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2016 INDIAN GOVERNMENT POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP FOR AFRICANS

Government of India through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations – is offering up to 900 scholarships for African students to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and higher courses programme at Institutions/Universities in India. The application deadline is 15th January 2016.

Eligibility

  • Students applying for doctoral/ post doctoral courses should include a synopsis of the proposed area of research.
  • Students wishing to study performing arts should, if possible, enclose video/ audio cassettes of their recorded performances.
  • Candidates must have adequate knowledge of English.
  • ICCR will not entertain applications which are sent to ICCR directly by the students or which are sent by local Embassies/High Commissions in New Delhi.
  • Priority will be given to students who have never studied in India before.
  • Candidates may note that Indian universities/educational institution are autonomous and independent and hence have their own eligibility criteria which have to be fulfilled. Please also note that acceptance of application by the University is also not a guarantee of admission. A scholarship is awarded only when admission is confirmed by ICCR.
  • Student must carry a proper visa. Students should ensure that they get the correct visa from the Indian Embassy/High Commission.
Value of Scholarship: (figure is in Indian currency)
  • Living allowance (Stipend) (Per Month) Postgraduate-6,000 M.Phil / Ph.D 7,000, Post-doctoral Fellow-7,500
  • House Rent Allowance (Per Month). In Grade 1 cities-5,000 and In other cities-4,500
  • Contingent Grant (per annum)Undergraduate-5,000, Postgraduate-7,000, M/Phil / Ph.D and M.Tech./ME-12,500, Postdoctoral studies-15,500, Tuition Fee/Other Compulsory Fee-As per actual (excluding refundable amount) –Thesis and dissertation Expenses (Once in entire duration of course)
  • D Scholar-10,000 and for BBA/BCA/MBA/MCA/M.Tech and other course required submission of Project-7.000
How to apply
Please read the instruction before filling out the application forms. Please also read the financial terms and conditions. The completed and signed application form which should be typed and not hand written along with other attachments must be e-mailed as a pdf document to the Embassy/ High Commission of India in your country. A hard copy along with 5 photographs should also be delivered to the Embassy/ High commission of India.
Download application form here
Visit scholarship web page for details.

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HELPFUL TIPS IN CHOOSING A PROJECT TOPIC

Writing a project/thesis is an integral part of postgraduate education. But choosing a project topic can be drudgery. You don’t want to be  over ambitious, just as you also desire to please your project supervisor.

The following are useful tips that can assist in choosing the right project topic.
  1. Project/Thesis Supervisor: Nigerian universities do not give you the chance of choosing your supervisor. It is therefore important to know the area of specialization of your supervisor within that field of knowledge. For example, in chemistry, a professor can be an expert in inorganic chemistry, but not in other areas of chemistry. Knowing this should streamline the topic you may wish to present for approval.  Some supervisors might give you a list of topics they are interested in. This is good, because he/she will not give you a topic you won’t get adequate guidance on. Take your time, and choose the best.          For PhD programmes, it is better to contact the faculty/department even before application. Visit the school, or send an email, to be sure of the availability of project supervisor in your proposed field of research. A well written research proposal should br prepared.
  2. LiteratureReview: It is good to search related literature and journals before choosing a topic. You can get ideas from the works of other scholars. Makes sure to search the journal papers, articles and conference presentation of your project/thesis supervisor. It keeps you abrest of his/her interest, and pattern of presentation, and it will help you avoid uneccessary friction later. You can twerk the topic of other   journal paper, change a variable to give a new insight.
  3. Available Facilities: It is good to take cognizance of available materials and equipment, especially in the sciences. When laboratories are inadequate, analysis/testing can be done in neighbouring institutions, or sent to research facilities abroad. You need to factor-in the cost of samples/sampling, testing, and so on. Hence, considering all these can help in your choice of a project topic, so you wont be stranded half way.
  4. Interest:  This is important because lack of interest in a choice of project topic will lead quickly to burn out and frustration. Postgraduate research is definitely strenous, and at times, you might feel like giving up. It’s your passion towards your project topic/work that will keep you going. Choose a topic you are passionate about, and love to make a significant break through in. In all, let God be your strength, and be determined to suceed no matter the challenge. Bless you.
Drop your questions on any project issue and receive answers.
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FUNKY-FRIDAY: THE PHD MOVIE

Getting a PhD, especially in Nigeria is known to be rigorous and stressful. But between the course of the study, we can still have fun, moreso, when it inspires us to strive on to get the PhD. Enter in- PHD MOVIE.
The film, The PhD Movie is produced by Jorge Cham and focuses on the lives of four postgraduate students as they navigate the tricky world of post-graduate education. The cast, setting and plot feel authentic; and virtually all the actors are actual graduate students. The movie was shot at the California Institute of Technology.
The Nameless Grad Student and his group must travel to an important academic conference and square off against a rival group as they compete for results and grant money. Meanwhile, Cecilia’s advisor is going on sabbatical, which means she has to finish writing her thesis or be stuck in grad school another year. There are some great lines throughout the movie, such as when The Nameless Gradaute Student explains to his father, “I’m basically paying the university so I can do free work for them.” The target audience is of course students that can identify with graduate school life; however, the humor, quick pace, and convincing acting ensure that the film can appeal to just about anyone.

