Wednesday 31 October 2012

2013-2014 Chevening Scholarship for Commonwealth Countries – Application Now Open


Scholarship Name: Chevening Scholarship
Brief description
The Association of Commonwealth Universities is offering the Chevening Scholarships for one year postgraduate Masters course to study any discipline at UK Universities 2013/2014
Accepted Subject Areas?
Chevening Scholarships are awarded across a wide range of fields; including politics, government, business, the media, the environment, civil society, religion, and academia in any UK University
About Scholarship
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Chevening Scholarship programme was established in 1983 and is now an internationally prestigious scheme with over 41,000 alumni. In 2011-12 there were over 700 Chevening Scholars studying at universities across the UK. Chevening Scholarships are currently offered in approximately 110 countries. Chevening awards enable Scholars to study a one-year postgraduate Master’s course in any discipline at any UK university.Chevening Scholarship
The Chevening programme makes awards to talented individuals who demonstrate the potential to become future leaders, decision makers and opinion formers.
Scholarship Offered Since: 1983
By what Criteria is Selection Made?
Chevening Scholarships are for high-calibre graduates with the personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities necessary for leadership. You will need to demonstrate that you:
  • have the personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities necessary for leadership in your home country
  • are motivated to develop your career in order to establish a position of leadership in your own country within ten years of your Scholarship
  • have a clear post-Scholarship plan, outlining your career objectives and how you plan to achieve them
  • are committed to networking to find global solutions
  • are committed to networking within the Chevening community, via online engagement and attending Chevening events in the UK and engaging with the alumni network in your home country
  • are able to use your studies and experience in the UK to benefit yourself, your country and the UK
  • are capable of successfully undertaking and completing your proposed course of study in the UK
Who is qualified to apply?
There are no age restrictions for Chevening Scholarships. To qualify for a Scholarship, you must:
  • demonstrate that you have achieved a minimum English language requirement (see link below) at the time that you submit your application
  • be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country at the time of applying for the award, and intend to return there at the end of the period of study
  • hold a degree that is equivalent to at least a good UK second-class honours degree. Further information on UK degree equivalency can be found from UK NARIC
  • have completed at least two years’ work or equivalent experience by 30 September 2012
If you do not meet the above criteria please do not apply. Your application will not be considered.
How Many Scholarships are available? Several (over 700 studying in UK as at 2011/2012)
What are the benefits?
full Chevening Scholarship award normally comprises:
  • payment of tuition fees;
  • travel to and from your country of residence by an approved route for you only;
  • an arrival allowance;
  • a grant for the cost of preparation of a thesis or dissertation (if required);
  • an excess baggage allowance;
  • the cost of an entry clearance (visa) application for you only;
  • a monthly personal living allowance (stipend) to cover accommodation and living expenses. The monthly stipend will depend on whether you are studying inside or outside London. It is currently £917 per month outside London and £1134 per month inside London (subject to annual review).
How long will sponsorship last? For one year
Eligible African Countries
See list of eligible African countries: http://www.chevening.org/maps/africa
See list of other countries: http://www.chevening.org/maps/
To be taken at (country): UK Universities
Application Deadline
December 2012 (but specific dates varies from country to country. For example, the deadline date for Nigeria is 14 December 2012). Select your country from link above for specific instructions
We recommend that you submit your application as early as possible – preferably well before the closing date for your country.
Offered annually? yes
How can I Apply?
To apply for a Chevening Scholarship, you must complete and submit an online eChevening application form
Be sure to visit this page for Guidelines for Applicants before applying
English language requirement
In order to apply for a Chevening Scholarship you must demonstrate that you have achieved a minimum level of English language ability at the time of application (unless you fall into one of the exemption categories below or if there are no English language test centres in your country and special arrangements therefore apply). The minimum English language requirement is as follows:
Academic IELTS
Overall score – 6.5, with a minimum score in each component of: Listening – 5.5; Reading – 5.5, Speaking – 5.5, Writing – 5.5
Pearson PTE Academic
Overall score – 58, with a minimum score in each component of: Listening – 42, Reading – 42, Speaking – 42, Writing – 42
TOEFL iBT
Overall score – 79, with a minimum score in each component of: Listening – 17, Reading – 18, Speaking – 20, Writing – 17
Sponsors
Chevening Scholarships are funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), with further contributions from universities and other partners in the UK and overseas, including governmental and private sector bodies.
Important Notes:
You must set out clearly in your Personal Statement on the application form how you believe you meet the Chevening selection criteria

Thursday 4 October 2012

Do I need to pay tuition fees in Finland?


