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MSc International Study Award

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Call for Applications Masters Award Word Application Form

Application Form Masters Award Word Application Form

Final Report Template Masters Award Word Application Form

The Tropical Agriculture Association Award Fund (TAAF) is now inviting applications from MSc students in natural resource subjects in selected universities, for awards of up to £1000 to enable them to undertake  overseas visits and assignments (minimum duration 8 weeks) relevant to their on-going studies.

Applicant qualifications
Applicants are normally required to be UK citizens or long term residents of the UK, to hold a first degree in a natural resources-related discipline, to have a serious interest in international development and to be under 30 years of age.

Eligible universities

Bangor
Edinburgh
Imperial College, London
Newcastle
Oxford
Reading
University College London
School of Oriental and African Studies, London
Institute of Development Studies, Sussex
University of East Anglia
Other universities which offer relevant courses may also submit applications

Selection criteria
University Departments which offer MSc courses in natural resources-related subjects relevant to overseas development are being invited to put forward suitable candidates for these awards. A maximum of five applicants, shortlisted by department heads, will be considered from each university.

Priority will be given to strong applicants with well prepared proposals relevant to the needs of the local population, to the student’s course of study, and with a commitment to working in the long term in development.

Endorsement of applicants by the Head of Department is an essential requirement.

Awards available

For the current academic year the number of awards available is expected to be at least 8 (not more than 3 from any one university).  Depending on demand this number may increase in future years.

Application and reporting procedure
The application procedure and reporting requirements are described in Annex I.

Applications and referee's comments should be sent by e-mail to: secretary_taaf@taa.org.uk with copy to taa_award_fund@taa.org.uk no later than 31 March. The TAAF committee expects to announce awards by 30 April.

Notes

(1) The offer of a two month TAAF award does not exclude awardees from putting in future applications for a six-month award.
(2) TAAF liaises closely with the Natural Resources International Foundation (NRIF) who operate similar award schemes, to ensure that applicants who receive a TAAF award do not receive a NRIF award and vice versa.  See www.nrinternational.co.uk (click on Natural Resources International Foundation).

ANNEX I: Application and reporting procedure

Application procedure
Applications for eight week study awards must comprise:

  1. A completed application form, which can be downloaded from the TAAF web site www.taafund.org or obtained, in case of difficulty, by e-mail request from secretary_taaf@taa.org.uk
  2. Outline of the proposed study and travel (the proforma is included in the application form), describing:
    1. Aims and objectives of the project;
    2. Relation to Masters’ study;
    3. Wider relevance and impact of the project with particular reference to the objectives of the TAAF;
    4. Link to the overseas host institution (copies of relevant correspondence should be attached where possible);
    5. Budget breakdown for travel, living and research expenses, and statement of the amount requested (to a maximum of £1000).
  3. A single A4 sheet should provide references from the Applicant’s Supervisor and from the Head of Department
    1. The Supervisor should comment on the candidate’s potential, on the added-value of the study/travel in relation to the on-going course of study and on the feasibility of achieving the objectives of the project, and should confirm that there are specific contacts with the overseas hosts. Other comments which will assist the Committee in selecting outstanding candidates and proposals for the award will be welcomed.
    2. The Head of Department is asked to endorse the Supervisor's recommendation and to provide any other comments that may be of use to the Committee.

 

Applicants are advised that late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Head of Department is asked to forward the applications and referee comments in a single e-mail to secretary_taaf@taa.org.uk with copy to taa_award_fund@taa.org.uk no later than 31 March.

Administration of the awards and reporting procedure
Applicants and Heads of Department will be notified of the outcome of their submissions by email not later than 30 April.

Awards will be paid as a grant to the University Department, or in some cases directly to the awardee.  The Department will be asked to provide a receipt when the cheque is received by post, and also to ensure that a report is submitted before the end of the awardee’s course of study. Reports should be formally endorsed by the Supervisor and forwarded to taaf_secretary@taa.org.uk

A report is required by the TAAF to conform with its charitable status as a grant awarding body. TAAF will seek to recover the award from the Department, in cases where no report is received.

The report template can be downloaded from the TAAF website. This includes a section for 1-2 paragraphs (maximum half page of A4) summarising the overall experience of undertaking this research, in a form that can be used in the TAA magazine Agriculture for Development. The summary should include a brief description of the aims of the study, the outcome, the lessons learned, and your own assessment of its value both to the local community and to yourself.