Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship Awards

Brief description:

The Endeavour Postgraduate Awards provide full financial support for international students for 2 to 3.5 years to undertake a postgraduate qualification at a Masters or PhD level either by coursework or research in any field of study in Australia.

The Endeavour Postgraduate Awards aim to:

• enable high achieving international students to undertake a postgraduate qualification either by coursework or research in their chosen fields of study in Australia
• strengthen bilateral ties between Australia and the participating countries
• showcase Australia’s education sector
• strengthen mutual understanding between the people of Australia and Award Holders’ home countries
• build international linkages and networks.

Host Institution(s):

Universities or Higher Educations Institutions in Australia.  Visit the Study in Australia or Going to University websites for a list of accredited institutions that provide higher education to international students.

Field(s) of Study:

Masters or PhD level coursework or research in any field of study in Australia.

Number of Awards:

Not specified.

Target group:

Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela

The Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (Republic of), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Middle East: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

Pacific: Fiji, French Polynesia, French Guinea, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated states of), Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand* (including Cook Islands), Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau SARs), India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Viet Nam.

Scholarship value/inclusions:

Total Award Value – Up to $AUD228,500 for PhD and $AUD118,500 for Masters

• Travel Allowance: $AUD4,500
• Establishment Allowance: $AUD4,000
• Monthly Stipend (up to 3.5 years, pro-rata basis): $AUD2,500 per month.
• Tuition Fees per semester (for up to 2 years for Masters and 3.5 years for a PhD): Up to $AUD12,500 per semester/trimester for Masters and PhD
• Health and travel insurance will be provided.

Eligibility:

To apply for the 2013 Endeavour Postgraduate Awards, international applicants must first satisfy the eligibility requirements detailed below:

1. International applicants must be citizens and/or permanent residents of a participating country (see Section 4.3) and may not hold dual citizenship with Australia.

2. International applicants who currently hold a valid Australian student visa are not eligible to apply.

3. Applicants who have completed an Endeavour Award and/or AusAID Scholarship in the preceding 24 months (2 years) before the current round of the Endeavour Awards are not eligible to apply.

4. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree (minimum) at the time of application, demonstrating high academic achievement.

5. Applicants must have applied for and gained admission to a Masters or PhD course in Australia. Conditional letters of offer will be accepted at the time of application. Please note that you will not be funded for Masters level study leading to a PhD – you must choose one, either Masters or PhD level study.

Application instructions:

Applications for the main round of the 2013 Endeavour Awards is now open and will close on 30 June 2012. Applications open 1 April 2012.

Applicants undertaking study for a Masters Degree or PhD must provide a confirmation of enrolment or an offer of admission letter from the host university/institution they have applied to. Please note that a conditional offer of admission will be accepted.  A letter to potential universities to assist in your application for admission is found at the last page of the  application guidelines (see link below).

To be considered for a 2012 Endeavour Postgraduate Award, applicants must complete an online application and attach the supporting documentation as listed in the guidelines (link found below).

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Contact information:

For questions, see the FAQs.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website:  http://www.deewr.gov.au/International/EndeavourAwards/Pages/Home.aspx

International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) at Australian Universities

Brief description:

The International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) program is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR).  The IPRS program was established to maintain and develop international research linkages and specifically aims to:

•  attract top quality international postgraduate students to areas of research strength in Australian higher education providers; and

•  support Australia’s research effort.

The IPRS program enables international students to undertake a postgraduate research qualification in Australia and gain experience with leading Australian researchers.  The scholarships are available for a period of two years for a Masters by research degree or three years for a Doctorate by research degree.

Host Institution(s):

The list of Australian Universities that offers the IPRS is found at this link.

Field of study:

Any postgraduate research programme offered at participating Australian Universities.

Number of Awards:

Around 330 are awarded annually. The allocation of IPRS grants to participating universities is based on a formula that is reflective of their overall research performance.

Target group:

Scholarships are open to international students of all countries (except Australia and New Zealand).

Scholarship value/inclusions:

The scholarship covers tuition fees and health cover costs for scholarship holders, and health cover costs for their dependents.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for an IPRS, a student must:

(a) be an international student; and

(b) meet international student visa requirements as specified by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), including the requirement to purchase and maintain a standard Overseas Student Health Cover policy approved by the Commonwealth Government Department of Health and Ageing; and

(c) be commencing full-time enrolment for the first time in a HDR at an eligible scholarship provider in Australia; and

(d) be undertaking study in a subject area identified by the provider as one of its areas of research concentration; and

(e) not hold a research qualification regarded by the provider to be equivalent to an Australian Research Doctorate degree or, if undertaking a Research Masters degree, not hold a research qualification regarded by the provider to be equivalent to or higher than an Australian Research Masters degree; and

(f) not have held an Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) scholarship within the two years prior to commencing the IPRS; and

(g) not be receiving a scholarship for which course tuition is a component under any other scholarship scheme to which the Australian Government makes a substantial contribution.

