POSTGRADUATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Transcription

1 OF THE WIT W A AND UNIV SR ER ER SI Y T T POSTGRADUATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SCHOLARSHIPS J O R H A N N E S B U G

2 Online Applications Application fms f all awards in this publication are available on our website, and online, Postgraduate Bursaries and Scholarships / Financial Aid and Scholarships, Ground Flo, Senate House, University of the Witwatersrand Tel: / External Postgraduate Funding / MRC / NRF Masters and PhD Waheeda Bala, NRF Research Office, 10th Flo, Research Office, Senate House, University of the Witwatersrand Tel waheeda.bala@wits.ac.za About this booklet The Postgraduate Financial Assistance and Scholarships booklet is produced by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office(FASO) at Wits University. The booklet contains infmation of sources of internal (managed by Wits) and external (managed by independent ganisations) funding opptunities in der to assist postgraduate students financially (at Honours, Masters and Doctate level). The publication and its infmation are relevant and applicable to the years in which the bursary scholarship infmation is tenable, as indicated. While care has been taken to ensure accuracy and detailed infmation about bursaries and all infmation contained is accurate at the time of print, it remains the responsibility of the reader to act accding to the infmation provided in the guide. Unless otherwise stated, FASO does not act as liaison between a student and external funding ganisations. Application fms f all awards in this publication are available on our website, and students can apply online through the student self service: 2 Financial Aid and Scholarships 3 Financial Aid and Scholarships

3 1. EXPLANATION OF SCHOLARSHIPS, MERIT AWARDS, EXTERNAL FUNDING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Postgraduate Merit Awards A Postgraduate Merit Award is available to assist graduates to complete their Honours, Masters and PhD degree by research by a combination of course wk and research on a full-time part-time basis. These awards are f students with an excellent academic recd. Wits Bursaries Financially needy students who did not qualify f the Postgraduate Merit Award can apply f a Wits Bursary. The Wits Bursaries will act as top up funding in some cases. and part-time students are eligible. External Statuty Postgraduate Funding Students may apply f additional funding f Honours, Masters and PhD registration through other statuty bodies, e.g. NRF CONTENTS 1. Explanation of Scholarships, Merit Awards, External Funding and Financial Aid 2. Maximum Funding Table 3. Schedule of awards and assistance available f Honours, Masters and PhD Study Postgraduate Merit Awards Wits Bursaries External Statuty Funding NSFAS Funding f Postgraduate Studies Externally Administered Overseas Scholarships 4. Postgraduate Merit Awards 5. Wits Bursaries 6. Externally Administered Overseas Scholarships Financial Assistance (NSFAS) Postgraduate Financial Assistance is available to assist South African citizens to complete full-time Postgraduate Diplomas and Honours degrees if they cannot access postgraduate scholarships merit awards. Outside Funding / Bank Loans / Bursaries Most banks offer students loans. Details are directly available from the financial institutions. A number of ganisations offer loans. E.g. Eduloan Postgraduate Travel Grants Travel grants are available to assist postgraduate students with top up funding to attend conferences in South Africa, elsewhere in Africa and in exceptional circumstances international conferences. This grant depends on availability of funds. Only three students per faculty will qualify. 2. MAXIMUM POSTGRADUATE FUNDING If a student receives funding, regardless of source, which is me than the maximum value allocations, he/she will be required to return the funding made from the University (FASO) sources. Honours R Masters R PhD R Travel Grants f Postgraduate Research Students and Closing Dates 4 Financial Aid and Scholarships 5 Financial Aid and Scholarships

4 3. SCHEDULE OF AWARDS AND ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR HONOURS, MASTERS AND PHD STUDY 3.1 Postgraduate Merit Awards Name Postgraduate Merit Award Tuition fees to a maximum of R stipend Honours R7 000 Masters R7 800 PhD R Applications are online. Students need to use the student self service to apply f the postgraduate merit award. Closing dates: 31Oct Jan/Apr intake 30 Apr Jul/Sept intake All nationalities F Honours: only the two most recent years of study will be considered and a weighted mark of 65% obtained F Masters: an Honours mark of at least 70% F PhD, a student needs to have completed Masters in 2 years full-time 3 years part-time to be accepted into the programme NB: Honours students will be rated. Please see process of allocating of PMA Awards No award will be made if the student exceeds the maximum level of funding from an external source (PhD R ; Masters R and Hons R ) A student pursuing a concurrent joint Honours would be eligible f full funding of first degree and 75% f the other one Postgraduate Merit Award Part-time Tuition fees to a maximum of R No stipends Applications are online. Students need to use the student self service to apply f the postgraduate merit award Closing dates: 31Oct Jan/Apr intake 30 Apr Jul/Sept intake All nationalities Part-time Gross income should not exceed R F Honours: only the two most recent years of study will be considered and a weighted mark of 65% obtained F Masters: an Honours mark of at least 70% F PhD, a student needs to have completed Masters in 2 years Full-Time 3 years Part-time to be accepted into the programme Part-time students, a gross income threshold of R p/a will be used to determine eligibility. A means application will be used to determine eligibility No award will be made if the student exceeds the maximum level of funding from an external source (PhD R ; Masters R and Honours R ) 6 Financial Aid and Scholarships 7 Financial Aid and Scholarships