Struggling with a work-life balance, uncertainty about the future, and deflated expectations are all parts of life that we have to deal with. Add to that an unimpressed advisor, failing laboratory equipment, and a lack of academic job openings, and you’re talking about grad school.

Sometimes the best ideas arise when we are distracted, so the solution to your academic problems could be a bowl of popcorn and The PhD Movie. Enjoy!
You can stream the video by clicking here
Excerpt here
Photo source www.phdmovie.com

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APPLY FOR UNIVERSITY OF GHANA POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

The school of public health, University of Ghana is currently accepting international postgraduate scholarship applications, for research and training in tropical disease. The scholarship, which is for the 2016/17 academic session, is open for full time postgraduate programmes on offer (Masters and PhD), with a focus on implementation research.
Scholarship Courses Available:
For Masters (12months full time) 

  • Masters in Public health (MPH)
  • Masters in Applied Health and Social Science.
  • Masters in Occupational Health and Hygiene.
PhD scholarships also (48 months full time)

Eligibility:
  • Applicants must meet the university admission requirement for intertional postgraduate student.
  • Nationals of low and middle income WHO african countries. See list of countries here 
  • Applicant should be below 35 years of age for Masters programme, and 40 years for PhD.
How to apply:
  • Postgraduate scholarship must be submitted online at:  http://admission.ug.edu.gh/tdr 
  • Applicant must also apply for postgraduate admission to the University of Ghana, see link here
Application Deadline:
 January 30th, 2016. Selection result would be out by 28th Febuarary, 2016.
Visit the official scholarship page here
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THE EXPERIENCE OF A UNILAG POSTGRADUATE STUDENT

This is repost the first hand experience of a Graduate student of Masters in Pharmacology about his postgraduate experience at the University of Lagos. This is to introduce prospective posrgraduate student to what graduate studies really look like. There should be a few nuggets for you to pick. If you are a postgraduate student here and wish to share your experience too, drop a comment with your email and you will be contacted.

Read the original blog post by clicking here
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FIRST GENERATION UNIVERSITIES AS NIGERIA’S BEST PG SCHOOLS

Postgraduate education in Nigeria began in the 60s. At this time, there were only five universities in the country. They are; University of Ibadan, University of Ife (now OAU), University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. They are all jointly called first generation universities.

Postgraduate education at these Nigerian Universities are top notch, atleast by Nigerian standards. They have the longest years in offering postgraduate education, and at a time were at par in quality with U.K universities.
First generation universities get the highest funding from the Nigerian government. This enables these school afford quality faculty staff (researchers and professors) in various fields of study. Increased funding also provides equiment and laboratry that may be scarce in other institutions.
Beyond these is a large alumni base and an extensive international network these schools possess. This helps postgraduate students and faculty staff seeking grants, scholarships and other rare opportunities, that would have been beyond reach.
Most importantly is the fact that first generation universities are expection to have 60% of their student population as postgraduate students. At a time, University of Ibadan almost became a full postgraduate university, before it was stopped.
From Postgraduate Nigeria, we advice that if you want the best postgraduate education, attend a first generation university.
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WRITING A POSTGRADUATE THESIS

A thesis is an academic long essay, written as part of an academic programme to present verifiable conclusions/facts. It is some times called dissertation, or in Nigeria language, project work.

Thesis is an important part of a postgraduate programme. Infact PhD programmes always consist entirely of thesis work. In many Nigerian universities, thesis/project takes as much as
half of the total credit unit for a Masters degree programme. This means, if you were to complete 30 credit units to earn a Masters, the thesis credit unit can be as much as 15. So a fail in thesis work equals an automatic fail of the Masters.
Ability to successfully complete a thesis/project work underscores the point that the student is able to carry out independent research, and communicate same clearly. This is a major aim of a postgraduate education world-wide.
The aim of postgraduate thesis obviously goes beyond the language’s grammer, but it sure has it own writing rules, some times, as strigent as grammatical rules. Some of the most popular thesis writing styles are APA (American Psychological Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association).
In conclusion, whether you are going for a Masters in Engineering, or a PhD in Veterinary Medicine, be prepared. Its rigorous and can be challenging, but it benefits are enormous.