UNESCO/Sri Lanka Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme 2018-2019

Annoucement Date: 28 June 2018

Dealine for submission: 09 July 2018

Click here to read the Announcement Letter for Session 2018-2019                             

What is it about?

With the view to enhance the strategic objective of UNESCO and promoting the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 Agenda, the Government of Sri Lanka has placed at disposal of UNESCO for the academic year 2018-2019, under the co-sponsorship with UNESCO, two (2) fellowships for selected students from 18 least developed countries to pursue undergraduate studies in Sri Lanka.

Beneficiaries of these two fellowships will undertake their first year of study, which will commence in November 2018, under the scheme of UNESCO/Sri Lanka Co-sponsored Fellowships Programme. From the second year until the completion of the study programme, the fellows will be sponsored solely by the Government of Sri Lanka under the Government Scholarship Scheme. The medium of instruction of the courses will be in English.

Invited Member States

Afghanistan, Gambia, Kiribati , Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Myanmar, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands , South Sudan , Sudan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Zambia

Programmes of Study

• BSc in Agricultural Technology and Management, University of Peradeniya (4 year)
• BSc in Environmental Conservation and Management in the direction of Climate Change Studies, University of Kelaniya (3 year)

Eligibility

(i)            Candidates must have impressive results at an examination deemed equivalent to G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Examination of Sri Lanka or qualifications required for admission to a university in their home country to follow a bachelor’s degree. All required passes should be obtained in one and the same sitting under a recognized Board of Examinations subject to the rules set out by the Education Authority of the country concerned.

(ii)           English proficiency is required.

(iii)          Between 18-25 years of age as of 16. 04.2018.

(iv)          Be in good health.

Entry Requirements of the Universities

Applicants are required to achieve three passes for one of the combination of subjects given below:
BSc in Agricultural Technology and Management (special), University of Peradeniya:
- Chemistry, Physics and Biology;
- Chemistry, Physics/Mathematics and Biology/Agricultural Science;
- Chemistry, Biology, and Agricultural Science/Mathematics.

BSc in Environmental Conservation and Management, University of Kelaniya:
- Biology, Chemistry and Physics;
- Biology, Chemistry and Combined Mathematics; 
- Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics; 
- Biology, Chemistry and Agricultural Science.

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How to Apply?

Step 1:
Read carefully the Announcement letter, especially the attached ANNEX II, for UNESCO/Sri Lanka Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme 2018-2019 to understand the requirements for eligible candidatures.

Step 2:
Contact the National Commission for UNESCO of your country to enquire the application procedures at national level. Click here for the information to contact the National Commissions for UNESCO.

Step 3:
Prepare the following application documents (in English ) properly in duplicate:

(i)  Duly completed application form;
(ii) Copies of academic transcripts of G.C.E.A/L (General Certificate of Education Qualification, Advanced Level) and G.C.E.O/L (General Certificate of Education Qualification, Ordinary Level) certified by the relevant examination board, or their equivalents in the relevant field of study in which the scholarships are offered;
* Candidates are advised to attach the original letter obtained from the Board of Examinations to prove that his/her educational qualification are equivalent to the G.C.E.(A/L) Examination in Sri Lanka, or qualifications required for admission to a university in their home country to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
(iii) For non-native English speakers: a certificate of English language proficiency (i.e. achieving no less than 525 in TOFEL or 6.5 in IELTS), or a letter from competent authorities of the respective countries confirming that the medium of instruction of the applicant’s previous education is English;
(iv) Three passport photos;
(v) Certified copy of birth certificate;
(vi) Certified copies of the birth certificates of parents;
(vii) Certified copies of data pages of the applicant’s passport (the validity of the passport shall remain 1 year after the applicant’s arrival in Sri Lanka);
(viii) Health certificate issued by a government hospital in the applicant’s home country as per the attached format .
(ix) Police report.

Step 4:
Submit your application to the National Commission/Permanent Dlegation fo UNESCO of your countries.