5 Name Honours to PhD 5 year scholarship Total tuition + R stipend + secure funding f each successful award of qualification with aim of getting a PhD degree in 5 years Application fms to be submitted by 30 Nov All nationalities Guaranteed funding f academically good students: 65% and above f the two most recent years of study f Honours Renewal applications will be based on maintaining a good academic recd Masters students need to obtain 70% in their Honours year and f PhD, a student needs to have completed their Masters within 2 years No award will be made if the student exceeds the maximum level of funding from an external source (PhD R ; Masters R and Honours R ) Postgraduate Travel Grants Local & Overseas Varies accding to each scholarship and the availability of funds Application fms available at the Financial Aid Office and on the Financial Aid website Closing date varies per conference date. Please refer to page 21 Incomplete applications will not be considered All nationalities Financial Aid and Scholarships 9 Financial Aid and Scholarships

6 3.2 Wits Bursaries Name Wits Bursaries Awards are determined accding to the budget available. Tuition fees must be settled first befe the funding can be used f other purposes; (accommodation, living and study expenses) Students must apply online on the student self service: All nationalities Part-time and students only These bursaries are f students with a demonstrated financial need and who have shown strong perfmance as follows: Masters students who obtained an Honours mark of at least 65% Honours students who obtained a mark of at least 65% as a weighted average of the two most recent years of study. PhD students who have completed their Masters within 3 years Financially needy students. Students need to fill in a Financial declaration fm and supply the necessary suppting documents Wits Levenstein Trust Bursary Various Ranges between R Closing date: 30 November South African students only - These awards are available to students under the age of 25 Preference will be given to studies in the fields of medical, engineering and infmation technology on merit and financial need 10 Financial Aid and Scholarships 11 Financial Aid and Scholarships

7 Name Stella and Paul Lowenstein Charitable and Educational Trust R per student Closing date: 30 November Applications available on the website: All decisions pertaining to awards are decided by the Advisy Board and Trustees at their discretion Top 4 medical students enrolled f Masters by Dissertation and PhD. The student must be recommended by their Supervis External Statuty Funding Name NRF Honours Block Grants Varies accding to specific funds Students need to download the application fm from the Financial Aid website and submit it to the Financial Aid Office befe 30 November Mostly South Africans and f Innovation, students with permanent residence are taken into consideration A range of conditions 12 Financial Aid and Scholarships 13 Financial Aid and Scholarships

8 Name NRF Square kilometre array Varies accding to specific funds Students need to apply online directly to NRF. Closing date: 31July South African Citizens only BSc Honours: majing in Astronomy/ Astrophysics, Mathematics & Physics and Bachel of Science Electrical Engineering. A minimum of 60% in the Majs Waheeda Bala waheeda.bala@wits.ac.za NRF Masters/PhD Block Grants Varies accding to specific funds Masters and PhD applications to NRF directly. Mostly South Africans and f Innovation, students with permanent residence are taken into consideration - Waheeda Bala waheeda.bala@wits.ac.za Closing date: 31July SA citizens DAAD MSc R PhD R Online applications through NRF online system Closing date: 1 Sep An age limit of 36 years. All fields of study that have a strong relevance to the national development of the country SA permanent residence have to be employed by the University to qualify 65% accumulative grade average and above Waheeda Bala waheeda.bala@wits.ac.za NRF - MRC R MSc R PhD Online applications through NRF online system Closing date: 15 Sept MSc students must hold an Honours degree and show potential to develop into a researcher PhD students will be selected based on the scientific merit of the project study in the Health Sciences research Waheeda Bala waheeda.bala@wits.ac.za Harold and Dis Tothill Scholarships Amount is determined by a committee and available funding All nationalities studying English English related fields Closing date: 31 March Masters and PhD Students must be studying English English related field 14 Financial Aid and Scholarships 15 Financial Aid and Scholarships

