Obama got the Nobel peace prize and now you can try for the Oslo peace scholarship. Read the details carefully:

Who are providing this Scholarship:   The Graduate Studies in International Affairs (GSIA) program in the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, in partnership with the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO) and Bjørknes College. You will spend one semester at Bjørknes College in Norway with faculty from the International Peace Research Institute Oslo(PRIO). The international relations courses are taken at ANU in canberra Australia. You can access the libraries of the Nobel institute and PRIO.

How many scholarships are available: One scholarship each year.

Type of Scholarship: Full time scholarship. Australian National University and Bjørknes College will cover your tuition fees;  you will receive some funding for your living costs as a stipend.

Field or program of Scholarship: Scholarship to study Master of international affairs specializing in peace and conflict studies degree program.

Stipend:

• Canberra:  AUS $6,200  [fortnightly payments]
• Oslo:  NOK 30,000

Tuition Fee:

• Canberra:  AUS $12,000 (international students) or AUS $8,400 (Australian or New Zealand students)
• Oslo:  NOK 40,000

Semester Duration:

• Oslo Session Begins: August 2010(tbc)
• Oslo Session Ends: December 2010(tbc)
• Canberra Semester Commences: February 2011
• Canberra Semester Ends: June 2011

Closing date for receipt of complete application:

• 30 April 2010 for applications to start in August 2010
• 29 April 2011 for applications to start in August 2011.

Eligible Program(s): Master of International Affairs specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies

Eligibility Criteria: International students, Australian and Norwegian students

How to Apply:

You should state your interest in being considered for this Scholarship in your application for admission. Please refer to the application procedure.

Contact:

You can contact Graduate Studies in International Affairs office for more information:
Email: gsia@anu.edu.au
Phone: +61-2-6125 2167

Get the full details on award conditions.

Study abroad : Study in Sweden [1]

In my last post I explained why you should choose Sweden as your destination for higher study. If you think there are certain good reasons to choose Sweden then it is worth full to read this article. Read carefully every details.

Where to apply for Swedish Scholarships?

Swedish government agency “The Swedish Institute” is the supreme authority over 500 scholarships per academic year which are awarded to the students and researchers coming to Sweden to pursue their objectives at a Swedish university.

The number of available scholarships varies from year to year, and competition is keen. Most foreign students in Sweden finance their stay without help from scholarships.

The Swedish Institute scholarships are mainly for master’s level studies or advanced studies/research in English-language programs (Courses studied in English medium).

Different kinds of Swedish Institute scholarships are available. Read Swedish institute scholarship list carefully. Most of the scholarships are based on your citizenship.

The Swedish Institute also administers bilateral exchange programs with China, Germany, Italy, and Japan. So if you are from above mentioned countries apply and contact the appropriate authorities listed under bilateral scholarhips. These scholarships are reciprocal so Swedish students are also funded under this agreement.

Some Swedish and foreign organizations also sponsor foreign students. Read carefully other scholarships.

What are the general requirements?

Completion of an upper-secondary (Higher secondary) school program conferring eligibility for university studies in the same country and corresponding in level to the equivalent program in Sweden.

Proficiency in English (both written and oral) equivalent to that required on completion of Swedish upper-secondary education. Universities and university colleges will normally require verification in the form of an international proficiency test certificate.

For courses taught in Swedish – written and oral skills in Swedish corresponding at the level of Swedish required on completion of Swedish upper-secondary education. This is generally assessed by the national Swedish test, TISUS.

What are the requirements for undergraduate students?

General Requirements

1. You must have an internationally recognized higher secondary (upper secondary) level education or must have equivalent recognized qualifications.
2. You have to show proficiency in English by means of internationally recognized English tests like IELTS, TOEFL, EFL or MELAB etc.(See below for required minimum scores)
3. For courses taught in Swedish – written and oral skills in Swedish corresponding at the level of Swedish required on completion of Swedish upper-secondary education. This is generally assessed by the national Swedish test, TISUS (See below).

Specific Requirements

Entrance requirements for a particular course or program are established independently at each academic institution. These requirements vary and you will need to contact the institution directly for exact information. Every university and university college has its own procedure for selecting among eligible applicants. The criteria applied include: grades obtained, results from previous courses, assessment of work samples, interview results, special admission tests and work experience. These criteria may vary subject to subject and university to university.

What are the requirements for Masters Students?

