OAS Scholarships Academic Studies
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES OR GRADUATE RESEARCH FOR THE 2009-2010 SELECTION PROCESS
CLOSED
At this time, the call for applications to the Graduate and Undergraduate Academic Studies Scholarship Program of the OAS for the 2009-2010 academic cycle is now closed. We invite you to participate in our next call for applications which will be announced in early 2009.
ACADEMIC CYCLE 2009 – 2010: For placement to start classes beginning January 2009 through March 2010, depending on the academic cycle of the university.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: To be considered for an OAS academic scholarship, applicants must:
- Be citizens or permanent residents of an OAS member state.
- Possess the educational background and, if required, professional experience to be accepted into the requested academic program.
- Be in general good health as to complete the program successfully.
- Be endorsed by the National Liaison Office (ONE) or its designated equivalent of the sponsoring OAS member country.
- Possess the language competency to undertake studies in the country of study.
- Take and pass admission tests with satisfactory scores, if required by the academic institution they wish to attend, by the deadline set by the OAS upon the award of the scholarship. Any and all costs for these tests will be borne by the applicant.
- Agree to return to reside in the sponsoring country for a period of no less than twenty-four months after completing of the program of study covered by the scholarship if they are awarded an OAS scholarship.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- The objectives and priorities established in the Strategic Plan for Partnership for Integral Development 2006-2009 which takes into account individual country and hemisphere-wide developmental needs: http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/strategicp.aspx?culture=en&navid=44;
- The training priorities of the member States;
- The merits and overall credentials of the applicant, including academic and/or professional experience which will be judged by:
- the quality of the written essays and how well candidates explain a) the impact they believe their studies will have on their institution/community/country, and b) their five-year plan upon return to the sponsoring country.
- the candidate’s university grade point average (GPA) and class ranking which should be considered superior by the country/institution from which the candidate is graduated which will facilitate the placement of an awardee in a reputable university
- the level of completeness and detail put into the preparation of the application is and how complete the required documentation is. This will indicate that the candidate is serious and understands that the OAS Academic Scholarship Program is one that is internationally-recognized and very competitive
- The quality of the recommendation letters which attest to the candidate’s ability to perform and to succeed as a scholarship recipient and describe what contribution and impact the recommender believes the candidate will have on the institution/community/country.
- A geographic distribution that takes into account the greater needs of smaller and relatively less developed economies.
- Potential and commitment of the candidate to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to the development of the sponsoring country.
- The flexibility of the applicant to be considered for a scholarship where the OAS determines the university and negotiates admission, taking into consideration the preferred field of study and language capabilities of the applicant.
- Gender equality and equity as an important element in all partnership-for-development programming.
- The financial need of the applicant.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON OAS ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
- OAS scholarships are awarded for study or research in any OAS member state except the one sponsoring the candidate for the OAS scholarship.
- OAS scholarships are awarded for study or research only in institutions located in an OAS member state.
- Current OAS staff members, OAS consultants, staff members of the Permanent Missions to the OAS, and their relatives are not eligible for OAS academic scholarships and must wait until six months have elapsed after the termination of the employment relationship or contract before they may apply for an OAS scholarship.
- OAS scholarships are granted for up to two academic years.
- The OAS publishes on its website the names and nationality of scholarship recipients. An applicant must agree in writing on the scholarship application form to having his/her name published if he/she is awarded an OAS scholarship.
- Monthly living allowances paid under the OAS Scholarship generally cover approximately 60% of the expenses an OAS Scholarship recipient may incur. Individuals selected for an OAS Scholarship are encouraged to identify other sources of financing (other scholarships, educational loans, or, with permission from the OAS, part-time work, etc.) and should be prepared to show that they are able to support themselves for the duration of the scholarship.
- The scholarship must be executed during the academic cycle for which the scholarship announcement is issued. There can be no postponement of the award and no retroactive awarding of the scholarship.
- Universities identified by applicants for possible placement must be accredited by the country in which they are located.
- The OAS-placed scholarship award will be withdrawn from any candidate for whom, after a reasonable period, admission cannot be gained to a reputable university offering the program and level of studies sought.
BENEFITS:
The OAS scholarship provides, depending on the circumstances of each scholar: a round-trip ticket, tuition and fees, a yearly book allowance, health insurance and a monthly subsistence allowance (which varies from country to country). No benefits are paid to family members of the OAS scholar.