9 Name Mandela Rhodes Scholarship Applications available from mid-april at the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office Closing date: 25 May Applications will be available once you have been recommended by your Head of School Students must submit two sets of the application with required documents Citizens of African countries Registered Wits Students only Honours and Masters Degrees Younger than 30 years applications have guidelines on the criteria The Rothschild SA Foundation Scholarships Applications can be found on the website as well as ing Ethel at South African Citizens only Students enrolling f a Honours PGD. Financially needy. Students need to have passed 2014 mid-year exams Lynn Waterson Ethel Otobo NSFAS FUNDING FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES NSFAS South African citizens Closing date: 30 Sept Apply online: Honours provided f only 1 year and must meet NSFAS criteria and based on availablity of funds Ptia Simelane ptia.simelane@wits.ac.za 3.5 EXTERNALLY ADMINISTERED OVERSEAS FUNDING UK university Applications open end of August Commonwealth Scholarship Closing date early November (Subject to change accding to the don and call f applications) South Africans Only APPLY ONLINE Rhodes Scholarship Full Tuition & Accommodation Applications open in May and close on 15 August Students applying to Oxfd University Please consult the website f me details 16 Financial Aid and Scholarships 17 Financial Aid and Scholarships

10 4. POSTGRADUATE MERIT AWARDS 4.1 POSTGRADUATE MERIT AWARDS FULL-TIME The aim of the University Postgraduate Merit Award (PMA) is to assist graduates to complete Honours, Masters PhD degrees by research by a combination of the course wk and research on both a full-time and part-time basis. Tuition fees to a maximum of R will be awarded to students who qualify. Please note that the PMA does not pay f international registration fees, copyright fees, notes, clubs and parking. PMA STIPENDS Students on PMA will qualify f the following stipends: Honours Masters R7000 R7800 PhD R The payment of stipends is made in four instalments. Students need to submit a claim fm to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office on after 15th March, 1st May, 1st August and the 1st November. The claim fm must be endsed by the Head of School to the effect that: - The student has been present and wking in the School f a specified number of hours - No credits will be carried over to the following year regardless of extended registration. School duties - Students in receipt of a PMA are required to perfm six-hour duties per week, which will be allocated to him/her by the Head of School. - Duties must be of an academic professionally related nature so that a student derives benefit from the wk. An extension of a degree is not funded by a Postgraduate Merit Award. Closing dates: A student must submit a completed application fm by: - 31 October f REGISTRATION in January / April (1st Intake) - 30 April f REGISTRATION in July / September (2nd Intake) Please note that you will need to apply f the July intake befe the closing date if you do not register f the January/April intake. Application fms must be submitted to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office the Postgraduate Merit Award falls away if: - A PhD student has received external funding to the maximum of R A Masters student has received external funding to the maximum value of R An Honours student has received external funding to the maximum value of R A Postgraduate Merit Awardee has not wked the required six hours per week at a University School Department. - A student has a staff bursary an external bursary, however the student will still qualify f the stipend. Tenure ACADEMIC CRITERIA A student applying f a PhD degree will receive a Postgraduate Merit Award f a maximum period of three years in the following circumstances: The Masters degree was completed within two years full-time three years part-time A student applying f a Masters degree will receive a Merit Postgraduate Award if he / she receives an average mark of 70% above f their Honours degree. A student applying f an Honours degree: selection criteria f the granting of the postgraduate merit award to Honours students Only the two most recent years of study will be considered A student must obtain a minimum mark of 65% and above The mark is calculated using a weighted average which takes into account course length and credits as well as faculty differences. PROCESS OF ALLOCATING PMA AWARDS Firstly, all PhD students who meet the academic criteria, as stated above, will be awarded PMA s. Secondly, all Masters by coursewk and research rept students who obtained an Honours mark of 70% will then be awarded PMA s. Thirdly, all Masters by Dissertation who obtain an Honours mark of 67% and above will be awarded. Fourthly Honours students weighted marks will be calculated and applications will be ranked from the highest to the lowest marks. Please note that this means that not all students who meet the criteria f PMA s will not be guaranteed funding. 4.2 POSTGRADUATE MERIT AWARDS Part-time The aim of the University Postgraduate Merit Award (PMA) is to assist graduates to complete Honours, Masters PhD degrees by research by a combination of the course wk and research on both a full-time and part-time basis. Tuition fees to a maximum of R will be awarded to students who qualify. Please note that the PMA does not pay f international registration fees, copyright fees, notes, clubs and parking. Closing dates: A student must submit a completed application fm by: 31 October f REGISTRATION in January / April (1st Intake) 30 April f REGISTRATION in July / September (2nd Intake) Please note that you will need to apply f the July intake befe the closing date if you do not register in January/April intake. TENURE ACADEMIC CRITERIA Honours Masters PhD 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years A student applying f a PhD degree will receive a Postgraduate Merit Award f a maximum period of three years in the following circumstances: The Masters degree was completed within two years full-time 3 years part-time Honours Masters PhD 1 YEAR 2 YEARS 3 YEARS A student applying f a Masters degree will receive a Merit Award if he / she receives an average mark of 70% above f their Honours degree. A student applying f an Honours degree: selection criteria f the granting of the postgraduate merit award to Honours students Only the two most recent years of study will be considered A student must obtain a minimum mark of 65% and above The mark is calculated using a weighted average which takes into account course length and credits as well as faculty differences. 18 Financial Aid and Scholarships 19 Financial Aid and Scholarships

