NEWEST SCHOLARSHIP OAS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ACADEMIC STUDIES FOR THE 2010-2011

NEWEST SCHOLARSHIP OAS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ACADEMIC STUDIES FOR THE 2010-2011

OAS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ACADEMIC STUDIES

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES OR
GRADUATE RESEARCH FOR THE 2010-2011 SELECTION PROCESS

CLOSED

ACADEMIC CYCLE 2010 – 2011: For placement to start classes beginning January 2010 through March 2011, depending on the academic cycle of the university.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: To be considered for an OAS academic scholarship, applicants must:

1. Be citizens or permanent residents of an OAS Member State.
2. Possess the necessary educational background and professional experience to be accepted into the academic program identified by him/her for placement.
3. Have completed the highest degree required to undertake further graduate, or undergraduate, studies at the time of the deadline set by the National Liaison Office of their sponsoring country.
4. Be in general good health condition to complete the program successfully.
5. Be endorsed by the ONE in their Member State. OAS Scholarships are awarded to study in an OAS Member State other than the sponsoring country.
6. United States citizens or legal permanent residents must apply directly to the OAS Department of Human Development, in Washington D.C.; and must include proof of such legal status in their application packages.
7. Possess the language competence to undertake studies in the country of study. Any applicant for an OAS-placed award will be required, as part of the placement process, to provide proof of proficiency in the language of instruction via a Language Certificate.
8. Applicants for an OAS-placed award to study in the United States or Canada will be required to take and provide satisfactory scores for any and all admission and standardized tests (GRE, GMAT, and/or TOEFL), if required by the institutions, at their own cost. Considering the importance of standardized tests scores for the technical evaluation of applications, we strongly recommend that these tests results be included in the application package. Candidates should check admission requirements for the program of studies that they are interested in.
9. 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.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON OAS ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS:

1. OAS scholarships are awarded for full-time study, or research, leading to a graduate or undergraduate degree, in any OAS member state except the one sponsoring the candidate for the OAS scholarship.
2. OAS scholarships are awarded for study or research only in institutions located in an OAS Member State.
3. 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.
4. OAS scholarships are granted for up to two academic years.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Universities identified by applicants for possible placement must be accredited by the country in which they are located.
9. If, after a reasonable period, the OAS or its third-party administrator is unsuccessful in negotiating your placement at one of three universities or educational institutions, then the OAS' offer to provide you with an OAS Academic Scholarship will be cancelled with no right of appeal by you, and if the offer is cancelled, you will not receive an OAS Academic Scholarship.

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:

1. APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT THEIR COMPLETED APPLICATION AND DOCUMENTS TO THE 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.
2. 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:June 15th, 2009.
3. 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: May 29th, 2009.
4. If not included in the application package, applicants must present language certificates and/or standardized tests results no later than August 14th, 2009.
5. Self-placed applicants who will begin studies between January and April of 2010 must send to OAS Headquarters letters of admission to universities by: October 30th, 2009. All other candidates beginning studies later on in 2010, may submit their letter of admission by July 2nd, 2010.

Incomplete applications and those not received by the stated deadlines will not be considered. Requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines will be strictly enforced.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:

The OAS Scholarship Application Form is an electronic form which must be completed online and submitted to the OAS database:

• OAS Scholarship Application Form for Undegraduate Studies

Only the on-line OAS Application Form (098/01/07) will be accepted.

In the event that applicants experience difficulties filling out or sending this application electronically, they may send an e-mail to: scholtechassist@oas.org

A copy of the completed application in PDF format will be sent automatically by electronic mail (e-mail) to the applicant at his/her e-mail address. The applicant can then print and sign the application and submit one original and one copy of the application along with the originals and copies of the required documents and forms to the ONE. All forms and documents must be uploaded in PDF format and cannot exceed 6MB.

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.

1. 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. Each of the recommenders must prepare and sign the recommendation in 3 original sets.
• Use only the Recommendation Form for Employer/Institution (100/01/07) to obtain one (1) recommendation from a current or previous employer. The recommender must prepare and sign the recommendation in 3 original sets. If unemployed or never employed, obtain a third recommendation using the Recommendation Statement Form above.

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.

2. Certificate of Language Proficiency Form: Complete this if you intend to study in a language other than your native language. If you intend to study in an English-speaking country, the TOEFL test scores replace this certificate.

Required Documents:

3. 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, be advised that the vast majority of universities require the GRE or GMAT tests, as well as TOEFL to issue an admission letter. The OAS institutional code for the GRE is 2354. The OAS institutional code for the TOEFL is 9358. Be advised that if you are selected to receive an OAS-placed scholarship, you will be required to submit 2 additional original tests scores for placement purposes.


4. Copy of the diploma (notarized by Notary Public or stamped by the university that issued it) for the highest degree obtained. Be advised that if you are selected to receive an OAS-placed scholarship, you will be required to submit 2 additional notarized/stamped copies of your diploma for placement purposes.


5. Original transcript of grades obtained for the highest degree completed (1 original). Be advised that if you are selected to receive an OAS-placed scholarship, you will be required to submit 2 additional original transcripts for placement purposes.


6. Original transcript of grades for the program of studies in which currently enrolled, if applying for a scholarship for undergraduate studies or for research leading to a graduate degree (1 original).


7. Curriculum Vitae (must not exceed 4 pages; do not attach copies of publications, diplomas or certificates)

Applicants 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 he or she completed previous studies, the OAS will request an official translation of the diploma and transcripts of highest degree obtained at the time the award is announced.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

1. 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;
2. The training priorities of the member States;
3. The merits and overall credentials of the applicant, including academic and/or professional experience which will be judged by:
4. 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.
5. 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
6. The scores obtained in the standarized tests, if applicable
7. The level of completeness and detail put into the preparation of the application is and how complete the required documentation is. This will indicate the academic aptitude of the awareness that the OAS Academic Scholarship Program is one that is internationally-recognized and very competitive
8. 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.
9. A geographic distribution that takes into account the greater needs of smaller and relatively less developed economies;
10. Potential and commitment of the candidate to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to the development of the sponsoring country;
11. Gender equality and equity as an important element in all partnership-for-development programming; and,
12. The financial need of the applicant, as established by the ONEs and National Commissions.

source: http://www.educoas.org