Australia Scholarships 2013 (for 2014)

Alert: 21 Janauary 2013 – Information Sessions Registration

SASP will organize Information Sessions for potential applicants in Bhutan for Australia Awards Scholarships 2014 Intake.

Please click HERE to register for an Information Session no later than 6 February 2013.

Australia Awards Scholarships – Bhutan: Intake Commencing Academic Year 2014

Applications for the intake commencing academic year 2014 must be lodged by COB, 30th April 2014.

Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their application online at https://oasis.ausaid.gov.au. For assistance, contact the Bhutan South Asia Scholarships Program (SASP) office using the contact details below.

Australia Awards

The Australia Awards bring together scholarships offered through AusAID and other Australian government departments. They are an Australian government initiative designed to promote knowledge, education links and enduring ties between Australia, its neighbours and the global community. Over time, the Australia Awards aim to build a new generation of global leaders with strong links to Australia.

The focus of AusAID’s Australia Awards is to develop human resource capacity and leadership skills. The aim is for individuals to contribute to development in their home countries and build people-to-people links at individual, institutional and country levels.In Bhutan, AusAID’s Australia Awards are offered to eligible applicants from the public sector and the private and corporate sector (including national NGOs and autonomous agencies). Awards are offered at Master’s level only.Expected outcomes of Australia AwardsThe Australia Awards in Bhutan aim to achieve the following outcomes:

Awardees demonstrate high level professional and technical skills relevant to their area of expertise
Awardees return to their home countries and successfully reintegrate into the workforce
Awardees exercise good leadership, apply new skills and nurture partnerships with institutions in the region and Australia
Awardees apply their skills to contribute to improving capacity in their organisations and institutions
An alumni network is operating in Bhutan.

Australia Awards ScholarshipsAustralia Awards Scholarships are long-term scholarships to study at Postgraduate level in Australia. They are managed by AusAID and are part of the Australia Awards. They were previously known as Australian Development Scholarships.Australia Awards Scholarships provide opportunities for qualified people from Bhutan to study full-time at Master’s level in Australia, either by coursework or research. They equip scholars with skills and knowledge to drive change and influence development outcomes in Bhutan.The fields of study identified each year for Australia Awards Scholarships reflect the development needs of Bhutan and priorities agreed between AusAID and the Royal Government of Bhutan. They align with Australia’s bilateral aid program and regional objectives.Australia Awards Leadership Program

Some outstanding awardees of Australia Awards Scholarships will be offered places in the Australia Awards Leadership Program. This Program is a supplement to the Australia Award Scholarships; there is no separate application for this. It will bring awardees together in Australia for leadership training, development discussions and opportunities to build valuable networks.

EntitlementsAustralia Awards Scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary to complete an academic program, including any preparatory training. They attract the following benefits:

Full tuition fees
Economy class airfare to and from Australia, via the most direct route
Medical expenses related to the AusAID Student Visa 576
An establishment allowance to contribute to costs such as accommodation, books, etc.
A fortnightly contribution to basic living expenses paid at a rate determined by AusAID
A compulsory 4-6 week Introductory Academic Program covering life and study in Australia prior to commencing formal studies
Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of the award to cover an awardee’s basic medical costs. (This is for an awardee only and excludes pre-existing medical conditions).Subject to requirements and eligibility, awardees may also receive:
Supplementary Academic Support (Tutorial Assistance), if required, to improve a student’s performance to assist with academic success
A reunion airfare for unaccompanied AusAID Scholars (see the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook for details)
A once only return economy class airfare via the most direct route may be approved for eligible research AusAID Scholars for fieldwork in Australia or their home country or a third country in exceptional circumstances
Costs associated with participating in the Australia Awards Leadership Program for awardees offered a place in the program.

View the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook at http://www.ausaid.gov.au/australia-awards/Documents/scholar-handbook.pdf for more details.Priority study areasThe priority sectors of study for Australia Awards Scholarships in Bhutan are shown in the table below. Applicants must apply for only one study program from the eligible courses provided below:

1. Civil service applicants

Study Program Target Sector
Architecture Cross-sectoral
Economics Cross-sectoral
Engineering Cross-sectoral
Human Resources Cross-sectoral
Information Technology Cross-sectoral
Law Cross-sectoral
Mass Communications/Media studies Cross-sectoral
Planning/Development Studies Cross-sectoral
Statistics Cross-sectoral
Accounting Ministry of Finance & Ministry of Education
MBA (Finance/Marketing) Ministry of Finance & Ministry of Economic Affairs
Animal/Food Science Ministry of Agriculture and Forests
English Ministry of Education
Mathematics Ministry of Education
Sciences Ministry of Education
Geology Ministry of Economic Affairs
International Trade Ministry of Economic Affairs
Electronics & Communications Engineering Ministry of Information and Communications
Urban planning/design Thromdes & Ministry of Works and Human
Arts and Humanities Royal University of Bhutan

