Scholarships in India EduDiary

OVERSEAS RESEARCH STUDENTS AWARDS SCHEME (ORSAS)

Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme is funded by the Department for Education and Skills (earlier known as Department for Education and Employment)

These grants are for postgraduate students undertaking full-time study for a higher degree as registered research students at UK universities. Selection of candidates is based solely on academic merit and research potential. Awards meet the difference between the UK and overseas level of tuition fees only, and do not cover maintenance costs. They are initially made for one year but can be continued for a second or third year, subject to the satisfactory progress of the award-holder.

The scheme, which is administered by the Universities UK (earlier known as the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals or CVCP), supports approximately 800-850 new awards each year in the UK.

Application forms should be obtained from the registrar or secretary of the institution at which the student is enrolled (or which has given provisional acceptance). Applications for an ORS award must be submitted, again through the university itself, usually by the end of the April preceding the year of entry. General information only can be obtained from the Secretary, ORS Office, Universities UK, Woburn House, 20 Tavistock Square, London WC1 H 9HQ. A list of academic institutions where the awards are tenable is available from the ORS Office or can be checked on the ORS website. You may contact the British higher education institution which has accepted you, or provisionally accepted you, for your course, or the ORSAS office at the Universities UK.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the British Chevening Scholarship Programme in India is to offer an opportunity to deserving Indian students and professionals, who wish to study or train in the UK, to achieve their goals by providing financial assistance. The objective is to encourage young and dynamic Indian students and professionals to study in the UK and then return to India to contribute to ongoing and future work in the relevant discipline.

Programmes
Scheme A - Long-term (Open) Scholarships

These scholarships are applicable for a one-year postgraduate (Master’s) study at any UK university. These are fully funded by the FCO. Last Date: November.

Scheme B - Short-term (Professional) Scholarships
These scholarships are for working professionals to attend tailor-made courses of up to three months at identified UK institutions. These courses are tailor-made for the targeted professional groups such as journalists, lawyers, corporate managers etc. in public, private and non-government sectors. Last Date: November.

Scheme C - Long-term (Shared or Joint) Scholarships
These scholarships are applicable for a one-year postgraduate study (Master’s) at specific UK universities. These scholarships are funded by the FCO and one or two co-sponsor(s). The FCO’s co-sponsors include UK universities, British and foreign companies (including AXA and Prudential), foundations and trusts, and other institutions. Last Date: March.

Number of scholarships: Over 120 awards annually comprising of about 60 long-term scholarships for academic courses and about 60 short-term scholarships for courses tailor - made for targeted professional groups.

Value: Chevening scholarships cover the tuition fee (up to a maximum of £ 12,000) and the living expenses for the scholar for the duration of the award, which normally varies from 4 weeks to 12 months. International airfares are normally not covered. (For courses with tuition fee of over £ 12,000 the excess amount should be borne by the candidates.)

General eligibility
Indian nationals residing in India of outstanding academic ability with a good first degree. Candidates are normally under 35 years of age. You are eligible for a British Chevening Scholarship under the India programme, if you are:

• an Indian national with a valid Indian passport

• resident in India at the time of application

• under 35 years of age at the time of application for most of the scholarship programmes except for specified ones. You may check age limits for each programme before applying.

• of outstanding academic ability with a good (as minimum of upper second class, preferably a first class) first degree (Bachelor’s) or equivalent from a recognised Indian university.

• normally interested in pursuing a course of not more than 12 months duration in the UK

Note: Any Master’s course of more than 12 months duration is generally not eligible. PhD and other research courses are NOT eligible.

• fluent in spoken and written English.

Note: If English is neither your first language nor tlie medium of academic instruction, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in the language e.g. a satisfactory score in IELTS or similar international English language proficiency tests. A list of acceptable tests can be obtained directly from the UK institutions you are applying to.

Important Note: As Chevening awards are highly competitive, preference is given to those applicants who have some work experience and hold a postgraduate qualification accepted as sufficient for the career he/she is following. However, this should not discourage outstanding candidates without any work experience or a postgraduate qualification from applying.

All Chevening applicants, irrespective of the scheme and programme they are applying for, Must meet the general eligibility outlined above. In addition to the general eligibility, applicants are strictly advised to check the additional eligibility criteria for the specific programme(s) before applying.

