COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP PLAN – 2011 – U.K.

 No. F. 22-1/2010-ES.4
Government of India
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Department of Higher Education
ES.4 Section
********
 

 COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP PLAN – 2011 – U.K.

 

LAST DATE:   25^th September 2010
 

I. Applications are invited from Indian nationals either on line through http://www.education.nic.in/ or on plain paper in the FORMAT GIVEN BELOW for nominations from India for the award of Commonwealth Scholarships in United Kingdom tenable from October 2011 for higher studies/research/specialized training in the subjects mentioned below in the United Kingdom. Up to Sixty (60) nominations are to be sent to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for final selection to be made by them. Out of these not more than twenty five (25) are for doctoral studies (including via the spilt-site mode) reflecting operational quotas for awards.

II.   ELIGIBILITY

The candidate should not be more than 40 years of age as on 15.09.2010 and fulfill the minimum qualifications as per Para (IV) below.

III.   LEVEL OF COURSE

These scholarships will be awarded for studies leading to either: -

 

(1)     SIX MONTHS OF CLINICAL TRAINING (For MBBS, BDS,MS, MD degree holders only)

 

           1. Cancer Research 2. Cardiology 3. Gynecology 4. Medicine 5. Dentistry 6. Orthopedics 7. Neurology and 8. ENT.

*From 1st October 2010, all international medical graduates, including those on Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships, who apply for registration with the GMC will be required to score 7.0 or above in every band of the academic IELTS test. Applicants in medicine and dentistry whose programme requires them to practise clinically, or to work in a laboratory department reporting on samples from Patents, can be considered only if they are eligible for registration with the General Medical Council or the General Dental Council.
 

(2) (i) ONE YEAR TAUGHT MASTER’S COURSES OR EQUIVALENT DEGREE, (ii) DOCTORAL DEGREE OF UPTO THREE YEARS DURATION (iii) ONE YEAR RESEARCH ON A SPLIT SITE BASIS, TOWARDS A Ph. D. REGISTERED AT A UNIVERSITY IN HOME COUNTRY:

 

(A)      ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. Electronics/Electrical 2. Environmental Studies 3. Remote Sensing Technology 4. Communication Engineering 5. Biotechnology or Biochemical Engineering 6. Robotics 7. Computer Applications/Computer Science 8. Aerospace Engg./Aeronautics 9. Civil Engineering 10. Material Science 11. Mining Engineering and 12. Marine Engg.
 

(B)      SCIENCE (PURE AND APPLIED)

 

1. Mathematics 2. Molecular Biology 3. Physics and 4. Chemistry (including Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry).

 

(C)      AGRICULTURE

1. Agronomy & Forestry.

 

(D)      HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

1. History 2. Sociology 3. **Management Studies 4. Economics 5. Philosophy 6.Psychology 7. Law 8. English (Literature/Linguistics) and 9. Political Science with International Relations

Candidates who have already completed Ph.D. or are about to complete it will not be considered.

 

(IV)     MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

 

The candidates must have completed tertiary education in English Medium :-

(A)   FOR MASTER’S DEGREE OR SIX MONTHS CLINICAL TRAINING

 

One should hold or able to produce the certificate of Bachelor’s Degree by 31st August 2011 in the subject field concerned (indicated above) securing 60% or above marks in Humanities and Social Science group and 65% or above marks in Medical, Engineering and Technology, Science and Agriculture Group. Candidate should give one page academic justification for pursuing the course in U.K.

 

**Candidates who wish to undertake postgraduate study in Business and/or Management should before applying for a Commonwealth Scholarship, have taken the Graduate Management Admission Test (Princeton Test). Enquiries to: G.M.A.T. Educational Testing Services, Box 966 – R, Princeton, NJ 08541, U.S.A. Candidates for awards in Economics and related subjects should be aware that a number of departments may require them, before admission, to pass the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) of which details may be obtained from Graduate Record Examination, Educational Testing Service, Box 955, Princeton, NJ 08541, U.S.A. Service, Box 955, Princeton, NJ 08541, U.S.A.