2. Private and Corporate sector applicants

Course Target Sectors
Business Administration Cross Sectoral
Human Resource Management Cross Sectoral
Information & Communication Technology Cross Sectoral
Professional Accounting Cross Sectoral (Finance, Trading)
Electrical Engineering Cross Sectoral (Power, Construction)
Civil Engineering Cross Sectoral (Power, Construction)
Journalism Cross Sectoral (Media)
Mass Communication Cross Sectoral (Media)
Corporate Sector
Economics Finance
Actuarial Science Finance
Private Sector
Hospitality and Tourism Hospitality and Tourism
MBA International Business Finance, Trading, Production
Food Technology Production
Structural Engineering Construction
Education Education
Education (Mathematics/Sciences) Education

Note: Applicants are encouraged to carefully consider study programs and institution preferences before applying. AusAID and the RGOB will not consider requests for change of selected courses and institutions after submission of applications.Eligibility criteriaGeneral eligibility criteriaAn applicant must:

be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of commencing an Award
be a citizen of Bhutan
be resident in Bhutan
not be married or engaged to or be a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, at any of the application, selection or mobilization phases or while on-scholarship in Australia
not be current serving military personnel
not be applying for a visa to live in Australia
not be applying for another long-term AusAID scholarship unless they have returned to their home country and resided there for twice the length of the total time that they were in Australia (for example, a previous Scholar who has been on AusAID scholarship/s in Australia for four years will not be eligible to apply for another AusAID scholarship until they have been home for eight years)
not hold or have held an Australian Government-funded scholarship (e.g. Endeavour Award) in the preceding two years, at the time of application
satisfy any specific criteria established by the applicant’s country and/or government of citizenship
be able to satisfy the admission requirements of the university at which the Award is to be undertaken (this may mean the offer of an Award is withdrawn if the recipient cannot satisfy the institution’s admission requirements. This may not be known until a placement is requested at selected institutions). It is the applicants responsibility to ensure they meet the admission requirements of the university
be able to satisfy all requirements of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for an AusAID Student Visa 576 (this may mean an offer of an Award is withdrawn if the recipient cannot satisfy the visa requirements)
have achieved a minimum academic IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0; or a TOEFL paper-based test score of at least 580, or a TOEFL computer-based test score of at least 237, or a TOEFL internet-based score of at least 92. Scores must be valid at 1 January 2014.

Note: Applicants must inform the Senior Program Manager, AusAID, Australian High Commission, 1/20G Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 10021 INDIA, of any connection or relationship to staff employed at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi or with the South Asia Scholarships Program in Bhutan.Country-specific criteriaIn addition, applicants must:

have completed a tertiary level qualification at least equivalent to an Australian Bachelors degree
provide an employer nomination letter from the Human Resource Officer (HRO) of the parent organization/agency. In addition to this, applicants from private/corporate sectors must also submit a nomination letter from the Department of Human Resources, Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR)
have at least 3 years (including probation period) of work experience in the chosen field of study for Bhutan Civil Service Exam (BCSE) select applicants, and must have at least 5 years (including probation period) of work experience in the chosen field of study for BCSE non-select applicants. Categorical relaxation of this criteria will be provided to applicants from certain professional background as specified under civil service rules and regulation of the government of Bhutan (Chapter 9: Clause 6.1.5)
meet all eligibility criteria specified under the Bhutan Civil Service Rules (BCSR) 2012, if the applicant is a civil servant
meet all eligibility criteria specified in the “Guidelines for Human Resource Development (HRD) support to private and corporate sector” of the Department of Human Resources, MOLHR, if the applicant is from the private or corporate sector, including national NGOs and autonomous agencies that fall out of civil service jurisdiction
be a full-time employee of a government, corporate or private sector organization including national NGOs and autonomous agencies
have the relevant academic background for their proposed study program.

Awardees are required to:

sign a contract with the Commonwealth of Australia declaring they will comply with the conditions of the Award
return to Bhutan for at least two years after completing their study, to contribute to economic and social development of Bhutan. Failure to do so will incur a debt to the Commonwealth of Australia for the total value of the Award.

CRICOS and researching coursesThe Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) has information on all Australian university courses available to international students.It is important for applicants to investigate options in the courses of study they hope to pursue. The CRICOS website and websites of individual universities are the best places to do this.

They can clarify:

if a course is available to international students
details of course content to compare course components
English language requirements for selected courses
other specific course requirements
how closely course content links with a Development Theme

Read the information on CRICOS carefully because not all courses are available to international students. Each course has a unique code: a six digit number and check letter. This number is an important identifier for selected courses. It must be accurate when typed into an application.CRICOS is found at http://cricos.deewr.gov.auImportant actions to start now

Applicants must first check if they are eligible to apply for an Australia Award. Eligibility criteria are detailed above and can be found in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook.

Applicants should download the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook and read it carefully. This is available at: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/australia-awards/Documents/scholar-handbook.pdf

Applicants must carefully research universities and courses, especially the areas detailed in the section, CRICOS and researching courses, above. It is the responsibility of applicants to understand all aspects of study programs at their preferred university before submitting their applications. Applicants must include two preferred universities in their application.