About 600 master’s degree programs at Swedish universities are taught entirely in English.

General requirements

1. Before you apply for master’s level program you should have completed a course of study leading to a degree or diploma equivalent to 180 higher education credits. In most cases a bachelor degree will be regarded as fulfilling this requirement. Specialized knowledge may also suffice.
2. For English-language programs, you should also have documented evidence of proficiency in English such as TOEFL or IELTS EFL or MELAB etc test results (See below for required minimum scores).
3. For studies in Swedish, you must prove that you have skills in Swedish equivalent to the upper-secondary level, usually through the TISUS test (See below).

Specific Requirements:

Same as specific requirements for the undergraduate student.

What are the minimum requirements for English proficiency?

[For both undergraduate and Masters Students]

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Scores 500-550 (paper-based test), 173-213 (computer-based test), 61-79 (internet-based test)
• International English Language Testing Service (IELTS). Score 5.0-6.0 (no band lower than 4.5-5.0)
• Cambridge EFL examination. (Grades A or B)
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). Score 85-90 points
• General Certificate of Education, Ordinary level (GCE O-level)
• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)

Being a native speaker of English can also fulfill this requirement, provided you can prove a high level of proficiency in English, usually through studies at the upper-secondary (high school) or university level.

Please note that these are general guidelines, and exact requirements can vary between universities.

What are the Language requirements for studies in Swedish?

To be eligible for undergraduate studies conducted in Swedish, students must have documented knowledge of Swedish, both written and oral, corresponding to the level of Swedish required in Swedish upper secondary education (Swedish B/Swedish 2B). For students who have not studied in Swedish upper secondary education, skills in Swedish are normally documented by the nationwide Swedish test TISUS, Test in Swedish for University Studies.

Students with Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic or Faeroese as their mother tongue do not have to verify knowledge of Swedish if their knowledge of their mother tongue is documented by their final upper secondary school certificate.

Finnish students who have studied Swedish in upper secondary education are considered to have the required knowledge of Swedish

What are the required admission documents?

Student must submit:

1. Academic certificates to show that their qualification is eligible for their further studies.
2. Bio-Data including personal information, academic qualification, working experiences and references.
3. Two letters of recommendation in English from their teachers regarding their past studies.

How to find course/major and institutions?

This step is really important for you. You don’t know the universities and their curriculum at all. You even don’t know their reputation and education standard. But here what I want to tell you that all Swedish universities maintain almost same education standard. You better pay more attention on course selection and place of institutions. You can go to particular university website and read their programs and application details. Go to the following links.

1. Find your bachelor program from degree program database.

2. Find your masters program from degree program database.

3. Go to specific university web site and read more details from interactive map of Sweden. [A list of Swedish universities is also provided in this article]

4. Though it is little complex but you can also find your institution and major from the studera website.

How to apply? [Application procedure]

1. It is compulsory to check the program descriptions carefully for detailed information.
2. Read carefully university program details whether they ask to submit application directly or via Studera website. If the authority asks you to submit directly to them then follow the details written in their website.
3. If your university asks to submit application through Studera then make one account in studera which will link your application and personal data and future communication details. You can submit only one application for several courses and universities.
4. Student must fill and submit the application form online at Studera with correct postal and email address as it will be used for all future communications.
5. Once the application is submitted, student must print the cover sheet as instructed in the website (read carefully the instructions while submission).
6. The printed page then should be signed by student and send it by post to the address of Studera along with other required documents. (read carefully the instructions while submission).
7. Keep the valid documents always ready. Keep note of deadlines.

When to apply? [Application deadline]

When you have submitted your application, you need to track the admission process. You should keep in mind the key dates. Key dates for applicants from EEA (EEA: Member States of the EU, and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and non EEA members are different. Check the key dates for bachelor students and masters students.

Read also: Study abroad : Study in Sweden [1]

You may need :  List of universities and colleges in Sweden

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Country Facts

Capital: Stockholm

Religion: Protestant, Roman Catholic

Population: 8,878,085

Language: Swedish, English

Area: 449,964 sq km

Continent: Europe

Why Sweden?

Volvo, Ericsson, H&M and Saab or Nobel prize!!!! Are these words known to you!! Oh then you must know these are all Swedish brands. Sweden is a safe and modern country in northern Europe, and it has accrued a spectacular reputation as an innovator and creative force. Sweden has a long and proud history of academic excellence, with outstanding universities dating back to the 15th century. Sweden is the home of the Nobel Prize, the world’s most prestigious academic distinction.