 

Applicants for level of course at ‘1’ in Para III above whose programme requires them to practice clinically, or to work in a laboratory department reporting on samples from patients, can be considered only if they are eligible for registration with the General Medical Council or the General Dental Council. Information about current conditions for registration can be obtained from: -

“The General Medical Council,
Overseas Registration Division,
178 – 202 Great Portland Street,
London WIN 6JE, or,

The General Dental Council,
37 Wimpole Street,
London WIM 8DQ”

Candidates whose native language is not English will be required to provide evidence that they have sufficient competence in English to practice Medicine or Dentistry in the United Kingdom. Nominated candidates will be required to take the IELTS, for which they may contact local British Council Office.

(B) FOR Ph.D. DEGREE:-

One should hold or able to produce the certificate of Master’s Degree by 31st August 2011 in the concerned subject fields (indicated above) securing 60% or above marks in Humanities and Social Science group and 65% or above marks in the relevant subjects in Medical, Engineering and Technology, Science and Agriculture group.
 

V.       VALUE OF AWARD

 

Each scholarship provides: -

(A) Student concessionary or other approved air fare to the United Kingdom by the most direct and economical route and return on expiry of the scholarship (the cost of journey made before receipt of award will not normally be reimbursed nor can fares be paid for a scholar’s dependents).

(B) Approved tuition and examination fees.

(C) A personal maintenance allowance payable monthly.

(D) A grant for books and apparatus in the first year of study and for a subsequent full year also; and a grant towards the expenses preparing a thesis of dissertation, where applicable;

(E) A grant for expenses of approved travel within the U.K.

(F) An initial clothing grant for most scholars on first arrival from tropical developing countries;

(G) Where a host institution has in advance declared and the Commission has accepted, the need for fieldwork outside the United Kingdom, a grant towards the cost of such fieldwork, which shall not normally exceed one economy and tourist class return fare to the fieldwork location. Scholars for whom fieldwork fares are provided to their home country shall not be entitled to a mid – term homeward fare;

(H) For married scholars selected by the Commission for awards exceeding 12 months, a marriage allowance per mensem is payable provided that the husband and wife are residing together at the same address in the United Kingdom. It is not paid when a husband or wife of the scholars is also in receipt of an award, or is in paid employment. For such married couples accompanied by their children, a child allowance is payable for the first, second and third child under the age of 16 provided they are residing with their parents. A scholar who is unaccompanied by spouse but accompanied by children for whom he/she is legally responsible, shall receive the equivalent of the spouse’s allowance for the first child, and child allowances for the second and third child, irrespective of the length of tenure of award.

 

Scholar’s emoluments are not subject to United Kingdom income tax, but holders and their spouses may be liable for the payment at least in part of any Council tax levied by the local authority where they live.

 

VI        LAST DATE OF RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS:

 

(A) For those applying by post, applications on plain paper (as per format given below) alongwith the required documents (attested copies of all certificates/degrees/diplomas have to be attached) should reach Section Officer, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, External Scholarship Division, ES.4 Section, A-2/W-4, Curzon Road Barracks, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi - 110 001 by 25th September 2010. (Tele. No. 23384501, 23386401 and 23384687, 23382498)

(B) For those applying online, hard copy of application alongwith supporting documents should be submitted to reach the above-mentioned address by 30th September 2010.
 

VII      GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS :

 

1.         A candidate may apply for only one subject of his/her choice.

 

2.         As a condition of award, the Commission or a host institution in Britain may also require a candidate to take particular English Tests and/or training in English.

 

3.         The final selection of the nominated candidates rests with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in U.K.

 

4.         Nomination of a candidate by Government of India does not guarantee final selection or placement. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission will make its own selection out of overall nominees recommended by all the participating countries in the programme.

 

5.         Mere fulfillment of minimum requirements as laid down in the advertisement does not qualify a candidate for interview. Interview letters are sent only to a limited number of candidates after their applications are examined by the Committee of Experts.

 

6.        Application must be accompanied by attested copies of certificates regarding date of birth, diplomas, degrees, mark sheets in respect of all the examination passed alongwith experience certificate of Employment (if any) and one copy of recently taken passport size photograph with signature (to be pasted on application form). Self attested certificates will not be accepted.

 

7.         Applicants already holding a Doctoral Degree or about to obtain will not be considered. Candidates who have already done a Ph.D. in India or abroad are not considered.