You must check with the Universities if they require specific eligibility requirements.

Application instructions:

Applications for a scholarship need to be made directly to a participating Universities/Higher Education Providers (HEPs) in Australia. HEPs are responsible for determining the selection process by which scholarships are allocated to applicants.  

Applications for 2012-2013 officially opens on 1 April 2012. The deadline varies among universities but is around July-October each year. It is important to visit the website of the University where you intend to apply and the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Contact information:

All enquiries regarding IPRS awards need to be directed to the university at which the applicant wishes to conduct their postgraduate research.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website:  http://www.innovation.gov.au/Research/ResearchBlockGrants/Pages/InternationalPostgraduateResearchScholarships.aspx

Travel Writing Scholarship 2012 - Southeast Asia

Do you want to be a published travel writer?

This year we decided to shake things up a bit and instead of choosing just one country for our scholarship…we’ve decided to send you off to three different countries in Southeast Asia! Once on the ground, you’ll have the opportunity to see for yourself life beyond the banana pancake trail, and get to know Southeast Asia from the local perspectives, through the eyes of three amazing writers.

Here's the triple-dip deal:

First you'll head off to Singapore to go on assignment for five days under the mentorship of Rough Guides writer Richard Lim to review and update 'The Rough Guide to Singapore'.

Then you'll fly to Bali and meet up with Stuart McDonald, founder of Travelfish, the online travel guide to Southeast Asia, before heading off on six days of cultural insight and adventure in Indonesia.

For the last leg of the scholarship, you will be whisked off to Malaysia for a food odyssey through Kuala Lumpur and Penang with former local and cookbook author of award winning hsa*ba Burmese cookbook, Tin Cho Chaw, to explore how cuisine shapes the lives of Malaysians.

Who can apply

* This opportunity is open to students, emerging and non-professional writers and lovers of travel looking for a career change.
* The scholarship is open to all nationalities, however, you must have a high degree of proficiency in written English.
* The opportunity is designed to give you a taste of what it's like to be a travel writer on the road, so you must be comfortable doing some travel on your own.

* Minimum age 18 by the date the scholarship application close (April 23, 2012)
* A current passport with at least six months before expiry
* You must be available as per the dates set out. Please note these dates are not changeable in anyway, you must be available for the entire assignment.

* You should be an exceptional writer with a lust for adventure travel, a desire to experience new cultures (and eat them!)and above all, a burning desire to become a professional travel writer!
Watch our video for more eligibility information and application tips!

What constitutes a professional travel writer?

Essentially this is a 'learning opportunity' for someone who is looking for an introduction into the travel writing industry and importantly keen to be mentored.

As a guide, for the purposes of the opportunity, we would consider you to be professional travel writer if you have been published regularly in newspapers, travel magazines or travel journals. We would also consider you to be a professional travel writer if you derive more than 25% of your income from travel writing.

If you have had a few stories published, or keep a regular travel blog then we would not consider this professional.

We would also like to further clarify that a professional writer of any sort (travel writer or otherwise) is not eligible to apply if they derive more than 25% of their income from writing.

Please consider the spirit of the program which is intended to help those with a burning desire to be a professional travel writer and need some help getting started.

Apply now

If you want it, you've got to show it. To apply you need to:

1. Write. Craft a 2000 character or less (this includes spaces) travel focused essay based on a personal experience around one of the following themes;

a. 'Understanding a Culture through Food'
b. 'A Local Encounter that Changed my Life'
c. 'Seeing the World through Others Eyes'
d. 'Giving Back on the Road'

It's up to you to convince our judging panel through your writing that you have the spirit of adventure and passion for travel writing to be chosen for this scholarship. We will be looking for:

- great descriptive ability
- strong eye for detail
- ability to uncover and tell a compelling story
- excellent spelling and grammar and a knack for avoiding clichés
Check out our video blog with Rough Guide editor Clare Currie for some writing tips.

2. Complete an entry form which includes contact details and a maximum 800 character essay on why you should be chosen and what the opportunity will mean for you. Your answer will provide considerable weight in the judging process.
3. One entry per person.
4. The entry must be submitted in English.