What is Medium of Instruction?

Swedish universities offer hundreds of bachelor and master’s degree programs in English, ranging from human rights law to mechanical engineering. All programs are modern and structured in response to student demand. You can study both English and Swedish. If you speak fluent Swedish then Swedish courses are open to you as well which will give you even greater choice.

Do they speak English?

Swedish speak Swedish but almost all Swedish speak fluent English. You will find English in many Swedish companies as their official working language. Learning Swedish with Swedish people is a great fun too.

Really!!! No tuition fees!! Free Education!

Yes, it’s a rare exception is that higher education tuition fees in Sweden are fully subsidized by the government. It is applicable to you as well as Swedish students. However, you need to cover your living expenses during your study period, which is approximately SEK 7300 per month; please keep in mind it is also a pre-requisite for acquiring a residence permit. (1 USD=  7.10  SEK on 29 th August,09)

What are Other fees?

Student union fees

You have to pay a membership fee to the local student union and it range from SEK 150-400 per term depending on the union.

Literature and textbooks

You will get rich library everywhere but still you have to buy your own books as library copies are limited and reading is often extensive. You need to spend SEK 750 per month on books in an academic term on average. If you are a Law student then you might need to spend a little more. You can also buy second hand or old books at cheaper price.

Any idea of living expenses?

There is not approximate figure about living cost for international students in Sweden. The cost may vary according to place of stay and living standard. Big cities like Stockholm are more expensive than the small towns. However, in average, Swedish living cost for international students will be about Swedish Krona SEK 6500 to 7300 per month.

You can use your student card for discounts and on-campus restaurants are good value. You can also cook your own food; most student accommodations have some form of kitchen facility open to residents.

The general estimated living budgets for International students are:

Food: SEK 2,000.

Accommodation: SEK 3,200.

Local travel: SEK 500.

Telephone/internet: SEK 300.

Insurance, medical care and hygiene: SEK 250.

Student union fee: SEK 60-70.

Clothing, hobby/leisure, other: SEK 750.

Total: SEK 7,070, or about EUR 750.

Attention please:

While applying for a residence permit you must prove to the Swedish Migration Board that you will have a guaranteed sum of money (SEK 7,300 per month for ten months of the year; this amount is set by the Migration Board) at your disposal throughout the entire period of your studies. If you wanna bring your family you have to show additional SEK 3,000 per month for your spouse and SEK 1,800 per month per child at your hand.

Can I apply for scholarship?

Swedish government agency “The Swedish Institute” is the supreme authority over 500 scholarships per academic year which are awarded to the students and researchers coming to Sweden to pursue their objectives at a Swedish university. [More in part two]

Can I do part time job?

Don’t worry! You can work and earn money too:

If you are an enrolled Swedish university or university college student you can work in Sweden without a work permit. However, a residence permit is required if you stay more than three months. If you are from Nordic, EU and EEA area then no need of residence permit, but need to register at the Swedish Migration Board. More information about work in Sweden.

Where to get residence permit?

Need information to get residence permit, contact your nearest embassy or consulate or the Swedish Migration Board directly.

How many semesters in one academic year?

The Swedish academic year is divided into autumn and spring semesters. The majority of courses and study programmes start in the autumn semester.

Autumn semester:

Autumn semester starts at the end of August and continues until mid-January of the following year.

Spring semester:

Spring semester usually starts in January and finishes at the end of June.

Summer session:

Many higher education institutions (HEIs) have a short summer session in between the spring and autumn semesters. You will be awarded a maximum of 15 HE credits for courses taken during the summer session.

Any information on Courses or study programmes?

When applying to study in Sweden, you have options to apply for self-contained courses or full study programmes.

If you choose to study a self-contained course or a range of courses, credits will be given to you on completion of these courses. You will be awarded a diploma or degree if you accumulate the necessary number of credits in required patterns.

Or you can apply for a full study programme. Study programmes are made up of compulsory and optional courses. Some of the study programmes lead to professional or vocational qualifications. Study programmes vary in length from 2 to 11 semesters.

Credit system

In normal schedule it is 30 HE credits per semester/60 HE credits per academic year.

Swedish higher education institutions awarding credits compatible with ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) intended to facilitate the recognition of higher education from other countries.

