Ruth First Scholarship now open for applications

Applications are now open for the new Ruth First Scholarship for Masters or Doctoral studies at Rhodes University in 2011. Launched earlier this year with a lecture by Justice Albie Sachs, the scholarship is intended to support candidates whose research is in the spirit of Ruth First’s life and work, poses difficult social questions, and links knowledge and politics and scholarship and action.

Candidates will be short-listed using a CV, academic transcript and letter of motivation which includes their suitability for the award and how their proposed work will be within the spirit of Ruth First’s work.

Eligible fields of study are: politics, sociology, philosophy, anthropology, economics, social policy, democracy studies, development studies, media studies, or studies in cognate disciplines with a strong social and human rights orientation.

All Doctoral and Masters candidates acceptable to Rhodes University in the focus areas of this scholarship will be eligible to apply. South African black and women candidates will be particularly encouraged to apply, and will be shown preference in situations where short listed candidates are deemed to be equally suitable for the award of the scholarship. Preference will also be given to candidates who are able to demonstrate financial need and disadvantaged social origins.

Candidates will be assessed on their academic record, their previous scholarly outputs, their track record of leadership and involvement in projects and organisations related to social and human rights issues, and their ability to clearly articulate their intended area of study under the support of the scholarship and their future career goals. The Ruth First Scholarship is tenable only at Rhodes University.

The Value of the scholarship, PhD R100 000 per year and Masters R80 000 per year - the closing date for applications is 31 August 2010.

Rhodes University has set up several scholarship programmes to attract excellent students and researchers to further their studies at postgraduate level and should visit the website for more details about other postgraduate opportunities at: http://www.ru.ac.za/research/postgraduates/funding

For more information and application procedures: Telephone 046 603 8755

JAPANESE GOVERNMENT(MONBUKAGAKUSHO) SCHOLARSHIP-Research Category

The Monbukagakusho (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Government of Japan: MEXT) offers scholarships to Australian nationals who wish to study at Japanese universities under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program as follows:

Research Category

1. Tenable for 2 years starting in April 2011 or 18 months starting in October 2011.
2. Applicants must be Australian nationals and be graduates under 35 years of age on 1 April 2011 (born on or after 2 April 1976).
3. There will be compulsory examinations for English and optional Japanese Language on 22 June 2010 and short listed candidates must attend interview in late July to early August. The examinations and interviews will be held in various places in Australia, but not overseas. Applicants who wish to pursue Japanese studies, such as language, linguistics, literature, history, law, or any other related subject, are expected to have an appropriate proficiency with the Japanese language. Examinations and interviews will be conducted at the Embassy of Japan, Canberra and Consulates-General of Japan, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Other examination sites may also be decided upon after reviewing applications. Travel expenses for the exam will be borne by applicants.
4. Benefits: return airfare and allowance of ¥152,000 – ¥154,000 (approx. A$1700) per month. (Subject to change)
5. Closing date for applications: TUESDAY, 15 JUNE 2010.

More Information: www.au.emb-japan.go.jp