Deadline: 31 July 2023
Apply: https://tdr.who.int/grants
The University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Public Health in Johannesburg, South Africa is pleased to announce a Call for Application for the award of TDR Postgraduate Training Scholarships for the 18- month Master of Science (MSc) Programme in Epidemiology in the field of Implementation Science.
The 18-month full time MSc programme is taught in English with a focus on promoting problem-based experiential learning. The scholarship is provided by TDR, the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases - based at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
Individuals with an interest in a scientific career and health professionals with an interest in analytical approaches to programme implementation are welcome to apply. A limited number of scholarships will be offered to both national and international candidates for the 2024 academic year for the Master of Science Programme.
Scholarship recipients will be enrolled as postgraduate students and conduct implementation research on infectious diseases of poverty, which includes Neglected Tropical Diseases, TB/HIV, Malaria, other vector-borne diseases, emergency preparedness and including perspectives of One Health, climate change, and an intersectional gender lens.
SCHOLARSHIP PACKAGE
One return economy air fare between home country of student and Johannesburg, South Africa for each calendar year
Tuition and other academic fees
Basic medical and accident insurance
Monthly stipend to cover living expenses including accommodation
Support for research project during data collection
ELIGIBILITY
All applicants must meet the Programme’s requirements: https://www.wits.ac.za/coursefinder/postgraduate/health/msc-epidemiology
Candidates must be eligible for both the MSc Programme and TDR Scholarship
Be a national of and resident in a low- or middle-income country as defined by the World bank of the WHO African Region.
Be under age 35 at the time of application.
Be interested in developing a career in implementation research on infectious diseases of poverty including the neglected tropical diseases
Be proficient in English.
Preference will be given to applicants currently working with health programmes in their respective countries
Provide a letter of support from the Director/Manager of the applicant’s home institution testifying the applicant’s ability to successfully undertake the Master’s programme and certifying that the applicant, if selected, will be granted a leave of absence. The Director/Manager must also indicate how the Master’s programme will strengthen the institution’s capability to conduct implementation research upon the return of the applicant. Applicants will be required to provide the letter of support if they are shortlisted for online aptitude assessments.
HOW TO APPLY
1. Application to the University of the Witwatersrand
Apply by completing a University of the Witwatersrand postgraduate application form online at: https://www.wits.ac.za/postgraduate/applications/ . Application fee is R200 for both international and local applications. Application deadline is 30 June 2023.
Applicants should note to:
i. apply for accommodation at - https://www.wits.ac.za/accommodation/Accommodation. Application deadline is 30 October 2023.
ii. Apply to the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) at: http://www.saqa.org.za/index.php if with foreign certificates, to get your certificates evaluated. The SAQA certificate or evidence of application MUST be uploaded as part of the required application documents. For more information on applications, please contact Mrs Lerato Podile Lerato.Podile@wits.ac.za and Epiandbio.sph@wits.ac.za
2. Application for the TDR scholarship
The application for the TDR scholarship should be made separately in writing and should include the following documents:
a. A letter of motivation for applying for the scholarship.
b. A certified copy of the bio-data page of the passport.
c. Evidence of application to study Implementation Science as the field of study in the MSc Epidemiology Programme at University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Public Health commencing in January 2024. i.e. evidence that the applicant has completed application to the university.
d. A comprehensive curriculum vitae including a description of relevant research and work experience.
e. Two confidential referee reports should be sent directly by the referees to: TDRenquiries.publichealth@wits.ac.za by 31 July 2023. The referee reports label MUST include the student’s name and application number. The TDR Scholarship applications should be sent to: TDRenquiries.publichealth@wits.ac.za
SELECTION PROCESS
The selection of applicants is a three-tier process. At the first level, application documents are screened and applicants who meet the minimum academic entry requirements are selected (See https://www.wits.ac.za/course-finder/postgraduate/health/msc-epidemiology/).
At the second level, the applicants’ qualifications, academic transcripts, language proficiency, motivation for applying to study for the degree programme, work experience, and computer literacy, are scored using a rubric.
Lastly, the applicants that qualify at the second level write an online quantitative and qualitative assessment. Communication of application outcome will be done by 30 October 2023.
Applicants that are offered the TDR postgraduate scholarships will have seven (7) calendar days to confirm acceptance of the scholarship after notification of offer. Any candidate that fails to confirm acceptance within the indicated period will be regarded as having declined the scholarship and the offer will be awarded to another deserving candidate. Following the selection process, scholarship recipients will commence study in January 2024.
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