Deadline: March 31, 2014
The Graduate Research Program Climate Change and Agriculture in partnership with the University of Bamako, Mali, is looking for applicants to its three and half doctoral training program for the academic year 2014-2015. The program provides a full scholarship to successful candidates from WASCAL member countries (Bénin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sénégal, and Togo).
Scholarship and Research Support
The scholarship and research support will normally be provided based on the criteria below:
- After admission, students will be required to maintain a graduate level Grade Point Average (GPA) of B or a minimum of B from the course;
- During the course curriculum phase, students will be required to develop a detailed research project, including budget;
- During the project/research stage, students are expected to present their progress reports regularly and be evaluated accordingly.
- Each student will receive a stipend of € 500.00 per month (€350.00 during the pre-course language preparations) to cover accommodation and other expenses for his study period.
- Research funds will also be made available to students after approval of their research proposal by their advisor/supervisor, the GRP Coordination and WASCAL headquarters.
- The student may travel to Germany once during the course of the PhD fellowship period to work with scientists at German universities or research centers. Airfare will be paid for by the project and a monthly stipend of about €1000.00 will also be provided for each month spent in Germany.
Student Eligibility
The entry requirements into the program are the following:
- Candidates must be from the WASCAL countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo);
- Candidates must not be more than 40 years;
- Candidates must have a Master’s Degree, or its equivalent in Soil Science, Crop Science, Agro-forestry, Forestry, Animal Science, IPM or other relevant disciplines, with at least an average of 60 % (Second Upper Class, Assez Bien);
- Experience with modeling routines or GIS would be an advantage but not a prerequisite;
- Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Maximum Intake: The program will admit a maximum of 10 students per batch. There shall be equitable distribution of students across the WASCAL countries (one student per country).
Language requirements
CC&Agric is an English-speaking graduate program. The following are the language requirements:
- Basic Certificate in English Language;
- Functional Certificate in English Language;
- A three-month intensive English language proficiency course will be offered at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana, for the selected francophone students before the beginning of the program.
- At the end of this English language course, students will have to pass an English language proficiency test e.g. TOEFL (550 or above).
- French language courses will also be offered to English speaking students while at IPR/IFRA.
Required Documents
Candidates must submit the following documents:
- completed application form;
- birth certificate;
- certificate of nationality;
- two recent passport photos;
- MSc official transcript or equivalent;
- transcript of grades for the obtainment of MSc or equivalent;
- abstract of the MSc (or equivalent) Dissertation;
- transcripts of previous university degrees;
- transcript of grades for the obtainment of university degrees;
- detailed CV;
- letter of motivation
- a concept note (3 to 5 pages) outlining the justification, objectives, methodology and expected outcomes of a research idea.
- support letter from employer (if employed) granting study leave, in case of success;
- names and contact details of 3 referees, one of whom must be his/her Master’s supervisor.
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