Open Society Foundation is offering the Civil Society Scholar Awards (CSSA) for doctoral students and full-time faculty members teaching at universities in their home country.

The awards support short-term, international academic projects, such as fieldwork (data collection); research visits to libraries, archives, or universities; course/curriculum development; and international research collaborations leading to peer-reviewed publication.

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people.

Scholarship Description:

• Application Deadline: The 2020-21 Civil Society Scholar Awards competition will be announced in early April 2020.
• Course Level: Awards support international academic mobility to enable doctoral students and university faculty to access resources that enrich socially engaged research and critical scholarship in their home country or region.
• Study Subject: Any subject areas within the social sciences and humanities are considered.
  List of Subjects: Subject areas particularly those related to law, justice, and governance; sustainable development and natural resource management; economic rights and empowerment of the poor; public health, social work and community development; new media law and policy; inclusive education; post-conflict studies; and human rights.
• Scholarship Award: Awards of maximum funding requests: $10,000 for doctoral students; $15,000 for faculty members.
• Number of Scholarships: Not given
• Nationality: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, Kosovo, Laos, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar/Burma, Nepal, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Serbia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan or Yemen
• Scholarship can be taken in Home country

Eligibility for the Scholarship:

• Eligible Countries: Candidates must be citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, Kosovo, Laos, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar/Burma, Nepal, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Serbia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, or Yemen.
• Project duration: between two and 12 months
• Project location: projects must take place outside of the country of the applicant’s current residence
• Eligible dates: September 1, 2019–August 31, 2020
• Entrance Requirements: The awards are open to the following academic populations:
• doctoral students of eligible fields studying at accredited universities inside or outside of their home country
• full-time faculty members (must have a minimum of a master’s degree) teaching at universities in their home country
• Candidates must be citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, Kosovo, Laos, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar/Burma, Nepal, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Serbia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, or Yemen.
• English Language Requirements: Applicants from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

Application Procedure:

All applicants must submit all the following:

• Completed Application Form (online or hard copy);
• Updated CV
• A detailed budget and timeline of the research project or first year of doctoral studies curricula, with a clear explanation of when and how they will use the requested funds (please use the template provided).
• Copy of the identification pages of their passport(s) and any current visas;
• Scan of current official graduate school transcript (doctoral applicants) or the final transcript of highest degree obtained (for faculty applicants and PhD student applicants in their first year of study);
• A letter of invitation from a faculty member or a senior administrator at the institution where their research will take place, if applicable (scanned and attached to application); Doctoral student applicants must also provide:
• An official letter from their academic institution confirming their enrollment status, department, and expected completion date (scanned and attached to application);
• A personal reference letter from an academic or professional in their field in their home country who can speak to their accomplishments, future aspirations, and ties to their home country
• An academic reference letter from their academic supervisor supporting the research for which they seek funding.
• An official letter from their institution of employment confirming their status as a faculty member and endorsing the proposed time away from their position (scanned and attached to application);
• An academic reference letter from a senior colleague in their field with direct knowledge of work and proposed research topic (scanned and attached to application).

Online Application

Scholarship Link