UNITAR Outstanding Peacebuilder Scholarship for Online Postgraduate Study

The Outstanding Peacebuilder Scholarship pays half of the tuition for an online postgraduate programme run by UNITAR and the Open University of Catalonia. It is meant for people working on peace who want to strengthen their knowledge and skills so they can do more for peacebuilding in conflict and post-conflict societies. You study online, so you do not have to leave your country to take part. The award applies to several postgraduate study programmes offered in this format.

• Host: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Open University of Catalonia (UOC)
• Level: postgraduate programmes (master's degree, postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma)
• Study destination: online, no travel required; open to applicants in any country
• Deadline: 1 July 2014
• Course start: September 2014
• Value: 50% of full tuition fees, up to USD 5,700
• Who it is for: anyone engaged in peacebuilding at international, regional, national or local level

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Open University of Catalonia (UOC)

International Master’s Degree in Conflictology
Postgraduate Certificate in Armed Conflicts and Crisis Management
Postgraduate Diploma in Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

The scholarship is open to anyone involved in peacebuilding at any level: international, regional, national or local. That covers people working in conflict resolution, development work, humanitarian work, early warning and peace education, among other areas. You do not need to hold a particular job title; what matters is that your work relates to peace.

This award suits practitioners who are already doing peace and conflict work and want a formal postgraduate qualification without leaving their home country. If your work touches conflict resolution, humanitarian response, development, early warning or peace education, the selection criteria are written with you in mind.

Applicants with limited financial resources, those from developing countries and those without previous graduate study are ranked favourably, so the scholarship is worth considering even if you have never studied at postgraduate level before.

The award covers 50% of the full tuition fees for your chosen study programme, up to USD 5,700. You pay the remaining half yourself, and you may split that amount into up to three installments. The scholarship reduces the cost of the programme; it does not cover living costs, travel or other expenses.

You must meet the minimum criteria for admission to the study programme you choose. Applications are then ranked on the following criteria:

• Proven ability to carry out activities related to peace and conflict management in a conflict or post-conflict context
• Relevance of the degree to your career advancement
• Citizenship of a developing country
• Low financial resources
• No previous studies at the graduate level
• Years of relevant professional experience
• Academic excellence

Where qualifications are equal, female applicants and applicants from Least Developed Countries are considered preferably.

Pre-register on the official website to be considered for the scholarship. On the form, tick the box for the scholarship and provide the documents requested. The deadline is 1 July 2014, and the course starts in September 2014. Read the website for the full list of documents and any further steps.

• Who can apply for the scholarship? Anyone engaged in peacebuilding at international, regional, national or local level who meets the admission criteria for the chosen programme.
• What does the award cover? 50% of the full tuition fees, up to USD 5,700. The rest is paid by the recipient, in up to three installments.
• Do I have to travel to study? No. The programmes are delivered online and do not require travel outside your country.
• When is the deadline? 1 July 2014. Courses start in September 2014.
• How do I apply? Pre-register on the official website, tick the scholarship box on the form and submit the required documents.

• Read the official programme page and the scholarship guidelines before you start the form, so you know which documents are required.
• Prepare your documents early, including proof of your professional experience in peace and conflict work.
• Check the admission requirements for the specific programme you pick, since each one has its own criteria.
• Explain clearly how the degree fits your career plans and the peacebuilding work you do.
• Submit your pre-registration well before the deadline so there is time to fix any missing item.