Announcement

Scholarships Programme for the Academic Year 2017-2018

The Sylvia Ioannou Foundation announces the 5th Scholarships Programme for post-graduate and doctoral studies in the fields of Humanities and Social Sciences on subjects (i.e. history, geography, culture, etc.) related to the island of Cyprus, specifically.

The amount of the scholarship award is fixed, regardless of tuition, and will cover up to three (3) years, at a maximum. The number of available scholarships and the amount to be awarded will depend on demonstrated interest as well as on the Foundation's current financial abilities. Awardees will be free to explore additional sources of financing for their studies. Applicants are required to inform the Foundation if they receive another scholarship or grant for the specific post-graduate study for which they are applying, or if they have paid employment ("assistantship") at the University of their choice. In such cases, the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation reserves the right to provide a partial instead of full award, or even to cancel the scholarship altogether.

General Requirements

I. Age limit: Applicants should be younger than 33 years of age at the time of application.

II. Minimum grade point average (GPA) of degree/diploma: Applicants should hold a degree from Greek or Cypriot University. The application process is open to graduates who hold a University degree with a GPA of at least 'eight' (8.00) and who have completed their studies within a period not exceeding two (2) years from completion of the minimum expected duration of study. The applicant’s ranking at graduation (during a given academic year or oath-taking period) is a factor to be taken into account for the selection of awardees. If deemed necessary, applicants may be required to submit, together with their degree, a University-issued certificate that indicates their graduation ranking.

III. Applicants should be proficient in the language of the country in which they wish to study, or in the official language of the programme of study which they wish to pursue. Such language proficiency may be evidenced by a formal certificate, diploma or degree (valid and in accordance with the requirements of the University of the applicant' s choice).

IV. Military Service: Male applicants must have fulfilled their military obligations; or be legally exempt from such; or have received military deferment which is sufficient for the completion of their studies; or be currently serving in the military and their service will be completed by May 31, 2017.

V. Applicants may not apply for more than one field or country, or in more than one scholarship programme of the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation.

 

Required supporting documents

I. Οnline application form, which is available upon registration at the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation website. All required supporting documents should be scanned separately in pdf format only, and uploaded accordingly.

II. Two-sided copy of the applicant's valid identity card or passport.

III. Brief Curriculum Vitae (up to 4 pages), in the Greek language, including applicant's personal information, his/her undergraduate studies, level of foreign language proficiency, and any additional qualifications. The CV should also include any work experience, honors and/or awards, participation in seminars, conferences and publications on part of the applicant.

IV. Copy of diploma and transcript for all years of study, with the grade point average (GPA) indicated numerically, up to two decimal places. Applicants who fail to complete their studies by April 30, 2017 (the application deadline), should submit the transcript of grades of all individual courses, including their current grade point average. Α copy of their diploma or certificate of completion of studies with the final grade point average is to be submitted by May 31, 2017 (if such is not available on the date of the application submission), to scholarships@sylviaioannoufoundation.org. Failure to submit a diploma or a certificate of completion of studies will result in the removal of the application from the evaluation and selection process.

V. Foreign Language Certificate: Such a certificate should be valid and consistent with the requirements of the University of the applicant's choice.

VI. Copy of detailed Programme pursued for postgraduate or doctoral studies: Applicants should upload a printout of the programme pursued as detailed at the University’ s website or catalogue of programmes. Applicants are reminded that they may apply only for one field of study.
NOTE: After the announcement of awards, awardees will not be able to modify the declared field of study which has been approved by the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation, except for reasons related to force majeure, which the Foundation may review at its discretion.

VII. Concise description and justification of Programme pursued: Applicants should explain the reasons for which they have chosen to pursue this particular programme of postgraduate studies, as well as their future goals and career plans.

VIII. Male applicants should upload a scanned certificate of military status.

IX. In addition, applicants should submit: Registration certificate, or letter of acceptance from the University chosen, addressed to the applicant. If no formal acceptance decision is available as yet, a copy of correspondence with the University chosen for the academic year pertaining to this Scholarship Programme and a copy of the completed application form for the said postgraduate or doctoral programme for which the scholarship is requested.

