Isaac Ndlovu

Canon Collins Scholar 2009-2010

PhD Literature

Post-Doctoral Fellow in Literature at UCT

© Canon Collins Educational and Legal Assistance Trust.  Registered Charity No 1102028

Last updated: 13 May 2013

Scholarships Now Open

 

 

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

We receive many email queries about our scholarships. Most of the answers can be found on our website by viewing the individual scholarship pages in the drop-down above.

 

Below are some of the questions we receive most frequently. Please read these carefully before sending us queries by email.  

 

The Application Process

 

Eligibility Criteria

 

Referee FAQs

 

How do I apply?

 

We accept applications for each scholarship during a short window of time each year, which is indicated on the scholarship page. You must complete the online application form, upload all supporting documents and submit your application online before the deadline. Details of how to fill in the application form, and what supporting documents you need to provide, can be found in the guidelines for each application process.

 

Please note: You can only access the online portal when we are accepting applications. Please do not contact us requesting application forms if they are not on the website, as this means the application process is not yet open.

 

When can I apply?

 

The dates for each application process vary each year. Please visit the individual scholarship page to see indicators of when to start preparing applications.

 

The following dates are not final and are provided only as a guide to assist you in preparing your documentation:

 

Canon Collins Scholarship for Postgraduate Study in South Africa

The application process normally opens in June and closes in August.

 

Graça Machel Scholarship for Women

The application process normally opens in June and closes in August.

 

Graça Machel SASOL Scholarship

The application process normally opens in June and closes in August.

 

Canon Collins Scholarship for Masters Study in the UK

The application process normally opens in December and closes in February.

 

Edinburgh Business School MBA Scholarship

The application process normally opens near the beginning of the year.

 

Commonwealth Scholarships

The application process normally opens in October. However we are a  nominating agency and do not run this scholarship program so please keep  checking The Commonwealth Scholarship website for details.

 

GreenMatter Fellowship

The application process normally opens in October and closes in November.

 

University of the Western Cape Law Scholarships

The application process opens in September and closes in October.

 

Wits Scholarship for Honours in Development Theory & Policy

The application process opens in September and closes in October.

 

What supporting documents do I need to send with my application?

 

We normally ask candidates to supply the following documents in support of their application:

 

The supporting documents we require vary for each scholarship and are liable to change. This list is an indication of what we normally ask for, to allow candidates to begin to prepare their applications in advance. A full list will be made available in the guidelines when they are published.

 

Do my supporting documents need to be in English?

 

Yes, we will need translated copies of all supporting documents. However we do not require an official/certified translation.

 

Who should I ask to be my referee?

 

Ideally, you should submit an academic reference (preferably from your current supervisor) and a reference from an employer. If you have never been employed, we will accept a reference from voluntary work, or two academic references.

 

I haven’t received an offer from my university yet. Can I still apply for a scholarship?

 

Yes, we will accept your application if you haven’t been accepted by your university yet. However, if you are successful in your application for our scholarship, this will be conditional on your being accepted and attending your chosen course of study.

 

Can I apply for more than one scholarship with Canon Collins?

 

Yes, there is no limit to how many scholarships you can apply for, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. However, you cannot hold more than one Canon Collins Trust scholarship at the same time.  

 

 

Eligibility Criteria

 

I am not from one of the countries listed in the eligibility criteria. Can I still apply?

 

Unless you are a national of, or have refugee status in, one of the countries listed in our eligibility criteria we will be unable to accept your application. We also require that you be a resident of one of the countries in the region.

 

To see a list of eligible countries for each scholarship, click on the individual scholarship pages in the drop-down list above.

 

Please Note: To indicate your refugee status you will need to provide official documentation of refugee status. We cannot accept residency permits, student visas, or any other visa or permit as proof of refugee status.

 

Can I apply for a scholarship to study for an undergraduate degree?

 

No, unfortunately we are not able to offer any funding for undergraduate degrees.

 

Are there any subject restrictions for any of the scholarships?

 

Most of the scholarships we offer do not have any subject restrictions. However, there are a couple of exceptions:

 

The GreenMatter Fellowship

GreenMatter Fellowships focus on biodiversity, however GreenMatter identifies target areas and themes each year. We therefore advise candidates to check   the guidelines for this year’s application.

 

The Canon Collins Scholarship for Masters Study in the UK, Queen Mary University

This scholarship is available for MSc Programmes in Global and International Health.

        

Am I too old/young to apply for a scholarship?

 

No. We do not place age restrictions on our scholarships. The only exception is the Edinburgh Business School MBA scholarship, for which we ask that candidates be over 25.

 

Can I apply for a scholarship to study in any country in southern Africa?

 

No. We are only able to offer scholarships for study South Africa or the UK. However you can apply for a scholarship to study at any university in South Africa.

 

Can I apply for a scholarship to study at any UK university?

 

No. We work with several universities in the UK to offer scholarships, and are only able to accept applications for these institutions.

 

Can I apply for a scholarship to study for a distance learning degree?

 

We will accept applications for distance learning degrees for Canons Collins Scholarships for Postgraduate Study in South Africa, and the Graça Machel Scholarships. The Edinburgh Business School Scholarship is solely a distance learning programme. However we can not accept distance learning applications for The Canon Collins Masters Study in the UK Scholarship or The GreenMatter Fellowship.

 

Can I apply for a scholarship if I am already enrolled/studying for a degree?

 

Yes we will normally accept applications from candidates who have already started with their degree. However we are not able to do this for The Canon Collins scholarship for Masters Study in the UK, as it is only a one year scholarship, or for the Edinburgh Business School MBA Scholarship.

 

 Where else can I apply for funding?

 

Please see our Alternative Funding Sources document. Please note that we cannot provide guidance on applying for these grants.

 

Referee FAQs

 

What should be included in the reference?

 

The reference should include a brief description of the nature of the relationship between applicant and referee. It should also evaluate the applicant’s suitability for the bursary or scholarship they are applying for. It should outline their strengths as an applicant, demonstrate their capacity to study at the level required, how they would benefit from further study, and identify their potential impact in the future.

 

How long should the reference be?

 

There is no set format or word limit for references.

 

How should I submit my reference?

 

Applicants must upload all references to the ‘Documents’ section of the online application form. The references must be attached in JPEG, PDF or Word format, signed and on headed paper.

 

What relationship should I have with the applicant?

 

Referees must have a professional relationship with the applicant. We are unable to accept references from friends, family or religious or spiritual leaders, such as pastor or vicars.