More information on: http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships/story/82158/Worldwide/Travel-Writing-Scholarship-2012-Southeast-Asia#.T1198YfC86o.twitter

International Student Week in Belgrade 2012 - "Youth Changing the World"

We are more than happy to announce that the sixth ISWiB (International Student Week in Belgrade), under the motto "Youth Changing the World" will take place from 15th to 22nd July 2012 in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. We came a long way since our humble beginnings in 2006, constantly improving in quantity and popularity, and we have no intention of stopping. The previous edition of the festival, ISWiB 2011, gathered more than 200 students from 50 countries from all over the world.

As the goal of ISWiB is breaking national, religious, cultural and language barriers, not only through the exchange of knowledge, opinions and ideas, but also by making friends and hanging out with each other, ISWiB 2012 will be an opportunity for lots of fun, cultural manifestations, day trips and, of course, parties!

This year, the participants can make their choice of workshop from the 8 following ones:
1) Youth in Politics & Youth activism
2) Media
3) Restyle
4) Business and marketing kindergarden
5) Project managment
6) Photography
7) Theater
8) Filmmaking

We will also include a panel discussion and open leactures concerning the ways youth changes the world. The Country fair will be the centerpiece of the cultural program again. The official language of ISWiB is English.

Just like last year, the participation fee is 90 euros for foreign students, and covers accomodation, food and workshop materials. For Serbian students, the participation fee is 45 euros and doesn’t cover accomodation.

All European students and those from the other continents but studying in Europe at the moment, can apply for ISWiB. All fields of study are welcome, there are no special requirements. Recently graduated students are also welcome.

The deadline for applications is April 1st, 2012. 

 For more information, contact us at participants@iswib.org

For all the students from Belgrade and whole Serbia, the organizing team offers a chance to join our community and become a part of this great event. If you want to get some new experience, work together with us, meet people from all over Europe and make new friendships, see how the organization works inside and have some fun, apply to be a volunteer on ISWiB 2012! For more information, contact us on volunteers@iswib.org 

You can apply for participation here: http://iswib.org/application.php

Hungarian Government Scholarships for International Students

Deadline: 26 April 2012
Open to:  Foreign students, lecturers and research fellows who intend to gain further professional experience in Hungarian higher education institutions or research institutes
Scholarship: Various

Description

Hungary through the Balassi Institute, the Hungarian Scholarship Board Office offers scholarships for foreign students and lecturers in higher education institutions as well as research fellows who intend to gain further professional experience in Hungarian higher education institutions or research institutes. Scholarships can be applied for in two different ways:

1. Work plans and bilateral agreements: The Office of the Hungarian Scholarship Board (hereinafter HSB) welcomes applications by citizens of countries (and territories) that have a valid/effective educational work plan with Hungary, or a bilateral agreement signed by the Hungarian Ministry of National Recourses and the relevant ministry of the given country (or territory). Dissemination of all information regarding the application procedure and deadlines as well as assessment and shortlisting of applications is conducted by the scholarship authority or the Ministry of Education in the relevant home country (or territory). Applications forwarded by partner scholarship offices shall have a priority. However, applications submitted directly to the HSB Office shall also be accepted in the framework of the Pool system outlined below.

1. Scholarship Pool: In 2005 the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Hungary established the ‘Scholarship Pool’ allowing for applications for all HSB scholarship types from the following countries/territories:
   Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korean Republic, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Chile, Republic of the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America.

Citizens of the following countries may only apply through their national scholarship offices, on the basis of bilateral agreements: Columbia, Yemen, Mongolia, Palestine and Vietnam.

