Obtaining a PhD qualification requires full determination and without adequate funding it is impossible for many students to obtain a PhD. This article has identified six scholarships which cover the full expenses of a PhD. Some of these scholarships are offered for a variety of disciplines and some are directed specifically towards human rights related degrees.

Heinrich Boll Foundation Scholarships

The Heinrich Boll Foundation is a German institute which has a variety of core interests, one of which is the upholding of human rights internationally. The institute offers scholarships for study in Germany for up to 1200 undergraduate, masters and PhD candidates from a variety of fields per year. The selection of candidates is a three-stage process including interviews and a final workshop held in Berlin where successful candidates will be chosen. The scholarship provides a monthly living and travel allowance. Candidates wishing to apply for human rights related degrees should provide information stating how their chosen degree aligns with the interests of the Foundation. Applications close at the beginning of March and the end of August each year for the following university cycle.

Commonwealth Scholarships

The Commonwealth Scholarship is offered to citizens from a list of countries associated with the British Commonwealth for study at a university within the United Kingdom. Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), there are over 800 scholarships and fellowships offered per year for scholars from different disciplines. The scholarship provides full funding for the selected candidates including full tuition costs, flights to the United Kingdom, a living allowance, as well as covering any research and examination costs that may occur. Commonwealth scholarships are awarded competitively based on merit and the closing date for applications is mid-November annually.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

The Fulbright Award is a United States government initiative that supports foreign students from various disciplines to study at universities in the USA. Around 4000 students receive this scholarship per year from over 150 different countries. The Fulbright offers comprehensive funding covering tuition, return flights to the US, a living allowance as well as health insurance. Once successfully chosen, candidates will receive funding for the entire duration of their degree. The deadline for application varies and candidates should check for the specific course or university they wish to attend.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship is funded by the Canadian government and aims to attract world-class researchers undertaking their doctoral studies at Canadian universities. The scholarship is open to applications from Canadian citizens as well as foreign students. Students from a variety of disciplines can apply with human rights related degrees falling under the ‘social sciences and/or humanities’ program. The award is worth $ 50,000 per year of study, thus covering students’ tuition and living needs. In order to be eligible for this award, candidates should first be nominated by the university they wish to attend. Internal university applications should be checked individually and nominations submitted to the Vanier board by 1^st November annually.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship

This Foundation offers scholarships specifically for doctoral candidates in the field of humanities and the social sciences to study at a Canadian university. There are up to 15 scholarships available for both Canadian citizens and foreign students. ‘Human rights and dignity’ is highlighted as a specific theme of interest to this foundation. The scholarship provides $40,000 per year for three years with an additional $20,000 per year available for research and travel allowance. The selection process involves a final interview which takes place in Montreal. Applications open on September 1^st and the deadline for submission is the 8^th of December.

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Note: Also check out our database to find a master in human rights.

LLM Human Rights, (Global Justice Academy, University of Edinburg)

This program takes an interdisciplinary approach. It includes specialized courses in Law and Political Science. The constituent courses provide a holistic understanding of human rights in the political context. They cover issues relating from basic human rights to law, labor, gender, health, and criminal justice. The program is grounded on exploring the relationship between human rights and conflict resolution. The scholarship offered is exclusively open for applicants from Sub-Saharan Africa. The award provides an opportunity for approximately 60 individuals to enroll at the University of Edinburg in Scotland, United Kingdom. The funding covers full tuition fees, miscellaneous expenses, and accommodation for one year.

There two methods of learning available: part-time for two years or full-time for one year. Most of the applicants have a background in Law and Social Sciences. This would require the University to check the credibility and relevance of the degree that was already obtained. Lawyers in the Sub-Saharan have an opportunity to sharpen their intellectual acumen as well as practical skills in advocating for human rights. The need for advocacy is reinforced by the fact that some countries in the region are grappling with issues relating to the misrepresentation of people and disregard to fundamental human rights. The ultimate goal of the program is to provide the beneficiaries with an opportunity to become leaders within their communities and play a critical role in improving lives.

The eligibility criteria to join Global Justice Academy is mainly based on the University of Edinburg’s requirements. Applicants are required to have the United Kingdom Upper Second Class (2:1) Honors Degree or its international equivalent to gain admission. Non-UK degrees are reviewed to determine whether their qualifications are parallel to the basic requirements of the program. Students are required to reside within the university campus to facilitate supervision.

The Erasmus Mundus Human Rights Policy and Practice Scholarship, (the University of Roehampton, Göteborgs Universitet (Sweden) and Universidad de Deusto (Bilbao, Spain)

The Master’s program is among the many opportunities facilitated by the Erasmus Mundus program. This program aims to enhance to quality of higher education in Europe and simultaneously promote cooperation amongst European and developing countries. It not only contributes to the development of human resources, it also increases mobility between them. The Erasmus Mundus Human Rights Policy and Practice Scholarship is a two year full-time program that is taught in three countries: United Kingdom, Sweden, and Spain. The EU Commission provides grant scholarships and related financial contributions to the highest qualified students. The criteria is determined by a consortium selected by the EU Commission that selects applicants on its behalf. The minimum requirements include a recognized degree in Social Sciences or a related field. Relevant professional experience will also be considered. English language certification is required for international students.