So you have got a good introduction about study abroad in Sweden. Now if you wanna move further, read more details in  Study abroad : Study in Sweden [part 2]

You may need: List of universities and colleges in Sweden

Wanna buy some books on Scholarship, College admission, Test prep, Essay writing, Immigration & Citizenship: Check our book store!!!

Recently Germany became one of the attractive destination for higher studies and education. German institutions are providing excellent bachelor, masters or post graduate, doctoral, language study and summer programs for international students. There are much good opportunities to get a scholarship or fund too if you get right information at the right moment. I have seen many web sites on study in Germany and German scholarships but the most popular and well organized web site I ever found is DAAD. In this article I will try to help you in making  a good decision to study in Germany with scholarship or fund.

The German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst =DAAD) is the German national agency for the support of international academic cooperation.

Here I will request you to follow the steps below to understand what you actually want and what is waiting for you.

Select Course and Institution:

Step 1: Know about Germany. Visit other web sites, read books or  have a look on these pages “Germany in profile ” and “Living in Germany”.

Step 2: Before choosing your program try to know the types of higher eduction institutions in Germany. It’s very important while choosing institution.

Step3: What are the facilities in German institutions for students? Are you curious? OK, then read this page A to Z.

Step4:    Before choosing subject and institutions try to know about their program structure. Read carefully how to achieve your goal step by step. Click here.

Step 5:    How much you need to finance your study and other expenses you should have a clear idea. Read the following page very carefully. Read “Tuition fees on your way”.

Step 6:

(a)   Now you can select your program and institution. A German university ranking list is provided. You can find your program and institution in 3 ways. (In fact in sub para ‘a’  it’s little difficult to get a clear picture but try to understand which university is good for which subject and where it is situated. Sub para ‘b’ is easy to search.)

By selecting a subject

or by selecting a university

or by selecting a city of Germany:

(b)   Here you will get better arrangement to select your course and institution.

If you want to study Bachelor program then find your course here.

For Master Degree or post graduate degree click here.

For Doctoral study click here.

They have new international programs for all types of students. You can also try to find your course here

You can also find interesting summer school program here.

You can have a look also in DAAD German summer academies here.

Do you want to learn German language then you should visit this page.

Step 7: This step is very important. Suppose you have already selected your program and institution. Now you need information about admission procedure. Read carefully the following topics under “Admission at a glance”.

• Higher education entrance qualification
• Assessment test
• Preparatory courses
• Studies in the home country as an admissions qualification
• German language proficiency
• Admissions restrictions
• Selection procedures
• You must meet the following requirements.

Step 8:    Application form for admission to study: As a rule, you can obtain the application forms from the university of your choice (via the International Office). In addition, the DAAD has placed the relevant application form online for downloading.

Step 9:    So you got application form for admission; now you need to know which papers and documents you generally have to enclose with your application. Please note that other or additional papers may also be required, depending on the university and degree program in question. If your papers are incomplete, your admission may be rejected. This is why you should make sure that you ask the International Office which papers you have to submit and by when before you finally apply. Read the following check-list.

Step 10:   Your Road map to apply. Go to this page and follow the key steps. Please also make sure that you contact the relevant Admissions Office for information on the process.

Step 11:   Suppose you have acceptance letter; now go for registration and then study. Here are the registration details.

Step 12:  For student internship read this page.

Step 13:  Note these important addresses.

Search Scholarships:

You have already came to know your course, university, course structure, tuition fees and miscellaneous information. So get ready to find a scholarship or fund for you.

DAAD scholarships applicants are divided into 4 categories

1. Native US and CANADA students studying in US and CANADA
2. Native US and CANADA students studying in other countries
3. Students from other countries studying in US and CANADA
4. Students from other countries not studying in US and CANADA
5. German students

You can find the scholarship information in several ways. Read carefully the following steps (For all above 5 categories students).

1. I think this step is comparatively easier but you can do cross check in subsequent steps too to get  better ideas. Go to this page, select your major, country and qualification. Don’t select ‘DAAD funding programs only’; you will get information about all available scholarship for you. Select the scholarship that suit you most and read everything very carefully. Read the sections how to apply, application deadline, application requirements; keep note of contact addresses. Or…
2. you can also go to this page. Select the region and search like before.
3. If you are from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia or Indonesia please read this for about ‘Government scholarship’.

Although the download link of all types of scholarship applications are given in the particular scholarship page but for your convenience I am giving the application download page link here.

[If you like this post don't forget to mention]

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