Apply for Civil Society Leadership Awards 2019/20 (Fully-funded Master’s Scholarships)

Deadline: May 15, 2018

Applications for the Civil Society Leadership Awards of the Open Society Scholarship Programs are now open. The Civil Society Leadership Awards (CSLA) provide fully-funded scholarships for master’s degree study to individuals who clearly demonstrate academic and professional excellence and a deep commitment to leading positive social change in their communities.

Benefits

CSLA grantees will receive financial and administrative support for the following:

• Pre-academic preparation via summer schools;
• Program-related travel;
• Tuition and mandatory university fees;
• Monthly stipend for room, board, and other living expenses;
• Accident and sickness insurance during the program;
• Funds for educational materials and professional development;
• Attendance at a regional Scholarship Programs conference;
• Accommodations during the application process and the duration of the grant for applicants with disabilities.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• be a citizen of an eligible country;
• demonstrate maturity, flexibility, and civil society leadership potential
• have an earned bachelor’s degree as of May 15, 2018 with an excellent academic record;
• demonstrate professional experience related to your chosen field of study;
• demonstrate proficiency in the language of instruction (English, German or French) at a level required for admission by host universities;
• be able to participate in an intensive pre-academic summer school in July or August 2019 and start their degree program in August or September 2019;
• be able to receive and maintain a visa or study permit as required by the host country; and
• demonstrate a clear commitment to their home country or region to strengthen open society development.

The awards are available to citizens of the following countries:

• Afghanistan
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Cambodia
• China
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Egypt
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Laos
• Libya
• Myanmar/Burma
• Republic of Congo
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Syria
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Uzbekistan

Awards are available for study in the following areas:

• Communications, Journalism & Media
• Culture, History & Society
• Development Studies
• Economics
• Education Management & Leadership
• Environment & Natural Resource Management
• Gender Studies
• Human Rights
• Law (including Human Rights law)
• Politics & International Studies
• Public Health Policy & Health Management
• Public Administration
• Public Policy
• Social Policy
• Social Work

The Open Society Foundations and Scholarship Programs are committed to equal opportunity, and exercise that policy in relation to all admissions processes. CSLA does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.

Application

Interested applicants must complete an online or paper CSLA application and submit along with supporting documentation to be considered for CSLA support.

Paper Application

Paper applications may be accessed in the Download Files section of this page. Please download the application form before completing or printing, and review the accompanying materials before submitting your application.

Online Application

All candidates are strongly encouraged to apply online if possible using Submittable, an online platform. To apply online, please register on Submittable and then follow instructions.

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