11 Financial Criteria The household gross income should not exceed R per annum. Students on Part-time Merit Award will not be eligible f a stipend and will therefe not be required to wk in the department. Please note that a seperate application fm f Part-Time PMA s must be completed. RULES AND CONDTIONS FOR THE POSTGRADUATE MERIT AWARD CONDITIONS Student who register f the Postgraduate Diplomas, 4th year Bed, GDE degrees are not eligible f the Postgraduate Merit Award even if a provisional offer letter has been issued. All outstanding infmation must be submitted by the 15th December f January/April intake and 15th August f the July/September intake. Should the student not adhere to these dates the award will be cancelled. If the student fails to register at this University, the Financial Aid and Scholarship office will withdraw the Postgraduate Merit Award. An Offer cannot be carried over to the next year. Awards f PMA s will be made at the discretion of the funding committe. Instructions to the student 1. A student who has attended a feign university must attach an official copy of his/her academic recd with key to grades to the application. The application will not be processed unless the official academic recd with key to grades is attached. 2. The academic Recd must be accompanied by proof of the duration of the degree 3. On submission of the application fm an applicant must ensure that he she receives a card and a duplicate is attached to the fm f reference purposes. 4. Once an application fm is submitted the student must infm The Faculty Office of any change of address. 5. A declaration must be made in writing of any other bursaries, scholarships departmental grants awarded f the year and not declared on the application fm. Please note that where tuition fees are paid by an external don, the Postgraduate Merit Award will pay the stipend only and NOT the tuition fees. RENEWALS Postgraduate Merit Awards are awarded on an annual basis, i.e. 1 January 31 December f the 1st intake and 1st July 31st December f the 2nd intakc. Students MUST apply every year. No credits will be carried over to the following year. 5. WITS BURSARIES Wits bursaries are f students with a demonstrated financial need and who have shown strong perfmance as follows: Masters students who obtained an Honours mark of at least 65%; Honours students who obtained a mark of at least 65% as a weighted average of the two most recent years of study. Financial need will be determined by the appropriate declaration on the application fm and by supplying the necessary documentary evidence. - In the opinion of the University, the recipient does not make satisfacty progress. Payment - A student is required to complete a fm of acceptance of an award and the rules governing the award. - Once the student has submitted a completed fm of acceptance to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, the award will be credited to the fee account. - The award will not be credited unless the student has fmally registered f the degree f which the bursary has been awarded. - Allocations will only be made in the second half of the year. 6. EXTERNALLY ADMINISTERED OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS Commonwealth scholarships Masters & PhD students all faculties tenable in the United Kingdom can apply online eas@cscuk.org.uk, should problems be encountered. Rhodes scholarship Students that intend to study at Oxfd University are eligible to apply. 10 Scholarships available f SA 4 SA, 1 KZN, 1 Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Nambia, Swaziland. 1 Each four specific schools and their identified partner schools. Applications open in May and close on the 15th August. Students are urged to apply online. Tenure 2 years can be extended f PhD (DPhil). F me infmation on the Rhodes scholarship please visit the Rhodes website: 7. TRAVEL GRANTS FOR POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH STUDENTS Only one conference per annum should be attended by a registered student. Travel Grants in the fm of a top-up are available to assist postgraduate research students to attend a conference in South Africa, elsewhere in Africa and in exceptional circumstances an overseas conference. Travel Grants are considered in the first week of March and thereafter in June, September and November provided that there are still funds available. Retrospective and late applications will not be considered. An application must be submitted befe the following closing dates: Amount allocated will be determined by availability of funds. Rules and conditions governing the award of the Wits Bursaries Tenure Funding is not guaranteed. Applications are not renewable. Students must reapply every year. Late applications and appeals will not be considered. - Acceptance - Acceptance is subject to the students being registered at Wits University. - Supplementation Closing Date 31 January 30 April 31 July 31 October Outcome F applicants attending the conference in March / April / May F applicants attending the conference in June / July / August F applicants attending the conference in Sept / Oct / Nov F applicants attending the conference in Dec / Jan/ Feb Refer to the Financial Aid and Scholarships office Maximum limits table on page 5. Withdrawal Cancellation The recipient of a Wits Bursary may be requested to refund any amount paid to him/her if: - The regulations applicable to the award are not complied with and/ - The degree is discontinued/ cancelled 20 Financial Aid and Scholarships 21 Financial Aid and Scholarships

