should be directed to either:

The relevant local Soros Educational Advising Center or Soros foundation; or
Margareta Mamaliga, UK Programs Coordinator, Network Scholarship Programs, Open Society Foundation via fax: +44 20 7031 0201 or email: Margareta.Mamaliga@osf-eu.org.

Academic questions should be directed to the appropriate department at the University of Warwick (listed in the Graduate Prospectus).

Belarus

Svetlana Kashkan, nsp@amcenter.by
American Center for Education and Research
Educational Information Center
Prospect Nezavisimosty 169
Business Center XXI Vek
South Wing, 5th Floor
Room 512
Minsk, 220114
Belarus
Tel. (+375 172) 28 7264
Fax (+375 172) 28 7267

Georgia

Natia Nanava, natia@osgf.ge
Centre for International Education
Open Society Georgia Foundation
10, Chovelidze Street
0108 Tbilisi
Georgia
Tel : (+995 32)252615, 250463
Fax (+995 32) 252615

Kazakhstan

Larissa Gorbunova, lgorbunova@bilim.kz
Educational Development Center
"BILIM-Central Asia"
31, Tulebayeva St, First floor, Almaty City
050004 Kazakhstan
Tel. +7 727 2597620 (22)
Fax +7 727 2597622

Moldova

Angela Muset, amuset@eac.md
Educational Advising Center
148 Stefan cel Mare bd, of.22
Chisinau, Moldova, MD 2012
Tel (+373 22) 221172, 221167
Fax (+373 22) 221167

Mongolia

Sayamaa Dangaasuren, sayamaa@earcmn.org, info@earcmn.org
Educational Advising and Resource Center
Sukhbaatar District, Khoroo 8, Khoroolol 11,
Students Street, MKM Building 24, 1st Floor
Ulaanbaatar 210648, Mongolia
Tel.: (976 11) 31 90 16
Fax: (976 11) 32 69 41