Applying for an Australia Awards Scholarship

Maldives

Australia Awards Scholarships in the Maldives Level of study Australia’s international development Australia Awards Scholarships provide assistance in the Maldives helps citizens of the Maldives with promote prosperity, reduce the opportunity to obtain a poverty, and enhance political Masters qualification at an stability. Australian tertiary institution. Australia Awards Scholarships are Awards will be offered for commencement prestigious international awards in 2019. offered by the Australian Government to the next Applicants must research two preferred generation of global leaders for courses, including information provided development. Through study on institution websites, and ensure that and research, recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive they satisfy ALL admission change and help build enduring requirements for their preferred people-to-people links with courses, including the English Australia. language requirements Applicants are assessed on their professional and personal Australia Awards benefits qualities, academic competence Australia Awards Scholarships are offered and, most importantly, their for the minimum period necessary for the potential to impact on development challenges in the individual to complete the academic Maldives. program specified by the Australian education institution, including any Applications are strongly encouraged from women and people with preparatory training. disability. Scholarship recipients will generally receive the following: Priority areas of study • return air travel The priority areas of study for the Maldives for the • a one-off establishment allowance on arrival 2019 intake are: • full tuition fees • economic development • contribution to living expenses • education • Introductory Academic Program • environmental management • Overseas Student Health Cover for the • good governance. duration of the scholarship Applicants are free to nominate any Masters level • supplementary academic support and course, provided they can justify how this course fits within one of the priority development areas listed • fieldwork allowance for research students and above. As a part of the selection process, the masters by coursework which has a compulsory assessors will determine the relevance of the fieldwork component. applicants’ chosen field of study to the priority areas listed above as well as to the broader development Eligibility criteria objectives of the scholarships. Australia Awards applicants must meet all eligibility requirements detailed in the Australia Awards Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2019 Scholarships Policy Handbook, available at: The application process dfat.gov.au/about- us/publications/Pages/australia-awards- Online applications scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx Apply online at: https://oasis.dfat.gov.au Country-specific conditions We strongly advise applicants to commence their In addition to the eligibility online application well before the closing date. The requirements, candidates from the online application facility (OASIS) experiences peak Maldives must also meet the following usage in the days leading up to the closing date and conditions: applicants may experience delays. Hard copy 1. not have held a foreign applications are not accepted. scholarship in the 24 months Supporting documents preceding the application closing date Applicants must submit with their application all of the relevant 2. not have obtained an academic supporting documents listed in the qualification outside the Maldives Australia Awards Scholarships Policy in the 24 months preceding the Handbook available at: application closing date, calculated from the date of arrival back in the http://dfat.gov.au/about- home country us/publications/Pages/australia-awards- scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx 3. have a tertiary qualification at least equivalent to an Australian Bachelor’s degree Applicants must also provide the following documents to meet the specific requirements for the Maldives. 4. select a Masters course not longer than two years in duration Documents requiring certification are 5. have worked in the Maldives for at least specified in the table. If the document is not 24 months preceding the application closing date in English, the translated copy must be and after completing their Bachelor’s degree. certified. See the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook for Application dates certification requirements.

For study commencing in Australia in OASIS Cert 2019 Required Document Docume ified Opening date: 1 February 2018 nt Type Closing date: 30 April 2018 Applications and/or supporting documents received Birth certificate/ passport/ Proof of Yes after the closing date will not be considered. national ID citizenshi Applicants must consider course selections p carefully before applying. Tertiary diploma/ degree Degree Yes Special conditions certificates certificate Applicants must also meet the Academic grades Academic Yes following country specific condition: transcript applicants return to the Maldives for IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE test Proof of Yes at least two years after completing results certificate (valid at English their scholarship, to contribute to the 1 January 2019) language economic and social development of the country. Failure to do so will incur a proficienc debt to the Commonwealth of Australia y for the total value of the scholarship. Certificate of special Other Yes achievement or merit, if document applicable

Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2019 Employment letter (stating Other No  Referee reports in other than the employment duration), if document prescribed format will not be accepted and may make applications ineligible. applicable Contact Australia Awards Maldives to Curriculum Vitae (CV) Other No clarify reference requirements.

document  Research applicants short-listed for a Development Impact Plan Other No selection interview must submit a well- (DIP) document developed research proposal by the date of the interview. Relevance of study Other No  Experience shows that it takes time program to the priority document for supervisors to complete referee study area reports. Please approach supervisors as Masters by coursework Referee No soon as possible to obtain up-to-date applicants: one academic report* referee reports. References should come from employers, senior colleagues referee report (with or academics familiar with the referee’s seal)* and one applicant’s academic, professional skills other referee report (e.g. a and achievements. Referee reports from work supervisor). family members or spouses are not If employed, the second acceptable. referee report MUST be The selection process from the immediate Following eligibility checking, supervisor / employer. applications will be assessed and ranked by independent consultants and Masters by research Referee No then short-listed by Australian applicants: two academic report* Government representatives. Only short- referee reports (with listed candidates will be contacted. referee’s seal)* and one The selection process includes an other referee report (e.g. a interview. Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria: work supervisor)  academic competence. If employed, the second referee report MUST be  potential outcome, specifically the contribution to development outcomes in from the immediate the Maldives. supervisor / employer.  professional and personal leadership Masters by research Other No attributes including relevant work applicants: a research document experience. proposal. This proposal Successful candidates will be notified no later than must include a proposed the end of September 2018. methodology, timeline and a brief literature review Preparatory training All successful applicants will be required to attend a visa mobilisation session and a pre-departure briefing * Template available at: and farewell event before they leave http://dfat.gov.au/about- for Australia. They are also required us/publications/Documents/referee.pdf to attend their university’s Notes: Introductory Academic Program and other required preparatory study on arrival in Australia.

Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2019 Further information Information about the Australia Awards - Maldives can be found at www.australiaawardsmaldives.org

More general information about the Australia Awards, Australia’s aid program, and studying in Australia can be found at the following links:

• http://dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia- awards/Pages/australia-awards.aspx • studyinaustralia.gov.au Information about visas and Australia Awards scholarship entitlements and conditions can be found in the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook: dfat.gov.au/about-us/publications/Pages/australia- awards-scholarships-policy-handbook.aspx

Contact details Australia Awards Maldives Mobile: (+960) 7977465 ; (+960) 7999465 Email: inquiries@australiaawardsmaldives. org Website: www.australiaawardsmaldiv es.org

Australia Awards scholarships information for study commencing in 2019