12 RULES GOVERNING THE AWARD OF TRAVEL GRANTS A Travel Grant is available to assist a registered full-time postgraduate research student to attend a conference in the Republic of South Africa: a) A research student who is requesting an individual Travel Grant and is presenting a paper ( a poster) is eligible f an amount that will be determined at the discretion of the committee based primarily on financial need and execellence. b) Limited block grants will be given to Schools wishing to send up to three students presenting papers and posters to the same local conference. c) Stafff members also registered as a postgraduate students are not eligible f Travel Grants. d) A copy of the invitation / programme must be attached to the application. e) Proof of cost of registration must be provided. f) A student who receives a Travel Grant is required to submit a rept, acceptable to the Committee within two weeks from the last day of the conference. The rept must be endsed with comments by the Head of the School in which the student is registered. g) No applications in consecutive years will be permitted. h) Applications must be submitted befe the respective closing dates proof of acceptance of papers may be submitted within two weeks thereafter. i) There is a limitation on the maximum amount of funding in any one year to a School. Elsewhere in Africa A grant may be made to a registered full-time postgraduate research student with an outstanding academic recd, to attend conferences elsewhere in Africa: a) A student will only be eligible provided that she / he is presenting a research paper poster presentation. An application must be accompanied by written evidence of acceptance of the paper poster. b) Proof of cost of registration must be provided plus a copy of the invitation. c) A student who receives a Travel Grant is required to submit a rept, acceptable to the committee, within two weeks from the last day of the conference. The rept must be endsed, with comments by the Head of the School in which the student is registered. d) As it is customary f conferences to be ganised well in advance, RETROSPECTIVE AND LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Applications must be submitted befe the respective closing dates - proof of acceptance of papers may be submitted shtly thereafter. e) Me than one student from a School may be funded to attend the same international conference, but the individual awards will be reduced accdingly. f) Members of staff registered as a postgraduate students are not eligible f Travel Grants. g) There is a limitation on the maximum amount of funding in any one year to any School. h) International applicants are not eligible f a travel grant if f some reasons their fee account reflects a debit balance. Overseas conferences A grant may be made to a registered full-time postgraduate research student with an outstanding academic recd to attend an international conference: a) A student will only be eligible provided that he / she is presenting a research paper poster presentation. An application must be accompanied by written evidence of acceptance of the paper poster. b) Proof of cost of registration must be provided plus a copy of the invitation. c) A student who receives a Travel Grant is required to submit a rept, acceptable to the committee, within two weeks from the last day of the conference. The rept must be endsed with comments by the Head of the School in which the student is registered. d) As it is customary f a conference to be ganised well in advance, RETROSPECTIVE AND LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Applications must be submitted befe the respective closing date - proof of acceptance of papers may be submitted within two weeks thereafter. e) Me than one student from a School may be funded to attend the same international conference but the individual awards will be reduced accdingly. f) No member of staff registered as a postgraduate student is eligible f a Travel Grant. g) There is a limitation on the amount of funding in any one year to any School. h) International applicants are not eligible f a Travel Grant if their fee account reflects a debit balance. i) Only one grant per student will be made to attend an international conference f the duration of their postgraduate studies. 22 Financial Aid and Scholarships 23 Financial Aid and Scholarships

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