Master Scholarships, Open Society Foundations / Durham University, UK

Open Society Foundation / University of Durham Scholarship aims to provide opportunities for independent postgraduate study in the UK for students who have demonstrated both academic excellence and potential to become leaders, decision makers and opinion formers in their own countries. After completing their studies in Britain, scholars are expected to return to their home countries to continue their studies or work there. In accordance with satisfactory progress, the scholarships lead to the award of a master's degree.

Scholarships are available for the Master's program as follows:

* MSc in environmental hazards and risks
* MA in risk and security
* MA in risk, health and public policy

Scholarship each provide tuition at Durham University, salary to cover living expenses (for one person only), and return air travel from home country scholars.

Requirements
This scholarship is open to applicants from Afghanistan, Indonesia, Nepal, and Palestine (Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel are also eligible to apply).

Applicants must be:

* Being a citizen, and usually live in, countries selected during the academic year in which they are applying for the award; applicants are temporarily out of state (for a total period of less than three months in a row) can be treated as a resident;
* Displays the intellectual ability and leadership potential;
* Already hold (or expect to hold on while taking the award) from the standard first degree equivalent to UK upper second class Honours;
* Has passed the appropriate tests of English language by the time of pick up awards. For Masters This risk will be the value of English language test with a minimum overall band score of 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 the individual components of Writing 27, Speaking 23, Listening 23, Reading 23 or above);
* Return to the home country at the end of their scholarship period to continue their studies / work there.

Preference will be given to applicants who have never studied outside their home country.

Please note that if you have applied, or apply for other grants, scholarships or fellowships with the Open Society Foundation, you have to remind us of this in your application. Although you may apply for more than one program simultaneously, you can be awarded only one scholarship or grant the Open Society Foundation for a given period.

Employees, relatives of employees (or former employees who have left employment less than two years earlier) of the Educational Advising Center or local representative Society Foundation is directly involved in the administration of Open Society Scholarship Program in the region and openly participating universities will not be eligible to apply for application for this award.

Guidance
University application forms can be downloaded below or obtained from your local scholarship coordinator or site Durham University.

Complete the Application Form and Self Assessment Form is received by the local scholarship coordinator's office by the deadline will be forwarded to the University of Durham. All applications will be considered by the selection panel's internal university, including the Executive Director of the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, Dean of the Graduate School and Internationalization, The Graduate Admissions Tutor for the Institute of Hazard, Risk and International Security and Partnership Manager.

Applicants selected will be invited to interview in their home country in April / May 2012. You must be available for interviews during this period. Those who successfully pass the interview stage will be invited to take an English test in their home countries where / if necessary. You will be informed by your local scholarship coordinator in March 2012 whether or not you have chosen.

Interviews will be conducted by representatives of the Open Society Foundation and the University of Durham where possible. The final award will be decided jointly by the University and OSF. Candidates will be informed by early June.

Please note that all successful applicants will be expected to attend the one-month summer school preparatory academic writing in August 2012. Scholarship Programs Open Society Pre-Academic Summer Program is designed to prepare the Open Society Scholarship Program recipients to experience academic success in the UK.

Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to improve their research and writing skills through intensive courses in academic writing and social sciences. The exact date and location of the summer school will be available at a later stage in the selection process.

Deadline: February 14, 2012

Contact
Please take advantage of all the written documentation available to you including guidance notes and information available on the university web pages.

If you have any questions about the guidance notes, then you should contact:

* Your Local scholarship coordinator
* Kate Sharples, University of Durham
Fax or e-mail only:
Fax: +44 (0) 191 334 6134
E-mail: k.e.sharples @ durham.ac.uk
* Emese Kovacs, Open Society Foundation
Fax or e-mail only:
Fax: +44 (0) 207 031 0201
E-mail: emese.kovacs @ OSF-eu.org

If you have any academic questions, please direct them to the academic staff are listed below:

* Professor David Petley: dnpetley@durham.ac.uk
* Dr Louise Bracken: l.j.bracken @ durham.ac.uk

Please note that you do not need to apply directly to the University for admission in addition to this scholarship. Your scholarship application will also act as your academic program application.

Please keep a copy of your registration form for your reference.

Applicants are required to submit 2 copies of the application package to the office of their local scholarship coordinator. Please do not send original documents at this stage. Applications that are incomplete or late will not be considered.

For applicants from Palestine, please send your application directly to:

Ms Kate Sharples
University of Durham
Office of University
Old Elvet
Durham, DH1 3HP
Great Britain
Fax: +44 (0) 191 334 6134
Email: osf.scholarships @ durham.ac.uk

For more information, please visit the official site: www.soros.org