OSWD PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists 2023

Table of Contents

OSWD PhD Fellowships for Women are fully funded scholarships for international female students. This program covers tuition fee, monthly allowance, return ticket, visa expenses, medical insurance and special allowance to attend international conferences.

OSWD PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists invites applications from women from Science and Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs) to pursue PhD research in Engineering and Information Technology and Natural sciences at a educational institute in the South.

The general purpose of the fellowship program is to contribute to the emergence of a new generation of women leaders in science and technology, and to promote their effective participation in the scientific and technological development of their countries. The program is administered with funds generously provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and is offered in partnership with host institutes throughout the developing world.

The specific aims of the fellowship programme are:

To improve access to educational and training opportunities in science and technology for young and talented women graduates from STLCs.
To increase the scientific productivity and creativity of women scientists in STLCs.
To empower a new generation of talented women to assume a leadership role in science and technology.
To encourage women scientists to contribute to the sustainable development of their home countries.
To enable women scientist from the South to collaborate and network on a regional and international level.

Scholarship Summary

Level of Study: Doctoral
Institution(s): Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
Study in: Developing countries.
Deadline: April 15, 2022

Offered Courses

Agricultural Sciences
Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences
Biological Systems and Organisms
Chemical Sciences
Computing and Information Technology
Engineering Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Medical and Health Sciences
Neurosciences
Physics
Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology

Program Period

Program period is maximum 4 years .

A full-time fellowship (maximum 4 years ), where the research is undertaken entirely at a host institute in another developing country in the South.
A sandwich fellowship, where the candidate must be a registered PhD student in her home country and undertakes part of her studies at a host institute in another developing country.
The sandwich fellowship is awarded for a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 research visits at the host institute. The minimum duration of the first visit is 6 months. The total number of months spent at the host institute cannot exceed 20 months. The funding period cannot exceed 4 years.

Scholarship Coverage

OSWD PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists provides the recipient with the following benefits:

A monthly allowance to cover basic living expenses such as accommodation and meals while in the host country
A modest annual support allowance to be used at the student’s discretion to support their research environment
A return ticket from the home country to the host institute for the agreed research period
Visa expenses
Annual medical insurance contribution
The opportunity to attend regional science communications workshops, on a competitive basis
Study fees (including tuition and registration fees) in agreement with the chosen host institute which is also expected to contribute

The OWSD fellowship does not cover:

Bench fees and consumables
Support for language training, either before or during the fellowship programme
Support for shipment of research samples
Costs for personal computer or software purchase
Support for family members
Additional return tickets to the home country for personal reasons

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Eligibility Criteria for OSWD PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists

To be eligible for OSWD PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists from Science and Technology Lagging Countries, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Required Languages: English
Eligible Countries: Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Comoros, & Other Countries Are Not From The Middle East And North Africa. See the complete list of eligible countries here.
The minimum qualification is an MSc degree in one of the above listed study fields.
Please note that an applicant, at the time of application, must NOT have an active research grant or fellowship with The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) or have already submitted an application for a TWAS program within the same given year
Host institutes must be located in a developing country in the South (not the candidate’s home country). A list of recommended institutes is available here. Other institutes, not included in the link above, will also be considered if they demonstrate appropriate resources and expertise.
Candidates who are already on site in the host country will not usually be considered eligible.
Candidates should identify a host institute outside their home country. They can identify a further two host institutes if desired.
Candidates must confirm that they intend to return to their home country as soon as possible after completion of the fellowship.

How to Apply for OSWD PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists?

Follow the following instructions to win OSWD PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists:

(1) Candidates must submit a PhD research proposal outline (max 2.000 words) which should be a summarized description of the PhD research proposal.
Guidelines for writing a good research proposal outline are available here.
Candidates are invited to study carefully these guidelines and ensure that their proposal is well structured and clear. The project proposal is given particular attention at selection.

(2) Candidates must submit following documents:

The letter must be signed by the head of department or by the postgraduate studies coordinator.
The study starting date on the preliminary acceptance letter must be the year following the application (e.g. if you apply for a fellowship in 2018 the acceptance letter should indicate the starting date as 2019).
All university degree certificates; and all university-issued transcripts, indicating all courses and grades.
Candidates must submit their complete CV (including a list of publications, if available).
Candidates must submit a preliminary acceptance letter from at least one host institute.
The sample available here must be used for the preparation of this document.
Candidates must submit a letter of commitment from the prospective host supervisor confirming that the host institute has the resources (e.g. bench fees, laboratory equipment) required to undertake the project.
The letter should also describe why the host institute is appropriate for the subject of study and confirm the supervisor’s interest in working with the candidate.
Candidates must submit two reference letters from senior scientists familiar with their work.
For SANDWICH candidates only: please note that the home PhD supervisor cannot be one of the two referees.
Candidates must submit a scanned copy of the passport page, which contains personal details (photo, document number etc.).

(3) Candidates applying for a SANDWICH study scheme must, in addition, submit also the following documents:

Sandwich candidates must submit the Registration and No objection certificate prepared by the home institute confirming that the candidate is a PhD registered student and that there is no objection to her studying at the chosen host institute abroad.
Sandwich candidates must submit a supporting statement, prepared and signed by the home supervisor on letter-headed paper. The supervisor should:
state that he/she is willing to support the candidate undertaking part of her studies at the host institute abroad; and describe how the research visit abroad will impact/benefit the candidate’s research project.

(4) Start your online application here.

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