Scottish Overseas Research Student Awards Scheme (SORSAS) - DISCONTINUED

SORSAS discontinued - please see below for further information 

The Overseas Research Students Award Scheme (ORSAS) was originally established in 1980-81 as a UK wide competitive scheme to strengthen the UK's ability to attract "highest quality" international postgraduate research students to the UK.

With the discontinuation of the UK-wide ORSAS scheme at the end of AY 2008-09, The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) ran a rebranded Scottish Overseas Research Students Award Scheme (SORSAS) in AY 2009-10 and 2010-11.

The SFC has decided that SORSAS is no longer a sufficiently high strategic priority, therefore the 2011 round (deadline passed in February 2011) was the final round of this scheme.

Students currently funded by SORSAS will continue to be supported until the end of their studentship as usual. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at pgr@glasgow.ac.uk

2011 Round - This page is for information only

The Scottish Overseas Research Student Award Scheme provides a number of awards for overseas research students of outstanding merit and research potential. This highly competitive awards scheme offers successful students an award to contribute to the difference between the Home/EU and the Overseas research fee. The Scheme is confined to international students only.

Value: This award offers a contribution towards the difference between the Overseas and Home/EU Research Fees at the institution where the award holder is studying. This is valid for full-time doctoral research study only.

Eligibility: Students who are classified as an International Student for fees purposes who have been accepted either conditionally or unconditionally for admission to undertake a postgraduate research degree at the University of Glasgow.

Guidance for Staff

Applications:

DEADLINE TUESDAY 1st FEBRUARY 2011*

Please be advised that some Graduate Schools may impose an earlier or later deadline for the receipt of applications according to their own internal assessment requirements. Candidates are strongly advised to check the deadline date with their destination Graduate School.

Three forms must be submitted directly to the appropriate Graduate School by the deadline. The forms can be downloaded below by clicking on the form names.

1. SORSAS 2011 Application Form (plus any attachments)

2. SORSAS 2011 1st Referee Form

3. SORSAS 2011 2nd Referee Form

Applicants must apply for admission either before or in conjunction with their SORSAS application. Applicants will only be considered if accepted either conditionally or unconditionally for admission. For more information on applying for Postgradaute Study at the University of Glasgow click here.

The first referee should be a teacher who has direct knowledge of the applicant's first degree work or a referee with knowledge of his/her postgraduate studies if a first degree referee is difficult to locate or when there has not been contact between the two parties for many years. The second referee should be the prospective supervisor with whom the applicant is proposing to undertake the research. 

It is the applicant's responsibility to arrange for the referees to complete and submit the relevant Reference Forms.  

Futher information for applicants can be downloaded here: 2011-12 SORSAS Information booklet

College Contacts for Completed Applications (clearly mark all submissions SORSAS Application)

SFC Scottish Overseas Research Student Awards Scheme 2011 - Guidance for Staff

Below is the timetable and a brief note of guidance for staff on the internal administration process of the Scheme in 2011.  For further information please contact the VP (R&E) Office.

28 October 2010
Applications go live on the website. Applications will be sent to the Graduate School Admin contact.

1 February 2011
Applications deadline (some variations - check table on main webpage for College dates)

1 Feb - 14 March 2011
College Graduate School selection takes place (Graduate Schools to set selection meeting dates according to their diaries)
Each Graduate School selects its top 2 candidates for automatic scholarship award.

15 March 2011
Each Graduate School should email a scanned copy of each automatic and reserve application selected at the GS meeting to the PGR Service VP(R&E) Office.

Graduate Schools must include a cover sheet for each candidate they submit, providing a case for award in bullet point format for review.

March/April TBC 2011
PGR Office confirms the outcome of the selection meeting to Graduate School Offices

March/April 2011
Graduate Schools notify successful AND unsuccessful candidates by letter/email of the outcome of their application.

Award letters must clearly state the value and duration of the SORSAS Studentship and any other College award in order to comply with visa regulations.