Open Society Foundations / Durham University Scholarships 2012-13, UK

Description
The scholarships aim to provide opportunities for independent postgraduate study in the United Kingdom for students who have demonstrated both academic excellence and the potential to become leaders, decision-makers and opinion formers in their own country. Upon completion of their studies in the UK, scholars are expected to return to their home country to resume their studies or work there. Subject to satisfactory progress, the scholarships lead to the award of a Masters degree.
Scholarships are available for the following master courses:

• MSc in Risk and Environmental Hazards
• MA in Risk and Security
• MA in Risk, Health and Public Policy

Eligibility
The scholarships are open to applicants from Afghanistan, Indonesia, Nepal and Palestine (Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel are also eligible to apply). Applicants must:

• 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;
• display intellectual ability and leadership potential;
• already hold (or expect to hold by the time of taking up the award) a first degree of an equivalent standard to an upper UK second-class Honours degree;
• have passed an appropriate English language test by the time of taking up the award. For the Risk Masters this would be an English language test score with overall band score of at least 6.5 in the IELTS test (with a writing score of 7.0 or above and no other element below 6.0) or at least 96 in the TOEFL IBT (Internet Based Test) (with individual components of Writing 27, Speaking 23, Listening 23, Reading 23 or above);
• return to their home country at the end of their scholarship period to continue their studies / work there.

Application Procedure
You should complete the University’s application form which you can obtain from:

• Your local scholarship coordinator office (see Section 7 for contact details)
• the University of Durham website at: https://www.dur.ac.uk/international/postgraduate/fees/taughtscholarships/osf/masters 
• the Open Society Foundations website at: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/scholarship/focus_areas/uk/guidelines.

Copies of the following documents must be sent to your local scholarship coordinator office shown in the website link

• A completed ‘Open Society Foundation/Durham University Masters Scholarships in the Field of Hazard, Risk and Resilience 2012-13 – Application Form’
• University Transcripts. These should be certified English language copies.
• University Degree Certificate
• English language test certificate (if any)
• Letters from 2 referees. These should be attached to your application form in closed envelopes.
• A completed Eligibility Requirements Self-Assessment Form whereby you acknowledge your compliance with the eligibility criteria for this scholarship programme. This is available at the end of this document.

Submission Deadline
14 February 2012

Website Link
http://www.tifafoundation.org/data/files/Scholarship/Durham/Guidance_Note_for_Applicants