DEADLINES:
- APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT THEIR COMPLETED APPLICATION AND DOCUMENTS TO THEIR NATIONAL LIAISON OFFICE (ONE) IN THEIR SPONSORING MEMBER STATE: deadline determined by each Member State’s ONE. Applicants must contact their ONE for the deadline.
- The ONE of each Member State must present to the Department of Human Development of the OAS in Washington D.C. the list of ranked pre-selected candidates they will sponsor by: July 1st, 2008.
- U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will be sponsored by the U.S. for an OAS scholarship must present their completed applications and documents to the OAS Department of Human Development, 1889 F Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20006, by: July 1st, 2008.
- Applicants must present official copies of academic transcripts by: August 29th, 2008.
- Applicants must present language certificates and/or admission exams by: August 29th, 2008.
- Self-placed applicants who will begin studies between January and April of 2009 must send to OAS Headquarters letters of admission to universities by: November 28th, 2008. All other candidates beginning studies later on in 2009, may submit their letter of admission by July 3rd, 2009.
Incomplete applications and those not received by the stated deadlines will not be considered.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Complete OAS Application Form (098/01/07) on-line. You have the option to scan and upload the required forms and documents described below. Since all forms and documents cannot exceed 3MB, we suggest that you upload your transcript first and then recommendation letters. The on-line Application Form can be accessed at:
- OAS scholarship application form for undergraduate studies
- OAS scholarship application form for graduate studies
Only the on-line OAS Application Form (098/01/07) will be accepted.
Read the instructions carefully before beginning to complete the Application Form. In the event that you experience difficulties filling out or sending this application electronically, please send an e-mail to: scholtechassist@oas.org
Once you have completed the application form online, uploaded the required forms and documents, and submitted it, a copy of the application will be sent automatically to your e-mail account. Print and sign it.
Submit one (1) original and two (2) hard copies of: the signed application form, 3 completed recommendation forms, the Certificate of Language Proficiency Form, if applicable, and the required documents to your National Liaison Office (ONE).
REQUIRED FORMS:
Required forms can be found on the last page of the Application Form. Double-click to open, download and save them on your computer. They must be completed electronically or in typewritten format, signed and dated and then scanned and attached to your on-line application form.
Recommendation Forms:
- Use only the Recommendation Statement Form (099/01/07) to obtain two (2) recommendations, one of which must be from a current or former professor.
- Use only the Recommendation Form for Employer/Institution (100/01/07) to obtain one (1) recommendation from a current or previous employer. If unemployed or never employed, obtain a third recommendation using the Recommendation Statement Form.
NOTE: Recommendation letters may not be submitted from relatives of the applicant. Relatives are defined as: spouse, son or daughter, stepson or stepdaughter, father or mother, stepfather or stepmother, brother or sister, half-brother or half-sister, stepbrother or stepsister, father- or mother-in-law, son- or daughter-in-law, and brother- or sister-in-law.
Certificate of Language Proficiency Form: Complete this if you intend to study in a language other than your native language.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- Recent medical certificate (issued within the past six months) that attests to the general good health of the candidate.
- Standardized test results, if required by the academic institution for OAS-placed candidates (See deadlines for due dates). If intending to study in the U.S. or Canada, the OAS institutional code for the GRE is 2354. The OAS institutional code for the TOEFL is 9358.
- Certified copy of the diploma (stamped by the university that issued it) for the highest degree obtained.
- An original transcript of grades -or a copy stamped by the university- obtained for the highest degree completed.
- An original transcript of grades –or a copy stamped by the university) for the current academic program in which enrolled, if applicable.
If you are selected for an OAS-placed scholarship to study in a country where the curriculum is taught in a language other than the one in which you completed your studies, the OAS will request an official translation of your diploma and transcripts at the time we announce your award
Applicants who have questions regarding the status of their applications during the recruitment and selection process for OAS academic scholarships should contact their National Liaison Offices (ONEs).
Other questions may be sent to the Department of Human Development, Academic Scholarships Unit, Scholarships@oas.org. Please indicate in your e-mail if your question relates to the graduate or the undergraduate scholarship program.
Please read additional important information under the OAS Academic Scholarship menu on our website: