The One-World-Scholarship-Programme is directed at students from developing countries at Austrian Universities and is meant to contribute to the peaceful coexistence of people from different countries of origin by enhancing equal opportunities, dialogue, intercultural know-how and partnership. It has been established within the Austrian Cooperation for Education, and together with the other programmes it supports their concerns (struggle against poverty, resource conservation, peace-keeping etc.), the establishment and expansion of accordingly qualified personnel and the advancement of educational- and economic systems (capacity and institution development) with lasting effects.

It is complementary to other scholarship programmes and laid out globally, it enhances the ability for independent, creative, critical and self-determined thinking and acting and shall strengthen the competence for innovative problem solving strategies. The OWS contributes to the socially required production of knowledge and awareness, it promotes a global perspective and the creation of the globally educated citizen. It attaches a high significance to regional, international and trans-cultural networks. The programme is co-financed (government, church and private funds and own resources of the recipients of the benefits) and significantly contributes to the economic, social and cultural development of the southern countries.

The One-World-Scholarship-Programme is directed at students from Africa, Asia and Latin America who are interested in development policy and who have come to Austria on their own initiatives, in order to complete their education. With their decision for studying abroad, the students have demonstrated a high degree of assertiveness, creativity and mobility. The scholarship will contribute to following up on the right of education also for those critical and intellectual young people who will find poor conditions in their home countries. These aspects will apply still more strongly to women. So scholarships will offer a chance making up for the ethnic, religious, social and regional discrimination, and in individual cases, also for violations of human rights.

The scholarships are divided into:

1. Scholarships for the promotion of students doing bachelor degrees (application in Austria)

2. Scholarships for the promotion of students doing doctoral degrees (application in Austria)

3. Scholarships for the promotion of students doing masters degrees and training programmes (application in Austria or in the country of origin).

Through study-accompanying measures (the entire educational measures in the OWS will massively support the publicity for development policy and the intercultural dialogue) – like conducting workshops and seminars on returning home and reintegration, job prospects and job applications as well as respective counselling talks and in-between homeward journeys – the project target of a successful occupational reintegration in the countries of origin can be essentially supported.

Organisation:

The OWS is conceived as a comprehensive programme, which will comprise scholarships and special study expenses, study-accompanying measures and tutoring, study-accompanying training, supporting reintegration and follow up-contacts. The OWS is a mobility programme acknowledged by the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Art (in terms of scholarship regulations). Recipients of the scholarships are exempt from tuition fees.

The scholarship programme is co-financed with means from the Austrian Development Cooperation, the Catholic Womens Movement and private funds. The monthly allowance amounts between 500 and 550 Euro.

Students can apply for the scholarships by using the application form between the middle of March till the end of May each year.

You can download the application form here.

Read more about the Afro-Asian Institute Graz and this scholarship program: http://www.aai-graz.at/cms/index.php?page=stipendien&hl=en_US