The Tibet Fund Scholarship Awards for Professional Studies

In keeping with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s call for more Tibetan students to pursue professional degrees in order to build a strong Tibetan community, The Tibet Fund invites scholarship applications from Tibetan refugee students who need financial support to pursue professional degree programs in colleges. 

The Tibet Fund’s Professional Scholarship Program is being initiated in conjunction with its 50 Years in Exile project, a year-long public awareness campaign to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan diaspora and the preservation of Tibetan identity and culture in exile.

The immediate goal of The Tibet Fund’s scholarship program is to meet the most critical needs in the exile Tibetan community today for professionals in the medical and health care fields.  Therefore, the program will initially support scholarships for General Physicians, Surgeons, Dental Doctors, Pharmacists, and Physiotherapists.  Students must have obtained admission or be attending college in India, Nepal and Bhutan and have been awarded partial financial support by the CTA or other institutions. This supplemental scholarship grant (up to 30 percent per year of the total cost) is designed to ensure the continuity of students’ studies. 

Eligibility Criteria for Scholarship Program

Bona-fide Tibetan refugees residing in India, Nepal and Bhutan;
Holding a valid Green Book issued by the Central Tibetan Administration;
Applicants with a minimum of 60% aggregate in class XII are eligible to apply for the scholarship;
Photocopies of academic marks card, pass certificates and other documents must bear attestation of the concerned Settlement Officer or a gazette CTA officer holding the rank of Joint Secretary and above or Principal or Rector of a school having at least upto class X under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education.

Documents to be submitted along with the application

Class X and XII marks card & pass certificate;
2 passport size photos;
Essay on Personal Life History;
Essay on Personal Academic Achievements and Aspirations;
At least one Recommendation letter from your concerned college/university; 
First & last page of applicant's valid Green Book paid all dues upto December 31, 2008;*
First & last page of parent's valid Green Book paid all dues upto December 31, 2008;*
First & last page of applicant's valid Registration Certificate (RC). If the applicant's RC is kept for renewal, copy of the receipt need to be produced. Applicants residing in Nepal and Bhutan must obtain a letter from the respective office of Tibetan Freedom Movement (Bhod Rawang Denpai Legul) certifying that the applicant is a bona fide Tibetan refugee with verification from the Settlement Officer or School Principal;* 
Applicants whose parents live in Tibet or have expired should produce a certificate to this effect from the concerned Settlement Officer;*
Certificate/Letter issued by the concerned college or university, mentioning the admission of the student and courses taken;
Documentation of current financial aid;
Duly filled application form issued by The Tibet Fund.

*The above asterisked documents be verified and duly attested by the Settlement Officer.

Selection Process

1.The Tibet Fund will make the decision on the number of scholarships and fields of studies based on the availability of funding. 

2.The Department of Education will receive all applications and send a list of the applicants with their brief information to The Tibet Fund.

3.The Department of Education will scrutinize all the applications and finalize a preliminary list of applicants fulfilling the minimum requirements.

4.The Department of Education, in consultation with The Tibet Fund will finalize the candidates.

Obligations of Scholarship Recipients

Recipients of scholarships exceeding $3,000 during the entire period of study will agree to serve the Tibetan community for a minimum period of 3 years upon completion of their studies. They will be asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with The Tibet Fund to reimburse the total scholarship money in the event of their failure to serve the community.

How to Apply: Application forms can be downloaded from the Department of Education's website www.tcewf.org and The Tibet Fund's website www.tibetfund.org

Application deadline: May 31, 2009

Submit applications to:

Secretary
Department of Education, CTA
Gangchen Kyishong
Distt. Kangra
Dharamsala-176 215
Himachal Pradesh
Ph: 01892 - 222572, 222721
Fax: 01892- 223481
email: scholarship@gov.tibet.net
www.tcewf.org / www.sherig.org