Arrangements for Undergraduate Scholarships (2012/13) and Masters Degree Scholarships (2011/12). Circular, 25 May 2011 Ref: (11/03)

Transcription

1 Arrangements for Undergraduate Scholarships (2012/13) and Masters Degree Scholarships (2011/12). Circular, Ref: (11/03) Cylchlythyr y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol 1

2 Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Undergraduate Scholarship Schemes and the Masters Degree Scholarship Scheme Introduction 1. This circular outlines the arrangements for implementing the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol [the Coleg] undergraduate scholarship schemes for the academic year 2012/13, together with the Masters Degree Scholarship Scheme that is introduced for the first time in 2011/ In order to give the scholarship scheme time to develop long term foundations, it was decided that no fundamental changes should be introduced for a minimum of two years; that would entail a review of the schemes before the academic year 2014/ The Coleg scholarship scheme encompasses three categories of awards in the academic year 2012/13, namely: (i) Main Scholarships for students intending to study degree courses containing a minimum of 240 credits of Welsh medium provision (including a minimum of 80 in each year). The value of the scholarships in this category is 1000 a year ( 3000 over three years). The Coleg will award 50 Main Scholarships to students commencing their studies in September The Main Scholarship scheme for 2012/13 adheres to the arrangement introduced for 2011/12, together with any additional courses that achieve the threshold of 240 credits. (ii) Incentive Scholarships for students intending to study degree courses containing a minimum of 120 credits of Welsh medium provision (including a minimum of 40 credits in each year). The value of the scholarships in this category is 500 a year ( 1500 over three years). The Coleg will award 100 Incentive Scholarships to students commencing their studies in the following academic subjects in September 2012: Environmental Science and Geography; Health Sciences; Social Work; Business and Management; Sports Sciences and Studies; Law; Psychology; Modern European Languages; Mathematics; Physics and Chemistry. These subjects were agreed on the basis of (i) continuity from previous sponsorship schemes, and (ii) statistical evidence of the potential to increase registrations by Welsh speaking students in these areas, together with the availability of Welsh medium provision and academic staff to teach it. Cylchlythyr y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol 2

3 (iii) Masters Degree Scholarships for students studying qualifying courses where a minimum of 60 credits in Part One are through the medium of Welsh and the thesis (or the equivalent) is written in Welsh. The Coleg will offer 20 Masters Degree Scholarships (worth 1500) each in 2011/12 and again in 2012/13. These scholarships will be open to students registering on a qualifying M level course. These qualifying courses for 2011/12 have already appeared on the Mantais website, together with the application form. The closing date for receipt of applications will be 15 July All scholarships will be offered directly by the Coleg and the grants will be paid directly to the students. 5. These scholarships should not replace or incorporate any other incentive scholarships or schemes currently offered by the institutions. Full details of the current institutional schemes are available on the Mantais website, and these should continue to be offered as part of the institutions commitment to the area. 6. The scheme does not prevent applicants from receiving sponsorship, awards or scholarships from other sources. It will be a matter for individual universities to decide whether students can be awarded a scholarship by the Coleg together with a scholarship by the university. In each case, the student should consult the relevant university. Threshold for Qualifying Courses 7. The scholarship schemes are part of the broader strategy of the Coleg and the sector as a whole to increase the number of students studying a significant percentage of their studies through the medium of Welsh. A clear threshold for the number of credits has been set for each category of scholarship. In the case of departments failing to achieve this threshold, they will be encouraged to consider increasing their provision through the relevant development plan for the subject, the Coleg Academic Staffing Scheme, the Coleg Strategic Projects Fund and relevant institutional funds. Incentive Scholarships 2011/12 Following receipt of the institutions nominations for Incentive Scholarships in 2011/12 the names of the successful applicants to be offered a scholarship will be announced on 1 June 2011 at the Urdd Eisteddfod. Following final confirmation of the budget for scholarships from the Assembly Government, the Coleg invites further applications in the Cylchlythyr y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol 3

4 qualifying areas for 2011/12 noted in the original circular for the Scheme. The closing date for further applications is 8 July It should be noted that the Coleg cannot receive applications in 2011/12 in the new areas that have been added for 2012/13, namely Modern European Languages, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Timetable and Closing Dates 8. The closing date for applications for Masters Degree Scholarships in 2011/12 is 15 July Details of the qualifying courses have already appeared on the Mantais website. 9. The closing date for applications for Lead Scholarships in 2012/13 is 15 January This is the closing date for the submission of forms to UCAS. A final list of the qualifying courses will appear on the Mantais website by 1 August The closing date for applications for Incentive Scholarships in 2012/13 is 4 May This is the date by which applicants will be required to confirm to UCAS which two offers they wish to keep. A final list of the qualifying courses will appear on the Mantais website by 1 August The closing date for Masters Degree Scholarships in 2012/13 will be announced in January Qualifying Courses 12. In order that a final list of qualifying courses for the 2012/13 Main Scholarships and the Incentive Scholarships can appear on the Mantais website by 1 August 2011, a draft list of qualifying courses for the three schemes will be circulated in May to the universities for their final agreement The Coleg will consider including degree schemes where the number of credits achieves the relevant threshold following recent awards from the academic staffing scheme, on condition that a full scheme is in place for doing so. Key Considerations 13. All students receiving a scholarship through the Coleg from academic year 2012/13 onwards will be required to follow the proposed qualification in language skills. 14. All institutions will be required, through the Coleg s proposed branches (and through the co-ordinating officers in the short term), to monitor the progress of the scholarship Cylchlythyr y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol 4

5 holders in order to ensure that they fulfil the requirements of the Scheme. 15. It is the responsibility of the university offering the degree course to ensure that the requisite number of credits are available to be studied through the medium of Welsh in order to fulfil the requirements of the scheme. The Coleg will accept no responsibility if a university, for whatever reason, is unable to offer the requisite number of credits to a student during any study year. In any such case, the university is required to contact the Coleg immediately to note that they are not in a position to fulfil the requirements of the Scheme. It will be the responsibility of the university to inform the student of the situation. Administration 16. The administrative duties in relation to receiving applications will be undertaken by the central staff of the Coleg Cymraeg in Carmarthen. The Coleg will pass on the application forms to the institutions, and all subsequent administrative work will be the responsibility of the institutions concerned. 17. The scholarships will be awarded in accordance with the conditions of the scheme, that appear on the Mantais website. All applicants will be required to note that they accept these conditions and that decisions will be final. 18. The Coleg will review the application form for the 2012/13 Undergraduate Scholarships in order to avoid the need for students to submit an additional form to any institution. The institutions are asked to contact the Coleg as quickly as possible in order to provide any additional details. Marketing 19. The Coleg will be responsible for designing a marketing campaign to promote the scholarship scheme. The Coleg will also be responsible for informing the successful applicants following full approval by the Coleg s Board of Directors. Following receipt of confirmation of the successful awards, the Coleg will publish a full list of the awards in the press and on the Coleg website. Cylchlythyr y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol 5