OAS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ACADEMIC STUDIES
About OAS Scholarships
The objective of the Organization of American States (OAS) Scholarships and Training Programs is to assist the Member States with their domestic efforts in pursuit of integral development goals by supporting human resource development in the priority areas established by the Summits of the Americas, the Strategic Plan for Partnership for Integral Development of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), and the OAS General Assembly.
The OAS is committed to promoting and supporting human capacity development and strengthening bonds among the peoples in the Hemisphere by maximizing the number of scholarships awarded in reputable educational institutions in its Member States with the resources available. To achieve this goal, the OAS Scholarship Program will place more scholarship recipients in universities that are members of the OAS Consortium of Universities or with which the Department of Human Development, Education and Culture (DHDEC) of the OAS will make written agreements for the placement of students. Accordingly, the number of scholarships which will be awarded to individuals who have obtained their own admission to a university will continue to be limited. Thus, applicants who elect the Self-placed Scholarship option will have less opportunity to win an OAS scholarship.
The funds provided by the OAS/DHDEC are intended to serve as a complement to those funds which the scholarship recipient may already be receiving from other sources or to assist the recipient with general costs to make the completion of her/his studies feasible.
Types of Academic ScholarshipsAThese are OAS-funded scholarships awarded to persons to undertake undergraduate or graduate studies, and/or graduate research (also “university” or “postgraduate” studies, as named in the Manual of Procedures for the Scholarship and Training Programs of the OAS) that lead to a degree at a university or higher learning institution in a Member State. Studies may be carried out by on-site or by distance education or a combination of both, and must always be undertaken on a full-time basis. The scholarship is awarded for a minimum period of one academic year and a maximum of two academic years.
- Graduate scholarships: are offered for study towards a Master’s or Doctorate degree. They may also be used for graduate research, if required by a specific academic program. Scholarships are awarded for an initial period of one academic year and may be renewed subsequently for up to one additional year if funds remain available and if the renewal is necessary to complete the program of study or research for which the scholarship was initially awarded. The OAS/DHDEC does not offer scholarships for studies in the medical sciences and the learning of new languages. The total financial award from the OAS may not exceed US$30,000.00 per academic year which includes tuition, other scholarship benefits, and administrative costs. There are two types of graduate scholarships:
- Self-Placed: Candidates apply directly for admission to the universities or educational institutions of their choice and apply separately to the OAS for a scholarship to assist in financing those studies. Consideration for a scholarship is contingent upon receipt of proof of admission to the university by the deadline established by the OAS General Secretariat. The number of self-placed scholarships the OAS will award among all Member States is more limited than OAS-placed scholarships, averaging one (1) self-placed scholarship per country.
- OAS-Placed: Candidates only apply to the OAS for a scholarship. The OAS/DHDEC seeks placement for those candidates selected for scholarships to recognized and reputable universities or educational institutions determined by the OAS/DHDEC, taking into consideration the preferred countries, language(s), and the intended fields and levels of study stated by the candidates in their applications to the fullest extent possible. Depending on the individual case, the OAS/DHDEC may negotiate additional arrangements with these institutions.
- Undergraduate Scholarships: are offered only to candidates from the English-speaking Caribbean Member States, for the last two years of study leading to an undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent). Scholarships are awarded for an initial period of one academic year and may be renewed subsequently for up to one additional year if funds remain available and if the renewal is necessary to complete the program of study or research for which the scholarship was initially awarded. To apply for this classification of scholarship, the student must already be 1) enrolled in the program of study and eligible to graduate within 2 academic years from the date of the award, or 2) accepted into the university where he/she plans to study for the last two years of the undergraduate degree (admission letter must state that the applicant will complete the program of studies within 2 academic years). For option 2, applicants that need to transfer credits from previous post-secondary studies in order to comply with the OAS requirement to graduate within 2 academic years must complete this process with the host institution on their own. If a candidate is selected to receive an OAS scholarship, he/she will need to provide the OAS with an official letter from the host institution attesting to the total number of credits successfully transferred before the scholarship award documents can be issued.
The total financial award (tuition and benefits) from the OAS/DHDEC may not exceed US$30,000.00 per academic year which includes tuition, other scholarship benefits, and administrative costs.