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

Tibetan Scholarship Program 2013 Announcement (Bhutan, India and Nepal)

Description
The Tibet Fund is pleased to announce the opening of the 2013 Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP), a program funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, for eligible Tibetan refugees in Bhutan, India and Nepal. Applications are being accepted for two-year master’s degree programs in the united States, pending the availability of funds.

Eligibility

• Applicants for the two-year master’s program in the United States must have secured grades of a minimum of 45 percent in a bachelor’s and post-graduate program.
• Applicants must have completed at least four years of academic work after class XII including a bachelor’s degree. Partial computer courses, vocational training and diplomas from non-recognized academic institutions will not be accepted.
• To demonstrate English language skills, applicants must produce a copy of their TOEFL iBT score with a minimum score of 90 out of 120.
• Applicants should be born on or after January 1st, 1977.
• Selected participants will be required to take the GRE or GMAT exam.

Application Procedure
The following are the documents must be submitted applicants:

1. Registration Certificate: Photocopies of the Registration Certificate (RC) of the applicant, and that ofthe applicant’s parents and spouse (if married) Applicants who reside in Nepal but do not have anRC from Nepal, or are not listed as a dependent on a parent’s registration card, must obtain a letter from a CTA-affiliated organization based in Nepal certifying that the applicant is a Tibetan refugee residing in Nepal. 
2. Green Book: Photocopies of the Green Book of applicant, and that of the applicant’s parents andspouse (If married). If your parents or spouse are deceased, you need to submit a copy of their death certificate respectively.
3. Applicants whose parents live in Tibet or have passed away must produce a certificate to this effect from the concerned Settlement Officer where they live or a death certificate respectively.
4. School Certificates: Applicants must produce year-wise Mark Sheets and Degrees from their respective schools from which they have graduated.
5. Attestation: All the documents you are submitting for the TSP must be attested by a CTA gazette officer (above the rank of Joint Secretary) or notarized by a Notary Officer.
6. Medical Certificate: A Fitness Certificate from a registered medical doctor should be submitted. The medical form can be downloaded from the TF website, http://www.tibetfund.org. 
7. Travel Document: As there is no provision for an Identity Certificate (IC) extension for TSP candidates studying in the United States, applicants should have their IC renewed or extended during the entire study period in advance.
8. U.S. Visa: Participants will be required to apply for a J-1 exchange visitor visa from the U.S. Embassy. Selection as a TSP participant does not guarantee approval for a visa. Applicants who have prior visa 2 denials from the U.S. Embassy must inform the Tibet Fund and the Tibetan Scholarship Program’s Student Selection Committee (TSP SCC) at the time of application.
9. No Objection Certificate: If the Applicant is serving in any institution, he or she should furnish a “No Objection Certificate” from his/her respective employer.
10. Photo: Applicants must submit three (3) passport-sized photos.
11. If you have any questions regarding the scholarship program, please send your queries to the attention of the Tibet Fund’s TSP Program Coordinator, Tenzing Choephel Chumeego: tchoephel@tibetfund.org.

Submission Deadline
before March 31, 2012, at 5.00 pm.

Website Link
http://www.tibetfund.org/forms/TSP