Research Council of Zimbabwe Human Capital Development 2021 Scholarships for Zimbabwean Citizens

 Application Deadline: Friday 13 August 2021 at 1200 hours

 The Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ) is offering scholarships to support MPhil/Master’s by research or taught Master’s degree programmes in line with the National Research Priorities (NRPs), Education 5.0 and National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). Zimbabwe considers human capital investment via education a major tool for sustainable development and for the attainment of Vision 2030. According to the 2018 National Critical Skills Audit Report by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development (MHTEISTD), Zimbabwe has a critical skills deficit in Engineering and Technology, Natural and Applied Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences and this needs focused planning to increase enrolments in these areas. The aim of the scholarship programme is to reward high-achieving students and to invest in human capital development in these areas. RCZ anticipates that the beneficiaries from the 2021 Scholarship Programme will be absorbed into Zimbabwe’s workforce by 2023 and work towards the attainment of Vision 2030 towards a prosperous and empowered upper middle income country by 2030.

 

Applicants must:

Be a national and resident of Zimbabwe.

Be in possession of a good first degree (minimum upper second class).

Be applying for a full-time taught masters or masters by research or MPhil in Engineering and Technology, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Health Sciences at public Zimbabwean universities.

Research on any aspect of COVID-19 (artificial intelligence, space science or information communication technology) will be given special consideration.

The Masters Programme chosen must be geared towards problem-solving and value creation in line with Education 5.0 and National Development Strategy 1.

Benefits

The scholarship covers tuition fees only.

 

Terms and Conditions

  1. Scholarship recipients should undertake to serve in the Public Sector for at least two years after successful completion of their studies.
  2. Should a recipient fail their degree, they will reimburse the RCZ the full scholarship amount awarded.
  3. The RCZ will be entitled to terminate the Scholarship at any time, by immediate notice to the applicant in writing, in the event of:
    1. Misconduct, whether in connection with his/her study or otherwise.
    2. Failure to make progress by the applicant in his/her study as is considered satisfactory..
    3. Circumstances, such as illness, arising which, with your university’s agreement, would render it impossible for the applicant to complete his/her Scholarship satisfactorily or prevent the purpose of the Scholarship from being fulfilled.
    4. Dismissal, for any reason, from the applicant’s host university.
    5. Imprisonment for more than 30 days.
    6. The discovery of submission of fraudulent documentation.
  4. In the event of such termination, the RCZ Scholarship programme shall have no further obligation to the applicant and the applicant shall be bound to repay the amount disbursed under the Scholarship, unless:
    1. The termination is a result of ill health and this has been certified by a registered medical practitioner appointed by the RCZ as genuine and not self-inflicted.
    2. The RCZ has exercised its discretion to exempt the applicant from this condition.
  5. RCZ’s decision is final

 

Application Process

The application form serves as the basis for assessment. The application form can be found on the RCZ website, www.rcz.ac.zw . It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete and accurate before submission. All sections of the form must be completed.

 

All applicants are required to submit certified copies of the following supporting documentation:

Undergraduate degree certificate;

Academic transcripts;

ID document (Passport, Birth Certificate, Driver’s License, National I.D);

Reference letters from two referees (One should be an academic reference); and

A three page proposal for those applying for an MPhil/ Masters by research or one page for taught Masters.

 

The reference letter should outline your strengths as an applicant, demonstrate your capacity to study at the level required, explain how you would benefit from further study and identify your potential impact in the future. Justification on how the study will contribute towards achievement of the national vision, Education 5.0 and basing on the dissertation topic, should be provided.

 

How to apply

Applications are open and will close on Friday 13 August 2021 at 12:00 hours Zimbabwe time. Please complete the application form by clicking here.

Female Candidates are encouraged to Apply!!!