Deadline: August 14, 2016

Applications are invited for  2017/18 Windle Trust Scholarships open to outstanding African students. These scholarships will be awarded for pursuing one-year, full-time, taught master’s degree course at partner institutions in the UK.

Windle Trust Internationals works in partnership with a number of Universities to offer  these scholarships each year. See full list of partner institutions.

Eligibility

• Country: Applicants should be from the countries of East, Central or the Horn of Africa and be resident in Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and South Sudan.
  • The programme is open to Ugandan candidates who demonstrate a clear, long-term link with the following regions of Uganda that have been affected by or are emerging from conflict: West Nile, Karamoja, Acholi, Lango, Teso regions. In practical terms applications will be considered from Ugandan candidates who were born in the districts of these regions and/or have lived or worked there for at least three years.
  • The programme is open to Kenyan candidates from Garissa and Turkana who have demonstrated leadership and personal commitment to reducing marginalization and conflict and the underlying causes of these in the following counties in the Arid region of Kenya: Garissa, Turkana, Baringo, Isiolo Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River and Wajir. In practical terms applications will be considered from Kenyans who:
    •  were born in Garissa or Turkana counties and
    •  are currently working in one of the above Arid region counties and
    • have demonstrated leadership and personal commitment to reducing marginalization and conflict and the underlying causes of these in the above counties of the Arid region
• Applicants must be academically qualified to undertake the proposed course with success, and they must meet the normal entry requirements.
• Applicants must be capable of studying effectively in the language in which instruction will take place.
• Applicants must demonstrate the potential, initiative, will and commitment to put what they learn into practice in future for the benefit of their wider community and region

Scholarship Worth

A scholarship, in most cases, will cover full tuition fees, maintenance stipends, visa cost and return airfares

Selection Criteria

• Academic qualifications: Applicants should have an excellent first degree, with a minimum grade equivalent to a British upper second (2:1) undergraduate degree or above. Please note the following requirements:
  • For the purposes of eligibility applicants with degrees graded “First Class”, “Second Class, Upper Division”, “Distinction” or “Very Good” are considered to be the equivalent, with the exception of medical degrees that are not classified.
  • Non-medical degrees that are ungraded or unclassified must have achieved a minimum GPA of 4.0 out of 5.0 or 3.2 out of 4.0 to be considered.
  • Degrees graded “Second Class Lower Division”, “Good”, “Third class” or “Pass” are not eligible.
  • Candidates with degrees from Sudanese Institutions (other than medicine, dentistry and pharmacy) are required to have a BA/BSc honours degree.
• Work experience: Applicants for postgraduate sponsorship are required to have at least two years of professional or volunteer experience relevant to the subject they wish to study.
• Age: Applicants for postgraduate study should be under forty years old.
• Location of study: Most of the postgraduate study opportunities available are in the UK. Applicants are only considered if they can satisfy the trustees that they are committed to returning to Africa after their studies.
• Duration of courses: Priority is given to applicants for postgraduate programmes up to one year in length.
• English Language ability: Due to requirements for admission to universities in the UK, applicants short listed for placement on the UK programme will be required to sit an IELTS test and achieve a score of 6.5 or above.

***NOTE: The Trust is keen to encourage applications from women and individuals from other particularly disadvantaged groups. This includes those who are resident in the refugee camps and settlements, those who have lost close family members to war or conflict, as well as those who are particularly vulnerable such as people with disabilities and those who have themselves been victims of violence. The trustees are, in appropriate cases, willing to consider additional support for these applicants, such as pre-study programmes.***

How to Apply

Before submitting the application for a scholarship to Windle student may independently apply for admission from any of their partner universities or for admission and scholarships from other universities and funding institutions in the UK regardless of whether they select the student or not.

Complete and submit online scholarship application.

For more information, visit Windle Trust International