The 2013/2014 OFID (OPEC Fund for International Development) Scholarship Award.

Deadline: 1 May 2013
OFID (The OPEC Fund for International Development) is pleased to announce that qualified applicants who have obtained or are on the verge of completing their undergraduate degree and who wish to study for a Master’s degree are welcome to apply for the OFID Scholarship 2013.

The OFID Scholarship will be awarded to support students or candidates for Master’s degree studies. The applicant must be from a developing country, and he/she must first obtain admission to pursue a Master’s (graduate) degree in any recognized university/college in the world. The Scholarship is open to those students who wish to pursue studies in a relevant field of Development or Energy Studies.

Through its scholarship scheme, OFID aims to help highly motivated, highly-driven individuals overcome one of the biggest challenges to their careers – the cost of graduate studies. The winner of the OFID Scholarship Award will receive a tuition support of up to US$50,000.

The funds will be spread over a maximum of one year, toward the completion of a Master’s degree, or its equivalent, at an accredited educational institution, starting in the autumn of the academic year 2013.

Host Institution(s): Any accredited university/college in the world

Field of Study: Any field of study related to Development or Energy Studies

Number of Scholarships: The OFID scholarship will be awarded to support one student or candidate for Master’s degree studies.

Target Group: The applicant may be from any developing country:

In addition to nationals of OFID Member States (Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, GSP Libyan AJ, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,  United Arab Emirates, Venezuela), nationals of the following countries are also eligible:

Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Central African Republic,   Comoros, Congo  DR ,  Republic of Congo,  Cote d’lvoire, Djibouti, Egypt,  Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,  Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho,  Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania,  Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,  Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania,  Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Scholarship Value/inclusions: The winner of the OFID Scholarship Award will receive a tuition support of up to US$50,000. The tuition fees, including any supplementary examination fees, as may be required by the academic institution, will be paid by OFID directly to the academic institution. Health insurance will be paid in accordance with the institution’s own standard medical scheme.

A monthly allowance to cover living expenses, books and accommodation, will be transferred to the student’s own personal bank account on a quarterly basis.

Prior to the start of his/her first year studies, the student will be paid a relocation grant, equal to two-month allowance. OFID will also pay for travel costs from the nearest airport to the student’s place of residence, to the nearest airport to the chosen place of study. Upon completion of the studies, the student will be paid the cost of one-way air ticket to his/her home country.

Eligibility: OFID (The OPEC Fund for International Development) is pleased to announce that qualified applicants:

Must be between the ages of 23-32 at the time of submitting his/her application.
Must have obtained or be on the verge of completing their undergraduate degree with a Baccalaureate from an accredited college/university, or its equivalent.
Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 rating system, or its equivalent.
Must be matriculated at an accredited university for the upcoming academic year starting August/September 2013, and must maintain full-time status for the duration of the Master’s Degree.
Must be a national of a developing country (except OFID Member Countries)
Must select a subject of study that pertains to OFID’s core mission, such as: economics of development (poverty reduction, energy and sustainable development), environment (desertification), or other related science and technology fields. PLEASE NOTE: Kindly read ALL of the directions below before proceeding with the application process:

Applicants are responsible for gathering and submitting all necessary information. Applications will be evaluated based on the information provided. Therefore, all questions should be answered as thoroughly as possible. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Once an application has been submitted, no changes will be allowed on it.

OFID will not consider applications received through a third party.

Please do not call or email OFID to ask if your application has been received, or to inquire about your status.

Please note that only the winner will be notified.

All materials submitted become the property of OFID and will not be returned to the applicant.

Applicants must complete the on-line application.

Please do not call or email OFID to see if your application has been received (you will, in any case, receive an automated confirmation) or to inquire about your status. Only the winner will be notified by 13 June 2013 at OFID’s website.

It is important to  visit the official website (link found below) to access the application form and  for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Visit the Official Scholarship Website for the OFID Scholarship Award 2013/2014