Step 5:
The National Commission for UNESCO of your home country will evaluate the application documents and select one candidate.

Step 6 (for applicants endorsed by the National Commissions):
Submit the letter of endorsement from the National Commission for UNESCO, or the Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, the the hard copies of all application documents to UNESCO Secretariat.

Submission and Selection of Candidates

Letters of endorsement and the hard copies of all application documents should be addressed in duplicate to Mr Stoyan Bantchev, Chief of the Participation Programme and Fellowships Section, 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France and reach UNESCO imperatively by 09 July 2018 at the latest. An advanced copy of the application documents should be sent as early as possible by email to s.bantchev(at)unesco.org and b.qin(at)unesco.org.

Candidates who do not fulfil the qualification mentioned above, or submit incomplete application or submit application after the deadline will lose their eligibility in the selection.

UNESCO and the authorities concerned in Sri Lanka will select the best two (2) fellows among the qualified candidates. The National Commissions for UNESCO of the beneficiaries will be duly informed by UNESCO.

Candidates who do not receive the result of their application by 31 September 2018 should consider that their applications are rejected.

Facilities Offered by the Government of Sri Lanka

(i) Exemption from paying tuition and registration fees for the entire duration of the study programme;
(ii) A monthly living allowance of LKR 10,000 (ten thousand Sri Lanka rupees) during the first year of study to cover expenses related to food and accommodation;
(iii) Free-of-charge medical facilities at government hospitals other than dental-related diseases;
(iv) An advisor or study director from the host institution to supervise the studies of the beneficiaries; and
(v) Visa on gratis basis for the entry to Sri Lanka

* From the second year until the end of the study programme, the fellows will be solely sponsored by the Government of Sri Lanka under the Government Scholarship Scheme, and the fellows will be offered a monthly living allowance of LKR 30,000 (thirty thousand Sri Lanka rupees) and a one-way ticket from Sri Lanka to their home country after the successful completion of their study.

For more information about Sri Lanka Government Scholarship for Foreign Students, please visit the webpage of Sri Lanka Ministry of Higher Education and Highways: mohe.gov.lk/index.php/en/scholaships/foreign-students/100-scholarships-for-foreign-students.

Facilities Offered by UNESCO

(i) The expense of a round-trip international travel to and from Sri Lanka for the academic year 2018-2019;
(ii) A one-time allowance of US$ 350 (three hundred and fifty US dollars), which will be paid prior to the fellow’s departure to Sri Lanka, to cover their immediate expense in Sri Lanka;
(iii) A monthly allowance of US$ 150 (one hundred and fifty US dollars) for eleven (11) months; and
(iv) A termination allowance of US$ 200 (two hundred US dollars) to cover excess luggage charges at the time of return to home country.

Visas

All international students going to study in Sri Lanka are required to obtain their visa from the Embassy or Consulate of Sri Lanka in their country before their departure to Sri Lanka. In exceptional cases, visa may be given upon arrival at the airport of Sri Lanka with valid documents issued by the authorities in Sri Lanka. Fellows are recommended to start their visa application at least one month before their departure. Selected candidates will be duly informed of the procedures of visa application after awarded.

Other Terms and Conditions

(i) On the condition that an awarded candidate cannot complete his/her study programme within the prescribed period of study due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances, the related authority in Sri Lanka will consider to extend the fellow’s scholarship, by one year at the maximum, according to the suggestion given by the university concerned.
(ii) The rules and regulations imposed by each university for the local students will also apply to the awarded candidates.
(iii) Scholarship and studentship will be cancelled if:
- the student fails to maintain a satisfactory academic performance according;
- the student fails to maintain a satisfactory academic performance according to the grading system of the university;
- the student leaves Sri Lanka without getting approval from the university;
- the student does not comply with the rules and regulation of the university.
(iv) On the condition that a student leaves the course prior to completion of his/her study programme, he/she is liable to pay all the expenses incurred by the Government of Sri Lanka.