X. Unless available on the date their application is submitted, applicants should also submit electronically, at scholarships@sylviaioannoufoundation.org and no later than May 31, 2017, a letter from the University chosen, certifying that they have been admitted to the course of studies pursued. This letter must be accompanied by a signed declaration of the applicant, specifying his/her annual tuition cost.

XI. Recommendation letters: Applicants should provide recommendation letters from academics or scholars working outside academia. If this is not possible, applicants may submit letters from others, but an explanation as to the absence of academic letters ought to be provided.

XII. Proof of income: Applicants should submit copies of their own as well as their parents' E-9 tax or real estate declaration forms and payment or credit receipts for income tax returns for the last two years.

NOTE: Any supporting documents sent after the applications submission deadline (April 30, 2017) will not be accepted, unless in cases of the aforementioned exceptions.

 

Application process

The online application deadline is April 30, 2017. Registration to the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation website is required in advance. After successful registration, an account will be created for each applicant and an email will be sent to the email address provided by the applicant, asking him/her to activate their account. Upon account activation, applicants can use their username and password to log in and will be able to complete the online application. Should applicants encounter any difficulties during the online application process, they are kindly requested to contact the Foundation at scholarships@sylviaioannoufoundation.org.

Applications submitted beyond the deadline announced will not be accepted. Applicants should scan separately and upload all required documents in pdf format only. If selected for an award, applicants may be asked to provide validated photocopies of original documents. Submitted documents will not be returned. 

The supporting documents must be in Greek or in English. Documents in other languages should be accompanied by an official translation.

To start the online application process, click here.

 

Terms & Conditions

I. Submission of an application does not automatically guarantee or imply its approval for an award.

II. Failure to submit any documents before expiration of the submission deadline(s) will result in the rejection of the relevant application.

III. By submitting their online application for a scholarship, the applicant clearly and irrevocably states that he/she unconditionally accepts all Terms and Conditions included in this Announcement, as well as the judgments and decisions of the competent personnel of the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation. The applicant further states that the information contained in their application form, supporting documents and/or other materials, is true and accurate.

 

Evaluation process

I. The Review Committee of the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation recommends, at its own discretion, to the Board of Directors of the Foundation the applicant(s) selected to be granted a scholarship.

II. In case of equal academic qualifications, preference is to be given to applicants whose financial abilities cannot cover the cost of their studies.

III. The Review Committee reserves the right to request a personal interview with the applicant(s), if deemed necessary.

 

General provisions

I. Once approved, the scholarship commences after all required documents have been submitted. The amount of the scholarship will be paid by remittance to the successful applicants. The award amount will be paid in installments per academic period (semester, quarter, or other, depending on the course of study at the University chosen), and presupposes the awardee’ s obligation to provide: (a) evidence of academic achievement at a «B or better» level, or equivalent grade in case of a different scoring system; and (b) a certificate of attendance. In cases requiring advance payment of tuition at the beginning of the academic year, a relevant certificate from the University chosen is required. The option of an once-off tuition payment will be considered only when appropriate.

II. Upon completion of their studies, awardees should submit to the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation Secretariat, in due time, a photocopy of their diploma and dissertation/thesis. Awardees are also required to present their work during or after completion of their studies, upon the invitation of the Foundation.

III. Scholarships for part-time or distance learning are not granted.

IV. The scholarship may be extended for more than one year, after submission of an application for renewal and a progress report by the University chosen, featuring clearly and in detai the awardee' s performance in his/her studies.

V. The Sylvia Ioannou Foundation reserves the right to unilaterally change the terms of this Announcement, by notice at the Foundation website (www.sylviaioannoufoundation.org) or by any other appropriate means.

VI. The awardee is required to sign a contract outlining his/her obligations to the Sylvia Ioannou Foundation. The signing of this contract is a prerequisite for the award of a scholarship.

 

Announcement of results

Results will be communicated individually and in writing, by letter to be sent via email. No information will be given over the phone.

The announcement of the results will take place in July 2017.