 

8.         Candidates who have already been abroad for studies/training/specialization either on scholarships or on their own, for a period exceeding six months are eligible to apply if they have been in India for at least two consecutive years after returning from abroad as on 15.09.2010. Applications of candidates who are already abroad will not be considered.

 

9.        In case of candidates qualifying from Universities, where grades are awarded, the candidates are required to furnish exact percentage of marks and indicate the conversion formula.

 

10.       Candidates will be expected to have some knowledge of India and of the donor country.

 

11.       Candidates who are employed must apply through their employers. Candidates belonging to the All India Services should send their applications through their Cadre Controlling Authority. No Objection Certificate from Employer should invariably be submitted on or before the time of interview. Otherwise candidates will not be allowed to appear for interview.

 

12.       It is very important that applicants who are in employment to which they wish to return after completion of their studies in UK should have an assurance from their Organisation that if their nomination is successful, they will be granted sufficient leave of absence. In general, a candidate undertaking research for a Ph.D. can be expected to need 36 months study in the United Kingdom even though in the first instance, the award will only be offered for one or two years.

 

13.      While indicating the period of past experience and stay abroad, candidates should mention the specific dates.

 

14.      As these scholarships are offered by Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in UK the applications should be submitted in English only.

 

15.      Applications in subject-fields other than those specified in the advertisement will not be considered.

 

16.      Candidates who do not possess the essential qualification need not apply.

 

17.      Candidates must furnish a clear and precise programme of study/research (minimum 500 words) justifying that their study/research can be carried out in the United Kingdom. Candidates are advised to describe their plan for study/research proposals carefully as these will be a primary condition in selection both PG/Ph.D course.

 

18        Incomplete applications and applications received after the stipulated date will not be considered and no correspondence will be entertained.

 

19.      Documents submitted along with the application will not be returned. Hence, candidates are advised to send only attested copies of the certificates.

 

20.      CANVASSING IN ANY FORM WILL BE A DISQUALIFICATION.

 

21.       In case no interview letter is received by an applicant by 30th October, 2010, it may be presumed that he/she has not been short listed by the Selection Committee. No correspondence will be entertained in this regard.

 

22.      THE DECISION OF SELECTION COMMITTEE SHALL BE FINAL. NO REPRESENTATION IN THIS REGARD WILL BE ENTERTAINED.

 

23. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE WWW.EDUCATION.NIC.IN APPLICATION FORM CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM THE SITE OR CAN ALSO BE SUBMITTED ON LINE. IN CASE OF ONLINE SUBMISSION, THE CANDIDATES MUST SUBMIT THE HARD COPY OF APPLICATION MENTIONING THE REGISTRATION NUMBER RECEIVED ONLINE AND THE PHOTOGRAPH, ATTESTED COPIES OF CERTIFICATES MENTIONED IN PARA 6 ABOVE BY 30TH SEPTEMBER, OTHERWISE IT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

 

24.       NO APPLICATION FORMS IS BEING SUPPLIED BY THIS MINISTRY.
 

IMPORTANT:

 

(i)        Candidates are advised to submit simultaneously another “Independent Application” to their chosen ‘Institution’ in the U.K. directly so that their placements and admission become easier.

 

(ii)        In case, the candidate has received any offer / invitation for admission in any University or Institution in U.K., he/she should bring the same and produce before the Selection Committee at the time of interview.
 

NOTE:
 

The number of applicants for Commonwealth Scholarship UK is quite large and interested candidates who have applied for the subjects offered for Commonwealth Scholarship UK 2011 can also be considered for scholarships offered in these subjects by other countries. The countries that have offered slots for scholarships for 2011 till date in various subjects (not necessarily those listed above) are given below:

(1) Japan (2) Mexico (3) Italy (4) Czech (5) Belgium (6) Israel (7) China (8) Slovak (9) Turkey.

Candidates who are also interested in being considered for these subjects for other countries scholarships, if offered in these subjects may give their order of preference of countries. Candidates who have not given any preferences will only be considered for Commonwealth Scholarship UK 2011. All the terms and conditions including value of award may vary from country to country.
 

 

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For online application please click the URL http://www.ignouonline.ac.in/cws2011/ or http://www.ignouonline.ac.in/cws2011/Default.aspx