Royal Holloway, University of London Scholarships for Pakistani Students

1. 1. What do the scholarships offer?

The OSI/FCO Chevening/Royal Holloway University of London Scholarships aim to provide opportunities for independent postgraduate study in the United Kingdom for students who are engaged in or intending to pursue postgraduate work in their own country and who have demonstrated both academic excellence and the potential to become leaders, decision-makers, and opinion formers in their own country. Subject to satisfactory progress, the scholarships lead to the award of a master’s.
Scholarships are available for study in

• MSc Democracy, Politics and Governance
• MSc Medical Sociology.

Each scholarship provides tuition fees at Royal Holloway, University of London, a stipend to cover living costs (for one person only) and return air travel from the scholar’s home country. On completion of the scholarship, scholars will return to their home countries to continue their studies/work there.
2.  Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must:

1. be nationals of, and resident in Pakistan 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;
2. display intellectual ability and leadership potential;
3. already hold (or expect to hold by the time of taking up the award) a degree of an equivalent standard to a good UK second-class Honours degree;
4. have passed an appropriate English language test by the time of taking up the award;
5. have not already received or be currently receiving financial benefit from a previous HMG fully funded Scholarship;
6. return to their home country at the end of their scholarship period to continue their studies / work there.

Preference will go towards applicants who have not previously studied outside of their home country.
Employees, employee’s relatives (or former employees who have left employment less than 2 years before) of FCO (including FCO Posts), the British Council, the Educational Advising Centers or other OSI  representations in the region and the participating Universities will not be eligible to apply for these awards.

1. 3. How can I apply?

You should complete the University’s application form ‘Application for a Taught Postgraduate Programme of Study’. You should also provide copies of the other documents listed on page 6 of the application form. The completed forms and other documents must be returned to your local British Council at the address below by 2nd February 2010 (see below address and contact details). One original set of the application pack and two copies thereof should be submitted.

1. 4. How does the selection procedure work?

a)   All completed applications received by your local British Council by the deadline will be forwarded to the Royal Holloway, University of London.  Academic staff at the University will compile a short-list.
b)     Short-listed applicants will be invited for an interview and an English language test in their home country at the end of March or the beginning of April. You should keep yourself free around this time.
c)     Interviews will be carried out by representatives of OSF and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In certain cases, there may also be a panel member representing the interests of the University.
d)    The final awards will be decided jointly by the University, the FCO and OSF-London. Candidates will be informed in June.
e)     Please note that the staff at your local British Council is not involved at all in the decision-making process. They will tell you as soon as they can whether or not you have been successful. Please understand they will not be able to inform you until they have been told by Royal Holloway, University of London and OSF-London.
Please note that all successful applicants will be invited to attend a 1-month preparatory academic writing summer school in July or August 2010. The Network Scholarship Programmes’ (NSP) Pre-Academic Summer Program is designed to prepare NSP grantees for successful academic experiences in the UK. Successful applicants will be provided with the opportunity to refine 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 of the selection process.

1. 5. How can I find out more about Royal Holloway, University of London?

• Read the University’s Postgraduate Prospectus at http://www.rhul.ac.uk/Graduate-School/index.htm l . Your local British Council will be able to make a copy available for you to consult. You will not, however, be able to take this copy home.
• Visit the University’s Home Page www.rhul.ac.uk

1. 6. Who should I contact if I have any questions?

Please make use of all of the written documentation available to you: these guidance notes, the University’s Postgraduate Prospectus, the guidance notes included with the University’s application form of ‘Application for A Taught Postgraduate Programme of Study’.
If you have any queries about the guidance notes, then you should contact either

• your local British Council or

Ms. Inga Pracute
Program Coordinator
Open Society Foundation
5th Floor, Cambridge House
100 Cambridge Grove,
London W6 0LE,
United Kingdom
Tel: (+44-207) 031 0225 Fax: (+44-207) 031 0201