Who is NOT eligible?

You are not eligible to apply for a British Chevening Scholarship
under the India Programme, if you:

• have already started a course of study in the UK at the time of application

• have received funding for a study programme from the UK government in the past

• are in the final year of graduation not having completed your first degree at the time of application.

Note: The only exception to this clause is programme CO1 - Indian Friends of London School of Economics Shared Scholarship, where students in their final year of graduation are eligible to apply.

Subjects
Any subject (except medicine and related subjects like pharmacy and physiotherapy). There are a number of programmes available and an attempt is made to represent all subjects in one or the other programme(s). Some programmes offer scholarships for specific subjects and/ or specific courses. The candidates need to check the applicable subjects and courses under each of these programmes before applying.

Levels and duration of award
Master’s such as MA, MSc, MBA, MPhil, LLM of up to 12 months duration

Short Courses of up to 3 months duration. Any master’s course of more than 12 months duration is generally not eligible. PhD and other research courses are NOT eligible.

Universities: Any UK university. There are a number of programmes available. The programmes under Scheme A give a wider choice to the candidates to apply to any UK university of their choice. And, the programmes under Scheme B and C offer scholarships for specific universities. The candidates need to check the applicable universities under each of these programmes in this prospectus before applying.

Application: Prospectus and application forms are available from August at the British Council offices in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi and the British Libraries in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Pune and Trtiruvananthapuram. They can also be downloaded from the. Applications should reach your nearest British Council office in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai or New Delhi by the stipulated deadline. Applicants for Scheme A and C are advised to apply to the universities before making their scholarship application.

Selection: Candidates for the Chevening programme are selected through a process of shorthsting from the applications received by the British Council, followed by personal interviews, which are generally held in New Delhi. Subsequent to the interviews the selection committee identifies the required number of candidates for the awards. The decision of the selection committee is final.

Chevening in India

The India programme began in 1987 and has supported over 1600 Indians to date. It is now the FCO’s second largest scholarship programme globally with an annual budget of over $1.5 million, supporting over 120 scholarships every year. These comprise a range of short-term tailor-made professional courses and long-term taught academic courses tenable at various higher education institutions in the UK.

WORLD BANK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE ROBERT S MCNAMARA

offers Economic Development one year to postgraduates in the subject less than 35 years. Further details can be had from Robert S McNamara Fellowships Program, Room M4010, World Bank Headquarters 1818 H Street, NW, Washington DC 20433

UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA, HOBART,
P.O. Box 252-51, Hobart, Tasmania 7001,

offers Graduate Research Scholarships for a wide range of disciplines to those who have done Honours at a high standard.

Value: Stipend equal to that for the Australian Postfraduate Award + relocation allowance.
Last date: October.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA,
offers Postgraduate Research Awards to students selected for OPRS award.

Value: $15637. Further details can be had from Scholarship Officer, Research Officer, University of South Australia, The Levels, Sa 5095. Last date: 31st October.

MACQUAIE UNIVERSITY,
International office, North Ryde, N.S.W. 2109

offers International Macquarie University Research Scholarship to Exceptional undergraduate and postgraduate course work students based on Equity and Merit across all disciplines.

Value: International tuition fee waivers. Last date: April.

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY,
Plenty Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083,

offers Research Scholarships to Master’s degree holders or those who have completed an Honours Bachelor degree at a very high level of achievement. Last date: September.

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY,
Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland 4111

offers Postgraduate Research Scholarships in the specified areas to honours degree holders from a recognized tertiary institution, or equivalent. Duration: For M. Phil.: 24 months, for Ph.D.: 36 months, renewable for 6 months under exceptional circumstances.

Value: Living allowance and thesis allowance, partial reimbursement of travel costs.
When and whom to contact: Applications are to be sent by 31st October, to the Postgraduate Scholarships Officer at the above address.

AUSTRALIAN AGENCY FOR OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
(AUSAID), G.P.O. Box 887, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601,

offers (a) Australian Development Co-operation Scholarships (formerly John Crawford Scholarship Scheme-JCSS); (b) Australian Sponsored Training Scholarships (formerly Sponsored Student Programme-STP); (c) Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP). Subj ects for study include a wide variety corresponding to needs of developing countries.

