Call for Applications: OSI Centre National des Œuvres Universitaires et Scolaires Awards for Central Asian Nationals for Study in France

Call for Applications: OSI Centre National des Œuvres Universitaires et Scolaires Awards for Study in France

The French government program for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan offers up to 15 awards for one year of study at the postgraduate level at universities in France, thanks to cooperation between the Open Society Institute and the Centre National des Œuvres Universitaires et Scolaires (CNOUS).
Deadline

The deadline for applications is January 15, 2010.

Eligibility

Candidates should:

* be students in their fifth year of undergraduate studies, or hold the equivalent of a bachelor's degree and have completed a five-year program as a minimum;
* be applying for Maitrise (Master 2) studies in Economic Development Environment, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Health, Sociology, or Theory of Law;
* have outstanding academic records;
* demonstrate a commitment to returning to Central Asia after completing studies in France;
* demonstrate appropriate French language skills.

Financial Support

Participants will receive a tuition waiver, living stipends, a roundtrip plane ticket between France and their home country and, if required, a language preparation course. Please note that within this program, accompanying spouses or children are not eligible for family allowances.
Application Procedure

Candidates must complete an application for the Central Asian country from which they are residing. Details regarding the application and the process may be found in the attachments below. Further information regarding the program may be found by contacting the individuals within the select countries listed below. Depending on the country, applications must be submitted either to the French Cultural Center, or to the local Open Society Institute office no later than January 15, 2010.
Selection of Applicants

The selection committee will include French university professors, CNOUS representatives, and OSI representatives. The French language test will be administered by the Embassies of France in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

All semi-finalists will be invited for an interview in late March 2010.

For more information see

http://www.soros.org/initiatives/scholarship/focus_areas/cnous/guid...