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Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDC) at Centres of Excellence in the South.

Deadline for applications is 31 May of each year. The Fellowships are offered to women scientists to purse postgraduate research in the following fields of basic sciences: biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics.

This fellowship programme is for female students from Sub-Saharan Africa or Least Developed Countries (LDCs) who wish to pursue postgraduate training leading to a doctorate degree at a centre of excellence in the South outside their own country.

Please read the following information carefully before applying.

• only women scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and/or one of the Least Developed Countries can apply;
• host institutions must be located in a developing country;
• applications that are incomplete or illegible cannot be considered. Please make sure all the requested enclosures are submitted together with your application;
• submissions by email or fax cannot be accepted.

The Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) with funds generously provided by the Department for Research Cooperation (SAREC) of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), has instituted a fellowship programme for female students from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), who wish to pursue postgraduate training leading to a Ph.D., at centres of excellence in the South (developing countries), outside their own country.

The general purpose of the scheme 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 specific aims of the scheme are:

• to improve access to educational and training opportunities in science and technology for young and talented women graduates from Sub-Saharan Africa and LDCs;
• to increase the scientific productivity and creativity of women scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa and LDCs; and
• to empower a new generation of talented women to assume a leadership role in science and technology and their application to sustainable development.

The fellowships are open to qualified young women science graduates (generally below 40 years of age) from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and/or LDCs.

The minimum qualification of applicants is an M.Sc. degree (or equivalent), or an outstanding B.Sc. honours degree, in the following fields of natural sciences:

• biology
• chemistry
• mathematics
• physics

The host institute where the applicant wishes to pursue her doctorate degree must be in a developing country other than her own.

The applicant must be willing to return to her own country after completion of the fellowship.

List of Least Developed Countries (LDC)

Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros Islands, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen and Zambia.

Application

Applicants should complete all parts of the application form, and enclose copies of all university degree certificates, and the university-issued transcripts, which should include grades, courses taken, etc.

If the applicant has already gained admission at an institution of excellence in the South (i.e., in a developing country), a copy of the letter of acceptance from the institution must be enclosed.

If the applicant is registered for a doctorate degree at an institution in her home country, and wishes to pursue part of her research at another institution under a "sandwich programme", a letter of recommendation from the home institute supervisor must be enclosed.

Two referee letters from senior scientists familiar with the applicant's studies must be enclosed with the application in sealed envelopes.

Applications must be clearly typewritten in English and completed in all parts; TWOWS will not process incomplete and/or illegible applications. TWOWS will inform the applicant as soon as the application is processed.

The application form is available both as a MS Word document and as a PDF file.

Applications should reach the TWOWS secretariat by 31 May of each year.