Tuition fees


The answer to this depends on the level of your studies, and also on the porgramme you're interested in.
In Bachelor’s or Doctoral level programmes, the higher education institutions will not charge tuition fees.
Several Master’s level programmes are free of charge as well, however, some Master's may charge tuition fees from non-EU/EEA students. (NB: Erasmus Mundus Master’s programmes always charge a tuition fee – see section ‘Erasmus Mundus scholarships’ for information on Erasmus Mundus Master’s and related scholarships)
Remember that even if the programme you're applying to does not charge tuition fees, you still need to plan your finances so that you'll be able to independently cover youreveryday living expenses during your studies in Finland.

How much does a fee-charging Master's cost per year?

Currently, 8000 euros per year is the average annual tuition fee in those Master's programmes that charge fees. However, depending on the programme, the annual fee can be different from this average amount (currently, the tuition fees vary between the range from 2500 euros to 12 000 euros per year).
The exact amount of the annual tuition fee depends on the programme, so please check this directly with the university you're interested in!

Which Master’s programmes charge tuition fees?

In selected English-language Master's degree programmes it is possible for the Finnish higher education institutions to charge tuition fees from non-EU/EEA nationals during afive-year trial period 2010–2014. Depending on the programme, tuition fees may be collected starting from autumn 2010, 2011 or 2012.
The inclusion of a Master's programme in the above lists only indicates the possibility of a tuition fee; each institution decides independently whether or not they collect tuition fees in their programmes. Therefore, it is important that you always check the tuition fee policy for each Master's programme separately, either from the institution's own web site or from CIMO's study programmes database.
You will not be charged any tuition fee, if you are
  • an EU/EEA citizen
  • a non-EU/EEA citizen permanently resident in Finland
  • a non-EU/EEA citizen and have started your studies in the Master’s programme in question before the introduction of tuition fees into that particular programme
Please refer to the web site of the university you are applying to for detailed information on the tuition fees and the related scholarships.

'Institutional scholarships' available for tuition fees

Those higher education institutions that choose to collect tuition fees in their English-language Master's programmes are also providing institutional scholarship options for non-EU/EEA students enrolled in tuition-fee carrying Master's programmes. Theseinstitutional scholarships can not be applied for from CIMO, instead you must turn to the higher education institution in question for info and advice regarding these scholarships. Please see section ‘institutional scholarships’.
The CIMO scholarships are applicable only to Doctoral level studies and research in Finnish universities, and can not be applied to cover any tuition fees.

What will happen after the tuition fee trial period is over? Will there be fees in all universities?

At the moment, the simple answer is - no-one knows yet. After the trial period is over in 2014, its results will be assessed. After that, what decisions will be made based on the result of this assessment, remains yet to be seen. For tuition fees to continue after the trial period, a governmental decision and a change in legislation will be required; and no such decisions or changes have yet been made.

We will notify prospective students of any possible changes in tuition fee policies officiallyon this Study in Finland website, so keep an eye on the News section on our front page!

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Australian Development Scholarships 2012-2013


Australian Development Scholarships

Australian scholarships
Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) are long term development awards administered by AusAID. ADS aim to contribute to the long term development needs of Australia's partner countries in line with bilateral and regional agreements. They provide opportunities for people from developing countries to undertake full time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions.
The study and research opportunities provided by ADS develop skills and knowledge of individuals to drive change and contribute to the development outcomes of their own country.

