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EDUCATION => Scholarships => Topic started by: sparrow on Feb 20, 2011, 10:04 AM

Title: Australian Government Postgraduate/Master’s Level Scholarships for Nigerians
Post by: sparrow on Feb 20, 2011, 10:04 AM
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Applications are invited from Nigerian nationals who wish to undertake postgraduate studies at Masters level at Australian Universities commencing in January 2012. The Scholarships are funded by the Austrailian Government and managed by the Austrian Agency for International Development (AusAid).

Scholarships cover airfares, tuition fees, medical cover and a living allowance in Australia. Female applicants and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Application Process:
1.   Carefully read the information given in Australia Awards for Nigeria Information Pack – click here (http://adsafrica.com.au/documents/nigeria_application.doc) to download it in Microsoft Word 1997-2003 format, or click here for PDF format (http://adsafrica.com.au/documents/nigeria_application.pdf).
2.   Check your eligibility against the 'Desired Applicant Profile' requirements outlined on the second page of the Information Pack.
3.   Submit the documents shown in (2) below to the Australia Awards Program Manager at the details given in (6) below by 28 February 2011.  Incomplete applications will be rejected.
4.   Send a 'proof of submission' email to GRM-ADS as instructed at the bottom of the Preliminary Application Form once you have submitted your complete application.
5.   Candidates that are shortlisted for interview will be contacted.  Africa-wide interviews are currently scheduled for between mid-May and mid-July 2011 (although this may be subject to change so please keep checking this website).  If you are shortlisted, you will be notified of the interview dates for your country, but if you are not contacted by end June 2011 you should assume your application was unsuccessful. 
6.   After the interviews, all interviewees will be given an information session explaining the rest the ADS and visa application processes.
7.   All interviewees will be notified around mid-August 2011 whether they are Priority or Reserve candidates, or unsuccessful.

Applicants that do not meet the eligibility criteria will be disqualified.

(2) Application Documents
•   a fully completed and signed Preliminary Application Form (PAF) - you can download it in Microsoft Word 1997-2003 (http://adsafrica.com.au/documents/preliminaryApplication.doc) format or PDF format (http://adsafrica.com.au/documents/preliminaryApplication.pdf);
•   a current curriculum vitae in English;
•   a certified copy of your university degree(s) and transcripts;
•   a certified copy of your identity document; and
•   all other documents, statutory declarations and other requirements as given in the Checklist (Point 4) of the Preliminary Application Form.

Failure to complete the application form and submit all documentation requested will lead to automatic disqualification. No undergraduate or PhD nominations will be considered.

(3) ADS Category Public. 
The public category of scholarships is intended to strengthen public sector capacity in Africa. Public sector applicants are employees from public sector organisations or training institutions including parastatals and other public sector entities.

(4) Priority Sectors
•   Education
•   Public Policy (including public sector reform, trade and diplomacy)

(5) Closing date for Receipt of Applications

28 February 2011

(6) Address for Application Submissions

Postal Address:
Australia Awards Program Manager
Australian Development Scholarships
GRM International
Bag X38, Hatfield
Pretoria 0028
SOUTH AFRICA

Physical Address (for courier):
Australia Awards Program Manager
Australian Development Scholarships
GRM International
Floor 2, Hatfield Plaza South Tower
1122 Burnett Street
Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028
SOUTH AFRICA

If you are going to send your documents by courier, please use the Physical Address, not the Postal Address.  Most courier companies will not – and should not – allow you to specify a PO Box or Bag No. as the delivery address.

Fax: +27 86 602 3719
Email:  application@adsafrica.org

(7) English Language Proficiency:
To gain admission to an Australian University, applicants will need to have a level of English language competency as indicated by the following scores in an IELTSor TOEFL test: 
(i) for IELTS, an overall band score of 6.5 or above with no individual band less than 6.0;
(ii) for internet-based TOEFL (iBT), an Overall score of 90 or above, with a written score of no less than 23;
(iii) for paper-based TOEFL (pBT), an Overall score of 577 or above, with a written of 5.0. 

The Australian universities administer the application of these requirements on a country by country basis. Applicants from Nigeria do not need to prove their English Language Proficiency at this preliminary application stage, and usually do not need to prove it if selected for an award.

However, we advise successful candidates to provide one of the following proofs of English language proficiency, because it can help prevent English-proficiency problems during the process of applying for a course at an Australian Institution.
1.   Candidates that have studied at a University within the last five years which instructed in English may present an official letter from that institution indicating that the medium of instruction was English. Click here (http://www.adsafrica.com.au/countryinfo/documents/2009-05-12%20Example%20University%20English%20MOI%20Letter.pdf) for an example.
2.   Candidates that have been out of University for longer than five years, but have worked recently in a professional environment that used English as the main language, may present a letter signed by their employer confirming that English was the medium of interaction in the workplace. Click here (http://www.adsafrica.com.au/countryinfo/documents/2009-05-12%20Example%20Employer%20English%20MOI%20Letter.pdf) for an example.

In certain cases, Australian Universities may require additional proof of English even in situations where letters from the University or workplace have been provided.

Applicants should note that the Awards programme receives large volumes of applications for its scholarships.  Any applications that are incomplete, unsigned, or where the applicant does not meet all the Desired Applicant Profile criteria will be automatically rejected.  We regret that we are unable to answer queries on individual applications.

Source: AusAID - Australian Scholarships (http://www.adsafrica.com.au/countryNigeria.php)