The Open Society Foundation and Staffordshire University Business School jointly invite applications from university graduates with outstanding academic qualifications for five scholarships on the MPhil/PhD in Economics programme by Distance Learning mode. This scheme aims to support the reform of the higher education system in Central and East European countries by providing opportunities for younger university teachers and researchers to gain access to West European higher education and to pursue research in Economics at an advanced level, leading to an MPhil or PhD degree.
Deadline: 25/01/2010
Open to: students from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo,Macedonia and Montenegro
Scholarship: full
Operation of the Scheme:
In the academic year 2010-2011, the scheme will be offered to candidates from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Republic of Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Montenegro. There are five scholarships available in this round. The scheme offers the opportunity for the beneficiaries to spend a part of each year at Staffordshire University, but also requires them to complete most of their research work in their own institution, thus ensuring that they will remain in the region and continue to be active members of their home institutions. The beneficiaries must undertake to remain in the region for at least two years after the completion of their doctoral programme.
Distance Learning Mode:
The scheme requires the successful candidates to enrol on the MPhil/PhD programme at Staffordshire University. Each year, they will spend 3-4 months of their time at the University and the remaining part at their home institutions.
In the first year of the programme, candidates will reside in Stoke on Trent for four months, during the first semester, attending a number of taught modules (including research methods in economics) and preparing a proposal for their thesis. In subsequent years, they will return to Stoke on Trent for three months each year, to work on the completion of their thesis and, in some cases, take additional courses. These subsequent stays may be scheduled in a way that minimises conflict with their teaching or other duties.
All candidates will be assigned a thesis supervisor at Staffordshire University who will remain in regular contact with them (by post, fax, e-mail, and the Internet) when they return to their home institution, and who will require them to submit their work at regular intervals. The supervisor will also visit the candidate once a year at their home institution. Candidates are expected to allocate a portion of their time (on average 15-20 hours per week) to working on their research while away from the University. The home institution may be required to confirm, in writing, that the candidate will be allowed sufficient time and given other support to work on her/his thesis.
Duration of Scholarships:
Scholarships are granted for a period of up to 4 years, subject to the satisfactory progress of candidates and their continued association with a university or research institution in the region.
Further Information about Staffordshire University:
Further information on Staffordshire University and the Business School may be obtained by visiting the University’s Web Site and the Business School’s homepage
