DAAD-OSI Scholarship for Students from Countries of the Former Soviet Union

Deadline: 31 October 2012
Open to:  Students from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Scholarship:  Participants will receive full scholarship awards, which include a monthly stipend sufficient for a single person, one return trip and a German language course (if needed)

Description

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Open Society Scholarship Programs are collaborating on a joint program for graduates from the Balkans. The DAAD/OSI Scholarships aim to bolster the capacity of the participating countries to provide quality instruction and research in the social sciences and humanities, and to create a network of
scholars from these countries in these fields with colleagues in Germany to enhance the international exchange of ideas and academic best practice.
A variety of academic opportunities are available to scholars in participating countries to pursue advanced degrees and training at top level universities in Germany. Grantees will be clustered at host institutions to build cohorts of graduates and professors with a common frame of reference, generating international and intra-regional connections into the future.

Eligibility

The grants are aimed at students with either a Bachelors degree or a Masters degree or who have completed 5 years of a diploma. The Program is open to scholars from the following countries in 2013:

• Azerbaijan
• Georgia
• Moldova
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

Grants are issued for one of the following options:
1. Masters’ level studies (2 years) - more information is available in the Course List. Students can submit applications when they are still finishing their Bachelor studies, but have to have their BA diploma before they start their academic studies at a university in Germany.
2. Doctoral studies (3 years) – Ph. D. students will be based at a German university for 3 years. Applicants must have a further university diploma, normally a Masters degree. In specific cases, applications are permitted after 5 years of undergraduate study when a specialisation has been outlined by the applicant. Doctorate studies in Germany do not have taught courses as such, but offer close mentoring. Students interested in the PhD option can apply for studies within the following areas:

• Political Science
• Sociology
• International Relations
• Law
• Economics
• Public Administration Studies
• Educational Administrative Studies
• Public Health
• Philosophy
• German Studies (in special cases only)

Application

The following documents are needed to complete the application:
a) Master Course of Studies

• DAAD application form
• Curriculum vitae
• Research plan or statement of reason for the studies
• Recommendation from a local professor
• All certificates which may be asked from the favoured course of studies (for example GRE, TOEFL, and so on)
• Completed Admission to Studies application form for the three degree programmes in favour
• Certified copies of the certificate of qualification for university matriculation, the Bachelor resp. Master Diploma or in the case of students in their fourth academic year, a certified copy of their study record book and their translation
• DAAD-Language Certificate
• Applicants for a Master’s Grant are asked to list three favoured courses of studies according to their priority in their application

b) Doctoral Studies

• DAAD application form
• Curriculum vitae
• Research plan (detailed plan of work and time)
• Confirmation of academic supervision for doctoral studies by a German professor
• Two recommendations from local professors
• Two certified copies of the certificate of qualification for university matriculation, the Bachelor resp. Master
• Diploma and their translation
• DAAD-Language Certificate

The above-mentioned application forms are available from the DAAD website or can be obtained from the diplomatic and consular missions of the Federal Republic of Germany and from the DAAD Lektors. All copies of certificates and their translations must be officially certified. The health certificate need only be presented after the scholarship has been awarded.

Scholarship

DAAD/OSI Scholarships are in essence full scholarship awards, which include a monthly stipend sufficient for a singe person, one return trip (PhD scholars get an additional return trip to their home country in the 2nd year of study), pre-sessional German language training where necessary, and scholarship enhancement activities, including an Orientation Event, taking place in Bonn in autumn each year, as well as a Mid Year Conference held at a German University. Costs or supplements for partners or children are not covered by the Program. Masters and doctoral students having pre- school age children in their home country can apply for up to 3 weeks financed trip home.
At Universities where more than 3 DAAD/OSI grantees are placed, a tutor is assigned to provide scholarship holders with guidance and advice.

Dates and deadlines

Written applications will be collected up to the generic deadline of the 31st October 2012 by the local DAAD-IC office representatives or the German Embassy directly. In January or February of the following year, selection committees and interviews will commence for all applicants.
Country specific information together with the addresses where to send the applications can be found here.

Selection criteria

1. Selection will be based on academic merit, knowledge of the language required, extracurricular activities, and leadership potential, and will follow a multi-tiered and transparent process. All completed applications will be reviewed and valuated by selection teams representing the universities, DAAD and OSF. Semi-finalists will be invited for an in-country interview between January and February. The interview will be carried out either in German or in English based on selected course of studies.
2. All applicants must be aware that after a 2-4 month language course, an adequate level of German must be demonstrated in order to fulfil all necessary academic requirements.
3. Applicants must present the TOEFL and where needed the GRE test results or proof of registration at the time of an interview. More about the general selection criteria can be found here.

For more information please refer to the local DAAD-IC-Office contact in the first instance, or the official website.
General scholarship information is also available from the following representatives:
DAAD
Frau Dr. Jana Merzouk
Kennedyallee 50, D-53175 Bonn
Referat 326
E-Mail: merzouk@daad.de
Tel: +49-228-882-320
Open Society Foundation – London
Ms. Inga Pracute
Programs Coordinator
Open Society Foundation
5th Floor, Cambridge House, 100 Cambridge Grove,
London W6 0LE,
United Kingdom
E-Mail: inga.pracute@osf-eu.org
Tel: (+44-207) 031 0225 Fax: (+44-207) 031 0201