Ruth First Master Scholarship, Durham University
The aims of the Ruth First Educational Trust
- To enable southern African students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake postgraduate study at the University of Durham.
- To educate and inform students and staff at the University, as well as residents of the area, about educational and development issues in southern Africa.
- To raise funds to support these activities.
Southern Africa is defined for this purpose as comprising the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Republic of South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Benefits to southern Africa and Durham
- Scholarships make an important contribution towards social, educational and economic development in the region. In addition to their value to individuals they have wide developmental impact, within and beyond southern Africa.
- Ruth First Scholars have played positive leadership roles in their communities and are chosen for their active commitment to good causes, as well as for their academic ability.
- Many former Ruth First Scholars now hold important positions in the public and private sectors in southern Africa, and have become inspirational role models for young people.
- This is what Archbishop Desmond Tutu said in 1998 about the value of the Trust's work:
I want to congratulate and encourage those who instituted the Ruth First Educational Trust. The damage wrought by apartheid on generations of black students cannot be quantified; it has been horrendous. The opportunity offered by Durham University to South African students is the opportunity of a lifetime. I am thrilled that this offer for postgraduate study at such a prestigious institution is available. Please keep the door open. Every opportunity, every avenue, for South Africans to study abroad should be seized with both hands. Education is the key to our country's future. You are helping our young people to reach their potential and and take their place in the wider world, and for that I am deeply grateful.
Value
The University, with the agreement of the Department concerned, will award a tuition fee scholarship covering the full fees for the programme chosen. Through a Gift Agreement between the Trust and the University, the Scholar will receive a monthly allowance to cover living and other expenses for 12 months, as well as free accommodation and meals at St Chad's College (the cost of which is shared between the Trust and the College). In 2015-16 the allowance is £500 per month and the value of the full-board accommodation is approximately £515 per month.
The Scholar will also receive a settling-in allowance on arrival and a contribution to the cost of sending belongings home before departure if necessary. The Trust will pay for one return air ticket from the home country to the UK and the cost of return travel between the UK airport and Durham City. The Trust will also pay £400 towards the cost of applying for a Tier 4 UK visa and the immigration health surcharge. The Trust cannot provide additional support for dependants, nor for travel during the period of the Scholarship.
The Scholar is required to attend all taught components of the chosen course and complete all assignments prescribed, including a dissertation. The normal starting date for most Masters programmes is the beginning of October.
How to apply
Application forms (5 pages plus 2 referee report forms) have been sent to universities in South Africa and other southern African countries. You may download the form as a Word document here and type into the boxes. The application and references may be submitted as e-mail attachments. Academic results transcripts should be sent by post, or by e-mail as scans of the original documents (please compress image files sent electronically).
Download Academic reference form
Download Non-academic reference form
Completed applications (form + 2 references + transcript) should be sent to:
Dr Mike Thompson
Ruth First Educational Trust
School of Modern Languages & Cultures
Durham University
Durham DH1 3JT
UK
E-mail: ruthfirst.trust@durham.ac.uk
Fax: +44 191 334 3421
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