OSI/FCO Chevening/University of York Scholarships

The deadline for scholarship applications for the 2009-10 academic year has passed. Please check back again in fall 2009 for a new call for applications for the 2010-11 academic year.

The OSI FCO Chevening University of York Awards aim to provide opportunities for independent postgraduate study in the United Kingdom for individuals who have demonstrated academic and/or professional excellence and the potential to become leaders, decision-makers and opinion formers in their own country. Subject to satisfactory progress, the scholarships lead to a Master of Arts award.

The scholarships will enable suitably qualified individuals and/or young professionals to pursue the following taught postgraduate program at the university: MA Post-War Recovery Studies.

Each award will provide for payment of academic tuition fees, examination fees, a monthly stipend for living expenses sufficient for a single individual, and other agreed allowances including one return economy airfare.

Eligibility

The scholarships are open to applicants from Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Applicants must:

be nationals of, and normally resident in one of the selected countries 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;
already hold (or expect to hold by the time of taking up the award) a degree equivalent to an upper second from a UK university or have a proven record of exceptional professional experience;
have passed an appropriate English language test by the time of taking up the award;
not already have received or be currently receiving financial benefit from a previous HMG Funded Scholarship
have a dedication to return to their home country at the end of their scholarship period to continue their studies/ work there.

A preference will go towards applicants who have not previously studied outside of their home country.

Employees directly involved with the administration of the scheme and the relatives of such employees (or former employees who have left employment less than 2 years before) of FCO (including FCO Posts), the British Council, the Educational Advising Centers or other Soros entities in the region and the participating Universities will not be eligible to apply for these awards.

Application Procedure

Applicants should complete the University's application form, www.york.ac.uk/admin/gso/gsp/apply/forms.htm, and, along with the required supporting documents, return three copies of it to the relevant local office (see details below). Copies of the Guidance Notes and Application and Reference Forms are also available in paper format.

Deadline

Please note that completed application forms, together with all other necessary documents, must be returned to local representative by January 30, 2009.

Selection Procedure

All applications will be sent by the British Council in Afghanistan or the OSI Assistance Foundation—Tajikistan to the University of York. Applications will be considered by selectors for the program at the University who will prepare a short-list of applicants who will be invited for interview.

Applications will be considered by selectors for the program at the University who will prepare a short-list of applicants to be invited for interview. By mid April 2009, applicants will be informed as to whether they have been invited for interview and English language tests. It is expected that these will take place in mid-late April 2009.

The final decisions as to which applicants will be offered scholarships will not be made at the time of the interviews.

These decisions will be made later by the University of York (in conjunction with OSF-London and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office). It is hoped to inform all applicants by early June 2009 as to whether they have been successful or not.

Find Out More About the University of York

Visit the University's Home Page: www.york.ac.uk and the Post-War Reconstruction and Development Unit's Home Page: www.york.ac.uk/depts/poli/prdu/

For queries about the Guidance Notes contact one of the following:

the British Council in Kabul;
the OSI Assistance Foundation - Tajikistan; or
Emese Kovacs
UK Program Coordinator
Open Society Foundation
5th Floor, Cambridge House
100 Cambridge Grove,
London W6 0LE,
United Kingdom
Tel: (+44-207) 031 0225
Fax: (+44-207) 031 0201
Email: emese.kovacs@osf-eu.org

If you have any academic questions, please direct these to:

Dr. Alp Ozerdem
Convenor of the Programme
Department of Politics
University of York
Heslington
York YO10 5DD
United Kingdom
ao102@york.ac.uk

Contact Details

British Council Afghanistan
House No.15-17, Behind Nadirya High School
Kart-i-Parwan, Kabul
Afghanistan
Tel/Fax: (+93) (0) 79 0000 124
Contact person: Mr. Mahboob Rahman Abbasi: mahboobrahman.abbasi@britishcouncil.org

Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation-Tajikistan
Trade and Business Center "VEFA"
37/1 Bokhtar street, 4th floor, room #404
734002, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Tel: (+992 47) 441-07-45,441-07-46, 441-07-47,441-07-48.
Fax: (+992 47) 441-07-29
Contact person:
Gulnora Choukourbekova: gulnora@osi.tajik.net