Scholarships in Climate Change at the University of the South Pacific

In 2013, USP will offer scholarships in Climate Change under a European Union funded project entitled ‘Support the GCCA through Capacity Building, Community Engagement, and Applied Research’ in operation at the University of the South Pacific.These scholarships are available to citizens of Pacific Island countries for full-time or part-time study, based at USP’s Laucala campus, Suva Fiji, for Post-graduate Diploma and M Sc Programmes.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN CLIMATE CHANGE

USP offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Climate Change (PG Dip CC). Like other PG Diplomas, it comprises of 4 courses over 1 year as a full-time student or 2 years as a part time student. This Postgraduate Diploma will be relevant to those engaged in planning for natural resources, economic and social development, and/or the natural environment, and climate change especially graduates working in governments or NGOs who are not yet
familiar with climate change-related issues but need to be so.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR M Sc IN CLIMATE CHANGE

USP invites applications from graduates in relevant disciplines who wish to pursue a Masters degree though research on climate variability and change. Possible research topics in climate change may include (but not limited to): (a) Analysis and interpretation of the climate observations or model generated data sets; (b) Scientific analysis of the impacts of likely climate change on a particular community or sector; (c) Developing scientific or technical aspects of community adaptation project (e.g. biogas and energy security); (d) Evaluating the effectiveness of a particular community adaptation activity (including local/ traditional knowledge); (e) Social or economic analysis of adaptation projects, policies and aid effectiveness, (f)Analysis of governance or social issues affecting vulnerability to,or measures to adapt to climate change; (g) Integration of climatechange in education for sustainable development; (h) Evaluation ofgender issues in climate change; (i) Evaluation of impacts of climatechange on plants/animals; (j) Analysis of adaptation and mitigation measures for adaptive capacity development in a specific community or sector.

A Masters degree at USP requires one year of full-time study, or two years part-time study in the form of a supervised research project subsequent to completion of a PG Diploma.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SCHOLARSHIP CONDITIONS

Full-time scholarships cover tuition fees and air fares from homecountry (if outside Fiji) at beginning and end of the scholarship. Each scholar receives a living allowance of about F$11,088 per year, (plus an allowance for accompanying dependents in some circumstances). Part-time scholarships cover tuition fees only as applicable. Part-time scholarships are intended for those students who are employed and only able to pursue studies on a part-time basis.

Successful applicants will be expected to take up their scholarships in the first semester of 2013.

APPLICATIONS

Postgraduate application forms for both programmes (PG Dip and M Sc) can be obtained from your local USP Centre or downloaded from http://www.usp.ac.fj/student. Completed applications
are due by 01st October 2012.

Postgraduate application forms for both programmes (PG
Dip and M Sc) can be obtained from your local USP Centre or
downloaded from http://www.usp.ac.fj/student. Completed
forms and accompanying certified documents/transcripts
etc. should be sent to Ms Vijaya Naiker at Pacific Centre for
Environment and Sustainable Development, USP Campus at Suva
(naiker_v@usp.ac.fj; Ph: +679-3231982). Completed applications
are due by 01st October 2012.