The Beit Trust Scholarship for Malawi Students at University of Oxford UK

The Beit Trust offers annually a small number of Scholarships abroad for postgraduate studies or research to graduates who are domiciled in Malawi, Zambia or Zimbabwe (the beneficial area).  Scholarships are taken up at a university in the United Kingdom, Ireland or South Africa, for study in a subject of the individual’s choice appropriate to the needs of the beneficial area.  Duration is normally for a maximum of three years at the discretion of Trustees.  In addition, awards for a one-year taught Masters Degree are offered at the University of Leeds, known as the Beit-Leeds Scholarship (BL); at the University of Reading, known as the Beit-Reading Scholarship (BRG); and at Rhodes University, known as the Beit-Rhodes Scholarship (BRU).

BL Scholarship expenses are shared equally between The Beit Trust and the University of Leeds, which undertakes the administration.

BRG Scholarship expenses are shared between The Beit Trust and the University of Reading, which again undertakes the administration.

Some BRU Scholarship expenses are met by Rhodes University, but the Beit Trust handles the administration.

There is no academic difference between these shared scholarships and fully-funded scholarships. Many Beit Scholars choose these popular Africa-friendly universities where shared costs permit more scholarships to be offered to the beneficial area.

Please note that The Beit Trust is constrained by Act of Parliament to sponsoring ONLY students who are domiciled within Malawi, Zambia or Zimbabwe. The Trust cannot consider applications from those who have already commenced their course.

All applicants except medical and veterinary doctors must be under 30 years of age on 31 December of the year of application. Some experience of work after completion of a first degree is desirable. Doctors and vets must be under 35 years of age on 31 December and should have completed 18 months of internship and preferably a one-year rural posting in the relevant country.

The extent of a Beit Scholarship Grant is:

Fees and costs of tuition and related academic expenses are paid by the Trust direct to the universities.

Scholars receive a personal allowance, index linked in accordance with guidance from an independent authority covering maintenance support.

Other allowances are paid for arrival, a laptop and printing of a thesis, and return to Africa.

Economy Class air passages are met by the Trust for the initial journey to the place of study, and for the return at the end of the course.

No allowances are paid for spouses or other family members.

Prospective applicants, who must hold at least a degree of class 2.1, i.e. Merit or Distinction, should obtain details of the awards and application requirements from:-

Zimbabwe and Malawi: The Beit Trust Representative, P.O. Box CH 76, Chisipite, Harare, ZIMBABWE.  Fax: 263 (0)4 494046.  E-Mail: beitrust@africaonline.co.zw

Zambia:  The Secretary, The Beit Trust, Beit House, Grove Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5JB, ENGLAND.  Fax:  044 (0)1483 725833.  E-Mail: scholarships@beittrust.org.uk

Initial applications for scholarships can be made online. Applicants from Zimbabwe and Malawi cannot, at this time, use this online facility but should email directly to beitrust@africaonline.co.zw, (please state which country you are from) whereupon the Application Form and information required will be sent. Zambian applicants are urged to complete the online form as early as possible to establish whether they would qualify. If you do qualify a form will be sent to you and you will be required to provide additional information and details. This information will include, but may not be restricted to, the following:-

A fuller application form

A medical certificate from your doctor

Names and addresses of 3 distinguished referees (who are willing to provide a reference) together with their e-mail addresses in order that we may contact them to take up their references

A certified transcript of your degree results

A certified document of evidence of residency (National Registration Card or birth certificate)

Please note that all original and certified documents must be received by The Beit Trust by 31 August 2012

Only those applicants who state that they intend to return to work in the relevant country upon completion of the scholarship, and who can, if short-listed, present themselves for interview before a Beit Scholarship Selection Board in Harare, Blantyre or Lusaka towards the middle of December, will be considered.

Selection is highly competitive, and only postgraduates with at least a Merit (equivalent to a good 2.1 from a UK university) in their first degree are likely to succeed.  The selectors favour practical and useful disciplines that are likely to offer a clear benefit to the beneficial area. Because of their high cost, MBAs and PhDs are very seldom awarded in the UK, but a taught MBA at the Universities of Cape Town is acceptable.

COSECSA

The Beit Trust has also set up a pilot scheme to sponsor Malawian, Zambian and Zimbabwean  surgeons undertaking  five-year courses at the College of Surgeons in East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA). Separate selection and sponsorship mechanisms apply. Please see the Prospectus page of the web site www.cosecsa.org

Or details can be obtained directly from:

COSECSA Secretariat, ECSA-HC, P. O. Box 1009, Arusha, Tanzania. Tel: 255
27 254 9362. E-Mail: cosecsa@ecsa.or.tz or from the Registrar/CEO Email:
ekrikor@yahoo.com