Value: Varies between countries and institution of enrolment; covers annual tuition fees, an annual stipend (tax exempt) and return airfare. Further details can be had from the Australian Diplomatic Mission in the respective countries.

UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE,
Adelaide 5005,

offers University of Adelaide Scholarships and Overseas Postgraduate Research Scholarships.

Value: Current stipend of university scholarship with other allowances as appropriate. Further details can be had from the Director of International Programs.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY:
Australian National University, University of Canberra.

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS)

Since 1997 Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) have replaced most scholarships previously offered by the Australian Agency for International Development (AAID), including ASTAS and ADCOS. These scholarships are offered only to persons from certain developing countries with the aim that the awardees will use the knowledge acquired and skills learned in Australia for the development of their own country. These are awarded to candidates who are nominated by the home government and under the open category to applications who need not be nominated. Selection criteria for these scholarships varies for which information is available from the Australian High Commission, New Delhi. Applicants in each category are chosen on academic merit and meeting selection criteria developed jointly by AusAID and the Indian Government. Half the scholarships are awarded to men and the other half reserved for women.

ADS facilities are offered by all the universities in Australia to students pursuing a technical, language, graduate or postgraduate courses. These include Technical Training Institutions, covering tuition fees, air fare, health insurance and maintenance allowance.

How to apply: Your first step should be to make enquiries with your country’s nominating authority. Australian Education Centres and Australian Diplomatic Missions can provide you with its name and address. If you appear to be eligible, you should submit a nomination form to the authority through your employer.

Scholarships offered by universities/other agencies for graduate and postgraduate studies

Besides the above mentioned scholarships, some of the Australian universities offer scholarships for postgraduate studies. Some of these are given below. (For latest details about tJiese scholarships you may contact the concerned universities/agencies).

SPANISH GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS
Doctoral Scholarships of one year duration are offered to Italian nationals residing in India.

Field of Study: Spanish Language (Spanish Language and other subjects notifies from year to year).

Eligibility: Master’s degree with 60% marks-in the subject with a fair knowledge of Spanish language. 2 years teaching/practical training/ research experience after obtaining the prescribed qualification. 3 years consecutive stay in India after return from abroad for study/ training. Adequate knowledge of geography, culture, heritage of India and Spain. Age: 33 year (35 years for SC/ST).

Value: 85,000 Pesetas p.m. Passage Cost: From India to Spain and back are borne by the candidate/Cost sponsors/employer; it may be met by Govt of India under special circumstances subject to availability of funds. Typed application (uv prescribed format) with attested copies of testimonials, PO, Photograph, Programme of Study/Research and other documents may be submitted on plain paper. Employed persons are expected to send their applications through employer. Advance application may be considered if the original is subsequently received through the employer within two weeks. Notification: March/May.

ROMANIA GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Two Scholarships are offered to Indian Nationals residing in India for Study/Research leading to Ph.D. in following subjects:

(i) Finance and Bank Business

(ii) Management.

Eligibility: Uniformly good academic record with at least 60% marks at Master’s degree level in the concerned subject of study. At least two years teaching/research/practical experience in the subject fields selected, after the prescribed qualifications. Successful completion of M.Phil, will be counted towards one year’s experience.

Age: Not exceeding 35 years as on the specified date.

Value: 10,120.00 Lei per month. This allowance will cover all expenses.

Passage Cost: Travel expenses from India to Romania and back are borne by the candidate/or his/her sponsors/employers. Subject to availability of funds, the passage cost may be met by the Government of India, provides the candidate is eligible under the rules.

Last date: December.

PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Field of Study:

A. One Scholarship of a months’ duration for postgraduate studies/ research in the field of education.

B. Two Research scholarships for research work in the subject of Portuguese language and culture for a period not exceeding twelve months each.

Eligibility: Applicants should possess Masters degree in the concerned subject. Only the candidates who have secured ad missions /acceptance in a Portuguese Institute/University may apply. Scholarships are meant for post graduate, University teachers who know Portuguese and with to undertake research’in Portuguese language and culture.

Age: Applicants should not be more than 45 years of age.

Value: The Government of Portugal will pay an amount of 500 (equivalent to INR 21,000) per month.