VLIR-UOS Human Settlements Scholarships for Developing Countries

Overview

This intensive programme of advanced education is a two-semester degree, starting in September. It leads to the degree of Master of Human Settlements.

This intensive programme focuses on issues of housing, building and spatial planning in a context of development under scarce resources and pressing social and environmental constraints. The programme has the following main components:

• a core package of compulsory courses dealing with human settlements in development, developmental and managerial aspects of sustainable development, design projects, study tours and thesis;

• a pool of courses out of which to choose minimum 10 credits, focusing on subjects as Architecture and Urban Studies, Rational Design and Construction or Urbanism and Strategic Planning

• further optional courses to select from a wide offer. In addition to the regular faculty, an international visiting staff supports the programme.

A specific research-oriented trajectory can serve as a pre-doctoral track for the Ph.D. A trajectory that focuses on urban design, landscape and spatial planning, on the other hand, may lead to admission to the third semester of the Master of Urbanism and Strategic Planning degree, which is a four-semester degree. Please note that VLIR scholarships are only available for the Master of Human Settlements, not for the possible continuation in the Master of Urbanism and Strategic Planning.

Admission requirements

Master programme: applicants must hold a degree of Bachelor or Master of Architecture or Architectural Engineering (with a minimum of five years academic study). Other applicants must have a proven interest and experience in the field of Human Settlements. Job experience is preferred. Among other selection criteria, an excellent academic record is essential, as well as fluent English and a letter of motivation.

Target Candidates

Only persons who are resident AND national of one of the following countries (not necessarily the same country for residence and nationality) are eligible for a VLIR-UOS scholarship. Please note that candidates must reside in one of these countries at the moment of application.

Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Nepal, Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
Latin America: Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay

You can apply for a scholarship if you meet the following requisites:

You are a resident AND national of one of the countries on the country list (not necessarily the same country for residence and nationality). Please note that candidates must reside in one of these countries at the moment of application.
You are not older than 40 years* if you apply for a scholarship to follow a master programme. Or you are not older than 45 years* if you apply for a scholarship to follow a training programme. (* on 1 January 2012)
You have the required English proficiency. You need a proof of at least 1 year of comprehensive English-based instruction at a university or recognized equivalent. If not, a TOEFL test is required with a minimum total score of 550 on the paper based test (PBT), or 79 on an internet based test (IBT); or an IELTS test with a minimum overall band score of 6,5; or a proof of another test of similar level as TOEFLE or IELTS.
Professional experience and employment perspectives are not required for a master programme, but they can be a competitive advantage for selection, depending on the programme. Present employment or reintegration perspectives are required for a training programme. The candidate must be currently employed or have a written (future) employer’s guarantee of (re)integration in an employment where the acquired knowledge and skills will be immediately applicable.
Earlier applications and scholarships: You do not apply for more than one VLIR-UOS scholarship a year. You have never received a master scholarship funded by the Belgian government before. You are only admissible for a training programme scholarship if you have not received a VLIR-UOS scholarship for a training programme before.
When you are an applicant from a university engaged in a VLIR-IUC partnership, it is required that the Flemish or local IUC coordinator declares that you are not linked to an IUC funded department. If you are linked to such a department, you do not qualify for a scholarship from the scholarship programme from VLIR-UOS but can apply for funding from the IUC budget in case you would be academically admitted.

For selection we take into account the following criteria:

Motivation: It is essential that the candidate’s motivation demonstrates the possibility of transferring knowledge or creating extension activities, and having a specific developmental dimension.
Professional experience, preferably in a research institution, a higher education institution, the government sector (national/regional/local), the sector of social economy, or an NGO. Preferably expertise in development relevant matters.
Present employment/reintegration perspectives, preferably in a research institution, a higher education institution, the government sector (national/regional/local), the sector of social economy, or an NGO. Preferably with the possibility to generate an impact through the transfer of knowledge, extension activities or otherwise. Not in the commercial profit sector. Previous scholarships: Prioririty will be given to the application of a candidate for a master programme who did not already has been granted a previous master scholarship. For a candidate for a training programme, the selection committee assesses the opportunity of a VLIR-UOS scholarship award, taking into consideration the candidates’ previous study and scholarship curriculum.
Gender: In case of two equally qualified candidates of different sexes, preference will be given to the female candidate. The selection commission will aim at a parity or relative balance between the number of men and the number of women awarded a VLIR-UOS scholarship.
Regional balance: The selection commission will try to ensure that 50% of a programme’s scholarships are granted to candidates from Sub-Saharan Africa.
Social background: In case of two equally qualified candidates, preference will be given to candidates from a disadvantaged area within their country or an ethnic or social minority group, especially when these candidates can provide proof of leadership potential.

Scholarships

The scholarships cover all related expenses.

- Allowance 800€/month
- Family supplement 62€/month
- Accomodation premium 200€/month
- 1 return ticket, economy class

How to apply

You can apply from October 2011 for a scholarship by following the procedure below:

1. Go to the information page of the training or master programme of your interest.
2. Look for the inscription link on the programme website and apply via the application form of the Flemish host university or university college.
3. Receive a return e-mail from the Flemish host university or university college.
4. Send a printout of your application file along with all required documents (diploma transcripts, motivation, etc…) to the International Office of the host university or university college (not to VLIR-UOS!). You will find the information on the website of the programme.

Then you have correctly applied and can your application be considered. Scholarship application deadlines are: 1 February 2012.

Period: September 2011 - September 2012
Language: English
Number of VLIR-UOS Scholarships: 10

Contact:
Mrs M. Slootmaekers
Department of Architecture, Urbanism and Planning
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
T +32 (0)16 32 13 91
F +32 (0)16 32 19 81
maura.slootmaekers@asro.kuleuven.be
http://www.asro.kuleuven.be/mahs
http://www.scholarships.vliruos.be/

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