DOST offers scholarships for degrees

CEBU -  The Department of Science and Technology is granting a scholarship program for masters and doctorate degrees in prioritized science and technology areas through the implementation of the Accelerated Science and technology Human Resource Development Program.

The scholarship program prioritizes fields on basic sciences, biotechnology, materials science and engineering, medical and pharmaceutical sciences, information and communications technology, microelectronics, meteorology, agriculture, forestry and natural resources, fisheries and marine science and environment.

The scholarship program will grant privileges on tui-tion and other school fees in both MS and PhD degrees. Stipends amounting to P12,000 will be granted to the MS scholar while P20,000 will be given to the PhD scholar every month.

A book allowance of P7,500 a year will be granted to both MS and PhD degree scholars. Transportation allowance of P10,000 on both MS and PhD scholars are granted. 

An amount of P30,000 will be granted for MS scholar while P60,000 is for the PhD scholar on their thesis/dissertation. A group insurance of P500 a year will also be given to both degree scholars.

Transportation allowance, on the other hand, is only given to those who will study outside their home province.

The remaining stipends or incentives shall be given to those who completed their degrees earlier than the prescribed period of study.

Awardees of the said scholarship should be studying in full-time for the completion of an MS/PhD degree in any of the DOST priority fields. 

After graduating, the scholar should render service in the country which means one year for every year of scholarship.

Institutions cited as study placements are DOST-R&D network Institutions, CHED centers of Excellence and Development specifically UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, Mapua Institute of Technology, University of Sto. Tomas, University of San Carlos and Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.

Applicants should be not more than 45 years old and should have passed the admissions for graduate studies at any DOST institution.

Deadline for submission of the forms is on September 19, 2008.

On the other hand, DOST says that they have not yet received applicants for the Engineering Research and Development for Technology scholarship program for the second semester, this school year.

ERDT program prioritizes on engineering courses and related fields for both Ms and PhD degrees. However, they claim that a lot have already taken application forms.

DOST also clarified that the ERDT Scholarship grants tuition and other school fees for both degree scholars. Research grant of P200,000 for MS scholars and P400,000 for PhD scholars will be given directly to the university. — Cressida Paula G. Delmo/BRP

(THE FREEMAN)