This scholarship covers tuition fees, insurance, travel, visas and accommodation. It is divided into Categories A and B. Category A covers students from non-EU countries. Category B includes applicants who are EU residents, employees, and students for more than 12 months during the last five years. Candidates in Category B are required to pay for their visa fee when applicable. Students must study in the three partnered Universities. The program starts off at Göteborgs University (Sweden) from August to January. Students then join Universidad de Deusto (Bilbao, Spain) in February until July. Their last stop is the University of Roehampton from December to June. The dissertation is carried out in the preferred country based on the subject area.

The program equips students with political, anthropological, legal, and sociological approaches to promote and protect human rights around the globe. The program also incorporates specialized components of human rights to indigenous communities. It provides its students with a holistic human rights understanding within the broader social and political contexts of the world. This program provides a global outlook that prepares students for a global career in the protection of human rights. It also emphasizes on the professional development of the students while imparting the necessary skills for the various employment opportunities available in advocating human rights principles. An added benefit of pursuing this program is that it offers work placement. Graduates will be employed by corporations, civil societies, and government entities. This arrangement equips the students with practical skills in the field for active and articulate engagement.

Masters of Science in Human Rights and Multiculturalism, (University College of Southeast Norway)

The program is an interdisciplinary program with a primary focus on human rights. The course encourages students to reflect on the issue of human rights within the context of diverse cultures and academic disciplines. The Human Rights component emphasizes on the existing legal and institutional framework while the Multiculturalism component focuses on the cultural practices, complexity, and interpretations. The program explores the concepts of human rights and human dignity within diverse cultures.

Admission to the program is based on successful completion of a Bachelor’s Degree program with a 3 year minimum. Applicants are also required to have a cumulative grade point average that is equivalent to or better than a C in the Norwegian education system. The scholarship program covers tuition fees and offers limited financial support to select students for living expenses and travel. A separate application is needed to qualify for additional funding.

The program has been designed to accommodate students from diverse academic backgrounds. It offers people from different professions to increase their knowledge and improve their skills within the Human Rights field. The program plays a pivotal role in promoting education and awareness of public issues that are common when working with human rights. Graduates from this program stand an excellent chance to work in an array of areas including education, media, humanitarian organizations, corporations, or offer private consultations.

Master’s International Human Rights Law (University of Oxford)

Funding for this master’s program is provided under the auspices of the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship Program. It awards scholarships to students who are residents of Commonwealth countries that are former colonies of the British Empire. The host governments collaborate with the universities to support the awards.

Master’s International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford is one of the Master’s Degree programs that are fully funded. It is estimated that about ten individuals from developing countries, particularly Africa and Asia, are awarded the scholarship in the field of human rights. Students must apply for admission to the university like most degree programs require. A separate application is required for those who want to secure funding for tuition, living, and travel expenses. The additional funding covers tuition, examination fees, and provides a monthly stipend of about £1,043 per month. This makes it one of the top funding programs available.

The Master’s International Human Rights Law is a 2 year course that focuses on developing an understanding and applicability of International Human Rights Law. Students can apply for either full or part-time methods of study. Applications are submitted via the Graduate Admissions Office of the University. Some of the requirements include transcripts, curriculum vitae, letters of reference, and English comprehension test results. Graduates can also continue engaging with the institution in regards to research after completing their studies.

LLM Human Rights (Human Rights Institute, Columbia Law School)

Columbia Law School awards a fellowship for individuals to pursue a Master’s Degree in Human Rights. The program is commonly known as Human Rights LLM Fellowship. It is coordinated by the school’s office of Graduate Legal Studies and the Human Rights Institute. The award is meant to support students pursuing their LLM Degree at Columbia Law School and have demonstrated excellent potential and commitment in the field of Human Rights. Student financing may be a partial or full waiver of their tuition fees. The selection process is based on the financial needs of the students. The program also covers living expenses for select students that have demonstrated some level of financial need.

The program and the fellowship stand out because it encourages candidates from developing countries. It also supports candidates that are categorized into groups that are faced with a myriad of challenges hampering their quest for education and leadership. Some of these challenges spring from discrimination due to their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and socio-economic background. The LLM program has been designed to allow the students to participate in research projects in conjunction with leading human rights advocates and scholars from around the world. The constituent courses impart students with knowledge and skills through both theoretical and practical approaches. The students are also enrolled in an innovative course geared toward enhancing their strategic, creative, and analytic skills for successful undertaking of their roles in human rights advocacy.

A requirement for admission and funding is having experience in International Human Rights. Those who receive funding are expected to utilize the opportunity to solely study and research the subjects they indicated in their application. The total fee for tuition, examinations, health insurance, and documentation fees for new students total $68,227.

Conclusion

These 5 scholarships provide students all economic backgrounds with the opportunity to gain requisite knowledge and skills in their chosen profession. The selection process for most of the scholarships is based on merit. Merit includes top level performance, awareness of global issues, work experience, and personal initiatives that have made a positive impact on their community.

Amongst the main perks of getting a scholarship is being able to study abroad. Even though all scholarships do not offer the opportunity to travel to other countries, most of them provide a platform where people from diverse cultures interact and share experiences. This helps the students understand how other cultures tackle challenges in various areas and contexts. Interaction is an essential element in the field of Human Rights across the globe.

The application procedures for Master’s programs and related funding provisions are usually tedious and rigorous. In some instances this is designed to subtly eliminate a significant numher of applicants. Therefore, it is advised to persistently chase after such opportunities if you have already surpassed the minimum qualifications. Some organizations offer reliable advice and assistance to prospective students with the selection and application process for Master’s programs.

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