Applicants must ensure they:

apply for only one study program listed against their agency/sector (as shown in the table above)
satisfy all enrolment requirements specified by a university, including English language proficiency requirements
identify a supervisor if they wish to undertake a Masters by Research. Applicants must provide a statement from a supervisor giving in-principle support to their research proposal. The statement must be included with their applications.

Note: Applicants are not required to obtain admissions or get offer letters from the universities/institutions.Required documentsThe following documents must be submitted with applications. Failure to do so may make an application ineligible. Some documents must be notarized, these are indicated in the table below.

Citizenship identity card
Birth certificate
Ordinary passport (Official or Diplomatic passport will not be accepted)
Tertiary degree certificates and any additional awards
Full academic transcripts* showing grades for all secondary and university-level subjects/units attempted
IELTS or TOEFL certificate valid at 1 January 2014
Employer nomination letter from parent/working agency. Employer nomination letter templates can be downloaded from the following links:
Nomination letter template for civil servants
Nomination letter template for private and corporate employees
Applicants from corporate and private sectors must have a nomination letter from the Department of Human Resources, Ministry of Labour and Human Resources. Visit www.molhr.gov.bt for more details.

Two referee reports, using the templates at:

Referee report template [PDF]
Referee report template [Word]
Completed Development Impact Plan (DIP) form. Template can be downloaded from the following link.
Development Impact Plan form
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Certificates of special achievements or merit (if any)
Police clearance certificate (hard copy)
Passport sized photograph.

*For Royal University of Bhutan graduates, include both consolidated and year-by-year transcripts.In addition, the following needs to be submitted for a Master by Research study program.

Two academic and one professional referee report. Contact the Bhutan SASP team to clarify details about reference requirements. Referee reports must be provided using the templates at the following links. Reports in different formats cannot be accepted and may make applications ineligible.Evidence of communication from the program supervisor, indicating the institution’s willingness to support the applicant’s research study program.

Referee report template [PDF]
Referee report template [Word]

Note: Experience shows that it takes time for supervisors to complete referee reports. Approach supervisors as soon as possible to obtain up-to-date referee reports. If a referee report is not in English, a translation is required. References should come from employers, senior colleagues or academics familiar with the applicant’s academic, professional skills and achievements. Referee reports from family members or spouses are not acceptable.

Document requirements:

Document Description Notarised
Nationality identity card Yes
Birth certificate Yes
Passport copy Yes
Any degree certificates Yes
Secondary and tertiary academic transcripts Yes
Merit certificates Yes
IELTS or TOEFL certificates Yes
Employer nomination letter No
Referee reports No
Security clearance No
Development Impact Plan No
Curriculum Vitae (CV) No
Passport sized photo No
Research proposal (for research applicants) No
Evidence of in-principle support from supervisor (for research applicants) No

How to apply

The online application form is accessible at https://oasis.ausaid.gov.au. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications online. Those who need to submit hard copy applications must contact the Bhutan SASP office well before the application deadline. Hardcopy application forms can be obtained from the Bhutan SASP Office in Thimphu.

The Supporting Statement section of the application form is particularly important. Applicants must provide strong arguments to demonstrate their suitability for an Australia Award.

Applicants who wish to pursue studies by research (including Master’s by research, or Master’s by coursework with a research component) must complete the Research Proposal Details section.

Applicants must complete the English Language Proficiency section in full, including their scores. Applicants must attach a valid copy of their IELTS or TOEFL certificate.

Enter your name in the online application form as it appears in your passport.

Scanned copies of supporting documents must be uploaded with the online application form. Applicants lodging hard copy applications must provide 3 copies of the application form with notarized copies of the relevant supporting documents attached to each of them.

Hardcopy applications must be received by the Bhutan SASP office at least two weeks before the online applications closing date.

Scholarship management processThe selection process is open and transparent. The 9 key steps in the processes are:

Intake opens – 1 February 2013
Submit online or postal applications with necessary supporting documents
Intake closes at 5.00 pm 30 April 2013
Eligibility checks, independent assessments and ranking
Short listing, interview, recommendation of applicants and offer of scholarships
Bhutan SASP team seeks university placement
Immigration/visa and health clearances
Pre-departure briefing and mobilization
In-Australia support

Useful linksFurther information about AusAID’s Australia Awards can be found at:

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/australia-awardsInformation about visas and award entitlements and conditions can be found in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook at:

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/australia-awards/Documents/scholar-handbook.pdfMore general information about the Australia Awards, AusAID and studying in Australia can be found at:

www.australiaawards.gov.au

www.ausaid.gov.au

http://studyinaustralia.gov.auContact usCountry Scholarship Coordinator – Bhutan and India

South Asia Scholarships Program (SASP)

(Karma’s Coffee Building, Room 401)

P.O. Box: 1522

Phendey Lam, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan

T (975)-2-331845, F (975)-2-334793,

M (975) 17117224/17117225/17620984

Email: bhutan@southasiascholarships.org

http://www.southasiascholarships.org/bhutan

PELKHIL SCHOOL

Australia Scholarships 2013 (for 2014)