Scholarship

The following scholarships are available in the academic year 2012-2013:
A. – semester/partial studies (3-10 months)
Available for: undergraduate (BA/BSc) and graduate (MA/MSc) students (enrolled at foreign higher education institutions), especially those majoring in Hungarian Language and Literature and students participating in a single degree track university programme (such as General Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Studies, Veterinary Studies, Architecture, Studies in Law, etc.). Before application, students are required to have completed minimum two semesters at their home institutions. For ‘Type A’ scholarship students may apply only on one occasion during their Bachelor’s studies, and once during their Master’s studies.
B. – postgraduate studies, research (3-21 days or 1-10 months)
Available for: applicants holding a Master’s degree or an equivalent university degree, including PhD students who intend to do research for their dissertation and wish to stay in Hungary for less than 10 months. (However, PhD students cannot earn credits during the scholarship period at the host university.)
C/1. – full PhD programme (36 months)
Only students proficient in Hungarian can apply. The scholarship is conditional upon successful entrance exam / admission to the respective doctoral school.
C/2. – partial PhD studies (10 months)
Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD programme at an accredited higher education institution in their home country or in a foreign country (but not in Hungary).
D. – postdoctoral studies, research (1-10 months)
Applicants must hold a PhD or an equivalent degree.
E. – research stay (3-21 days or 1-10 months)
Available for associate professors or high-ranking academics as well as researchers holding minimum a PhD or an equivalent degree.
F. – summer courses in the summer of 2012 (2-4 weeks)
Only courses published in the list of ‘Summer Courses 2012’ on the HSB website can be selected. You may select three different courses but your scholarship will allow you to participate only in one course.
More information about each particular scholarship can be found on the Official website.

Eligibility

Candidates must come from the following countries: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korean Republic, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Chile, Republic of the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America.
As well as these: Columbia, Yemen, Mongolia, Palestine and Vietnam, on the basis of bilateral agreements.
Non-eligibility:

• Foreign citizens with a residence/immigration permit or in the course of applying for such a permit in Hungary
• Foreign citizens with permanent residence in Hungary
• Foreign citizens employed on a permanent basis as defined by the Hungarian Labour Law
• Students in employment applying for part-time or correspondence study programmes
• Students applying for programmes not financed by the Hungarian State
• Students admitted to higher education host institutions where tuition fee is required.

Application

Applications must be submitted in two ways:

1. ONLINE on the HSB website,
2. In printed version by post.

Note: Applications must be submitted in both ways. The office will only accept applications sent by post as well as through the online system by the given deadline.

1. Online application: You have to register and upload your application material on the HSB website

Before starting the online procedure please read the Online Application Guidelines carefully. Deadline of the online application: 26th April 2012 (Thursday midnight)

1. Printed version: must be sent by post to the following address:

Balassi Intézet, MÖB Iroda
1519 Budapest Pf. 385
Hungary
Deadline: Thursday, 26th April 2012 (as per postmark)
Note: For those applying under the system of bilateral agreements the application deadline might be earlier, as determined by the national scholarship office of the given country.
It is suggested that applicants keep a copy of the application documents.
Contacts
The Official Website

Harvard And Yale Now Less Costly Than Public California Universities

Going to school at Harvard University is cheaper than attending a public university in California.

According to the Bay Area News Group, a "family of four -- married parents, a high-school senior and a 14-year-old child -- making $130,000 a year," with typical financial aid, would pay around $17,000 for tuition, room and board and other expenses if their child went to Harvard. However, if their child attended a Cal State, they would pay $24,000. Going to the University of California, Santa Cruz, would cost around $33,000; at UC Berkeley, it would be about $19,500.

Other Ivy League schools, including Yale University and Princeton University, offer similar financial scenarios.

"It does sort of put you in an awkward spot," Dean Kulju, financial-aid director of the 400,000-student Cal State system, said. Cal State has double their tuition since 2007, the Bay Area News Group reported.

California's public universities lost more than $1 billion in support from the state in a round of 2011-12 cuts. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) announced in December, another $300 million would unexpectedly be cut from higher education because revenues were coming in below projections.

Since 2009, public universities in the state have lost $2 billion and community colleges have had $695 million cut from their budgets.

According to the Government Accountability Office, both public universities throughout the country have increasingly relied on tuition for funding as states have dropped support.

Over the past three years, students have been holding protests in California against tuition hikes that have been as high as 32 percent in some cases.

Students are planning to demonstrate at the state capitol in Sacramento Monday, calling for a millionaire's tax to help fund public higher education.

Article from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/05/harvard-now-cheaper-than-california-schools_n_1321195.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Media and communications summer school offers grant [Europe]

PhD students can apply for a grant to attend a two-week program in Slovenia.

The European Media and Communication Doctoral Summer School will offer funding to one student who can't afford the membership fee to attend.

The summer program unites Europe's research community to debate contemporary issues, trends and developments in media, communication and cultural studies.

The summer school aims to provide a supportive international setting where doctoral students can present their ongoing work, receive feedback on their PhD projects from international experts and meet students and academics from other countries.

Participating students will also receive accommodation, meal allowances, a travel refund and school materials for the duration of the program - August 12-25.

Apply for the summer program by April 5. Grant applications will be available April 25.

For more information, click here.