Master & PhD Scholarships, University of Cyprus

Master & PhD Scholarships, University of Cyprus

UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND STUDENT WELFARE SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENT OF SCHOLARSHIPS FOR POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES
ADDRESSED TO CYPRIOTS EXPATRIATES AND FOREIGN NATIONALS –
FROM NON EU COUNTRIES

The University of Cyprus announces the granting of 25 scholarships for postgraduate Master’s degrees and PhD in the academic year 2011/2012. The scholarships are for postgraduate courses (beginning study in September 2011) and their aim is to develop and strengthen the relations and cooperation of the University of Cyprus with the Cypriots expatriates and to attract a large number of foreign students. The scholarships cover all the fields of study and are addressed to Cypriots expatriates and to foreign nationals (from non EU countries).

1. Five (5) out of the 25 scholarships will be allocated to Cypriot applicants who are permanent residents of Australia in order to strengthen the cooperation with the Australian Homogeny.
2. Three (3) out of the 25 scholarships will be granted to students from the University of Gjirokastra (Argyrokastro) – Albania.
3. One (1) scholarship will be granted for strengthening the Orthodox Teachers College in Kenya.
4. The other sixteen (16) scholarships will be allocated to Cypriot applicants who are permanent residents in foreign countries and to foreign nationals from non EU countries.

A. What the scholarships cover:
1. Tuition fees of the postgraduate program. The fees will be paid by the revenue of the Department granted the scholarship.
2. Allowance scholarship equal to €680 per month for a total duration of 12 months (€680 X 12 = €8,160).
3. The fellows will be able to apply for accommodation in the Students Halls of Residence through the approved procedures of the University. The rent will be covered by the allowance of the scholarship that will receive. Those applicants who would like to stay in the students halls of residence should submit a separate application to the Housing Office of the Students Affair and Welfare Service.

B. Duration of a scholarship:
1. The initial period of scholarship granted is for 12 months.
2. The scholarship might be renewed beyond 12 months.
3. The scholarship will be renewed every six months and will be able to cover the maximum duration of the postgraduate program.
4. The scholarship for masters – level programs can be extended up to 2 years.
5. The scholarship for doctoral programs can be extended beyond 2 years but not more than 4 years considering that the research supervisor of the student confirms per semester that the doctoral student’s research meets the requirements and encourages the doctoral students to submit their thesis before completing 4 years.
6. The scholarship will also cover the summer months provided that the academic/research supervisor of the student confirms that the student will work on her/his own responsibility.
7. The academic performance of the scholars should be satisfactory and should be certified by their academic or research supervisor.
8. Scholars should be distinguished in moral.

C. Criteria for evaluation:
The Departmental Councils or other subcommittees appointed specifically for this purpose are responsible for the evaluation of the candidates for the granting of a scholarship. The criteria for the evaluation are:
1. Academic performance and achievements of the candidate.
2. Any additional qualifications of the candidate.
3. Recommendation letters for the candidate.
4. Work experience of the candidate.
5. Moral of the candidate.
6. Other criteria set by the Council of each Department.

The Council of the Department when considering applications for granting a scholarship may take into consideration the socioeconomic status of the candidate or her/his family which consists of the social – marital status and by her/his gross annual income. In the case that the applicant is married with children the application will be treated differently and will get different weight during the evaluation.

D. Requirements for submitting an application – Cypriot expatriates:
Applicants must meet the following requirements in order to claim a scholarship:
1. Be Cypriot expatriates. They should submit a Cyprus citizenship certificate or a certificate from a Public Authority of Cyprus abroad (Consular Authorities) which proves that they have Cypriot origin.
2. Have permanent residence in a foreign country for a continuous period of at least thirty (30) months before submitting their application for a scholarship. They should submit a certificate from Public Authority of Cyprus abroad to certify this.
3. To have a satisfactory academic performance.
4. To have high moral.
5. Each academic department will decide whether the candidates need to possess a certificate of Greek language skills when applying for a place in their postgraduate programs and for a scholarship grant. In the case that the specific program of study requires knowledge of the Greek language then the department concerned will determine the required level of knowledge of Greek.