Scholarship benefits

ADS are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian higher education institution, including any preparatory training. The following benefits generally apply:
  • Full tuition fees.
  • Return air travel—payment of a single return, economy class airfare to and from Australia, via the most direct route.
  • Establishment allowance—a once only payment of A$5,000 as a contribution towards as accommodation expenses, text books, study materials.
  • Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE) is a fortnightly contribution to basic living expenses paid at a rate determined by AusAID. From 1 January 2012, CLE payable to Scholars studying under an ADS is A$28,000 per year.
  • Introductory Academic Program (IAP)—a compulsory 4-6 week program prior to the commencement of formal academic studies covering information on life and study in Australia.
  • Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of the award (for award holder only)—provided to cover the student's basic medical costs (with the exception of pre existing conditions).
  • Pre-course English (PCE) fees—if deemed necessary PCE may be available for students for in-country and/or in-Australia training.
  • Supplementary Academic Support may be available to ensure a Scholar's academic success or enhance their academic experience.
  • Fieldwork (for research students only)—may be available for eligible research students for one return economy class airfare via the most direct route to their country of citizenship or within Australia.

Scholarship conditions

Applicants who want to accept an AusAID Scholarship will need to sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia declaring that they will comply with the conditions of the Scholarship.
Awardees are required to leave Australia for a minimum of two years after completing their Scholarship. Failure to do so will result in the awardee incurring a debt for the total accrued cost of their Scholarship.

More information


American Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery 2014 is Now Open for Application Read more: http://www.afterschoolafrica.com/2012/10/american-diversity-visa-dv-lottery-2014-is-now-open-for-application


The Diversity Visa -DV lottery Program 2014 is now open for application. Online registration for the DV-2014 Program started on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and concludes on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4). After the entry period opens October 2, early entry is highly recommended, and applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter. Review the DV Instructions below.
DV 2013 Entrants: Please keep your confirmation number until at least September 2013, even if you were not selected on May 1, 2012. The Department of State may select more DV 2013 entries on October 22, 2012 at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4).
Entry InstructionsDV lottery 2014
Please read the DV-2014 Entry Instructions carefully. Entrants may be disqualified for not completing the entry form correctly or by submitting more than one entry. Use the link below to view the instructions.
Requirements for Entry
To enter the DV lottery 2014 program, you must be a native of one of the listed countries. See List Of Countries from instruction.
To enter the DV lottery 2014 program, you must meet either the education or work experience requirement of the DV program: you must have either a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education; OR two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform. The U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net OnLine database will be used to determine qualifying work experience.
Procedures for Submitting An Entry To DV-2014
The Department of State will only accept completed E-DV entry forms submitted electronically at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period between noon, EDT (GMT-4), Tuesday, October 2, 2012, and noon, EDT (GMT-4), Saturday, November 3, 2012.
§ All entries by an individual will be disqualified if more than ONE entry for that individual is received, regardless of who submitted the entry. You may prepare and submit your own entry or have someone submit the entry for you. There are NO COSTS or FEES to register for the DV Program.
§ A registered entry that complies with submission instructions will result in a confirmation screen containing your name and a unique confirmation number. You must print this confirmation screen for your records using the print function of your web browser and ensure that you retain your confirmation number.
Starting May 1, 2013, you will be able to check the status of your DV-2014 entry by returning to www.dvlottery.state.gov, clicking on Entrant Status Check, and entering your unique confirmation number and personal information. Entrant Status Check will be the sole means of informing you of your selection for DV-2014, providing instructions to you on how to proceed with your application, and notifying you of your appointment for your immigrant visa interview. Therefore, it is essential you retain your confirmation number.
Paper entries are no longer accepted. The sole method for entry to the 2014 Diversity Visa Program is through this electronic process.
Download Diversity Visa lottery_2014_Instructions (PDF)


Read more: http://www.afterschoolafrica.com/2012/10/american-diversity-visa-dv-lottery-2014-is-now-open-for-application.html#ixzz28JEhSV8c