WACWISA Masters & PhD Scholarships 2021/2022

The Scholarship Award Scheme (SAS) is provided by the Government of Ghana (GoG) and the World Bank (WB) to support promising African students to pursue Masters (MSc/MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) study programmes in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, and Environmental Management and Sustainability, and to conduct related research in the West African sub-region in particular and the Africa Region at large.

Enrolled students will be supported to develop international experience in one or more of the WACWISA’s international partners’ laboratories and field stations. The need for highly trained skilled professionals is paramount given the issues of water scarcity and the need for the development of functional and efficient irrigation infrastructure in Africa. This is towards the ultimate goal for the intensification of agriculture, increased productivity and food security.

General Eligibility

Applicants should:

Meet the standard University for Development Studies Admission requirement for both local and international students.
Apply for the Masters/Doctor of Philosophy programme in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering at the University for Development Studies.
Submit an official/certified academic transcript from the previous University of study and a certified copy of academic certificates, with official English translation provided where necessary.
For the Masters programme, candidates must have the following qualifications:
- MPhil Irrigation and Drainage Engineering – A Bachelor’s degree (honours) or equivalent with at least a Second-Class Upper Division in Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Soil and Water Conservation and Management, Horticulture, Agronomy, Hydrology and Watershed Management and Engineering, Agricultural Technology, Soil Science or related fields.
- MSc/MPhil Environmental Management and Sustainability – A Bachelor’s degree (honours) or equivalent with at least a Second-Class Upper Division in Natural Resources Science and Management, Biology, Agriculture, Development Studies, Geography, Environmental Studies/Science or related fields.
For the PhD programme, candidates must have a minimum qualification:
- PhD Irrigation and Drainage Engineering – Research-based Masters degree or equivalent in related field (Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Soil and Water Conservation and Management, Horticulture, Agronomy, Hydrology and Watershed Management and Engineering, Agricultural Technology, Soil Science).
- PhD Environmental Management and Sustainability – Research-based Masters degree or equivalent in related field in Natural Resources Science and Management, Biology, Agriculture, Development Studies, Geography, Environmental Studies/Science.
Practical field training/experience in irrigation and drainage or Environmental Management and Sustainability related activities is an added advantage.
Masters applicants MUST submit a three (3)-page and PhD five (5)-page maximum research proposal which shall contain a research topic, background, problem statement and justification, objectives, materials and methods and expected results.
All applicants shall submit a two (2)-page statement of motivation outlining their fitness for the study programme and benefit of the training to their home country and Africa in general.
All applicants to the Masters or PhD programmes must submit two (2) academic letters of reference and one (1) professional letter of reference.
Provide a detailed curriculum vitae (CV) – maximum two (2) pages
All shortlisted applicants shall be interviewed.
Applicants must be less than 35 years for the Masters programme and less than 40 years for PhD
Be nationals of and resident in Africa.
Provide a copy of Identity Card (ID) or Bio-data page of National Passport

Note: Female candidates in the West-Africa sub-region are particularly encouraged to apply.

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Language Requirement

The program training language is solely in English. Francophone candidates with proven evidence of competence in English are encouraged to apply. However, the program will, based on merit, provide a ten (10) weeks certificate language competency training (English only) to selected Francophone candidates prior to the start of the academic year.

Details of the Scholarship Package

The selection of beneficiaries of the WACWISA Scholarship Award Scheme (SAS) shall be subject to the maintenance of a high-grade academic performance during the coursework, successfully development and defence of research proposal during the first 6 to 12 months of the programme and high-level performance of progress of students.

The scholarship is tenable at the University for Development Studies, School of Engineering and the Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment and shall cover the following:

Tuition, Research and Learning Costs

The scholarship will cover the official University fees for Masters and PhD students at the University for Development Studies, School of Engineering and the Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment. This will include: tuition, registration, examination, matriculation, Student Identity Card, ICT and library. These will be payable to the University for Development Studies.

Monthly Stipend

The scholarship includes a monthly stipend to cover accommodation, living expenses, health insurance and other personal incidentals.

Research Costs

This research cost will cover transport, field data collection, software, and other student project related costs.

International Placement/Mobility Costs

Students may be supported and placed in international laboratories of partner institutions for the conduct of research where need be and to expose them to the international setting to gain international experience. This will cover travel cost in a return economy class ticket and living expenses for a period of between three (3) to six (6) months.

Note: Full scholarship is available to Non-Ghanaian students only.

Program Duration

The program duration is 18 months for MSc, 24 months for MPhil and 48 months for PhD

Application Procedure and Contact

Applicants should submit full complement of documentation to wacwisa@uds.edu.gh and copy director_wacwisa@uds.edu.gh with a subject line “WACWISA Masters and PhD scholarships”

All applicants must also submit applications for admission into the relevant programme at the University for Development Studies, Tamale – Ghana available at www.uds.edu.gh

For further information, please contact the following:

Prof. Abdul-Ganiyu Shaibu
West African Center for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture
University for Development Studies
Tamale, Ghana.
Email: sganiyu@uds.edu.gh

Mr. Bernard Alando
West African Center for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture
University for Development Studies
Tamale, Ghana.
Email: alanben@uds.edu.gh