E. Requirements for submitting an application – Foreign Nationals:
Applicants must meet the following requirements in order to claim a scholarship:
1. Be foreign nationals from non-EU countries.
2. To have a satisfactory academic performance.
3. To have high moral.
4. Each academic department will decide whether the candidates need to possess a certificate of Greek language skills when applying for a place in their postgraduate programs and for a scholarship grant. In the case that the specific program of study requires knowledge of the Greek language then the department concerned will determine the required level of knowledge of Greek.
5. The applications to both postgraduate programs and scholarship grand claims by foreign applicants (non-EU) require securing a Visa to Cyprus or renewal of their temporary residence permit in Cyprus.

Documents to be submitted by foreign applicants (non-EU) to secure a Visa (provided that they are offered a place in a postgraduate program):
1. Original and attested* copies of academic qualifications and transcripts.
2. Acceptance letter from the University of Cyprus.
3. Curriculum Vitae in Greek and English language.
4. Valid passport and attested* copy of the passport (valid for at least two years from the beginning of the semester).
5. Original letter and attested* copy of good conduct certificate from the police authorities.
6. Medical certificates attesting to good health and including blood tests and Chest X-Ray.

Attestation process of documents *
Students are required to attest the following documents by the appropriate/relevant authorities in their home country:
o academic documents
o police clearance certificate
o passport

The attestation process differs between countries that have signed the Hague Convention, 1961 (Apostille) and those who have not. Attested documents must be in English; in cases where translations are necessary, these must be done by an approved translator and attested by the relevant authorities in home country.

Students applying from countries that have signed the Hague Convention, 1961 (Apostille): i.e. India
Students must have their documents attested by the designated, competent government authority which is authorized to affix the Apostille on their documents. The Ministry of Justice or Ministry of Foreign Affairs is usually the government body that issues the Apostille.

Students applying from countries that have not signed the Hague Convention 1961 (Apostille) but have a Cyprus Representation in their home country: i.e. Pakistan, Nepal, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Bangladesh
Students must have their documents attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in their home country and then further attested by the Cyprus Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.

Students applying from China
Based on bilateral agreements between Cyprus and China, students must have their documents attested by the Ministry of Justice. There is no need for the documents to be further attested by the Cyprus Embassy.

Students applying from Russia and Serbia
Based on bilateral agreements between Cyprus, Russian and Serbian students are exempted from the above procedures, provided all their documents are officially signed and stamped by the issuing authority.

F. Scholars Obligations:
1. The Departmental Council may decide to suspend, reduce or terminate a scholarship in a particular student if it considers that special circumstances so require (e.g. reasons for the academic performance of fellow).
2. The Departmental Council will consider renewal of the scholarship provided that the student’s academic performance is satisfactory. The performance of the fellow will be certified by her/his academic/research supervisor.
3. In case that the fellow is admitted to a graduate program of another Department, the new Department accepting the student will examine and decide whether will grant the scholarship.
4. In case that the fellow interrupts her/his studies during the first year of study, the Department Council may request her/him to return the amount of the scholarship paid by the department.

G. Application procedure:
Interested applicants are requested to complete the special application form which could be found at http://ping.fm/C4cPj The application form should be submitted directly to the Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies of each Department separately by Friday, 15th of April 2011 at the following address:

Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies
Department of …………. (To be completed by the applicant accordingly)
University of Cyprus
P.O. Box 20537
1678 Nicosia
Cyprus

Because there is a possibility that the University of Cyprus will receive a great number of applications for granting a scholarship in relation with the number of announced positions and the amounts allocated for this purpose, the University does not necessarily imply that the scholarship will be granted even though the interested candidate is admitted in a postgraduate program.

Late applications will not be accepted.

For further information and clarifications interested applicants may contact the Office of Postgraduate Studies of the Academic Affairs and Student Welfare Service, at Tel.: +357 22894021, Fax: +357 22894463, email: gradstud@ucy.ac.cy) or visit the web page : www.ucy.ac.cy/goto/acafsw/en-US/Home.aspx.