WASCAL Master Research Programme 2024/2025 (Fully Funded Scholarship)

June 2, 2024

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Bursary Description

Application Deadline: June 15., 2024.

WASCAL is a wholly West African international organization with focus on academic and transdisciplinary research, building graduate-level scientific capacity and serving policy makers in West Africa with science-based advice on adaptation to climate change impacts and land use management.

MASTER RESEARCH PROGRAMME IN INFORMATICS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC SESSION

The Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, is pleased to announce for application for its fifth batch of students to the study of Master Research Programme in Informatics for Climate Change (MRP-ICC) in Burkina Faso under the Capacity Building Programme of West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates applying for Master Research Programme in Informatics for Climate Change must have a minimum of BSc degree (second class upper division) or equivalent in Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Health sciences, Meteorology and Climate science, Geography, Biological sciences, Geoscience, Environmental Sciences, Economics, Agriculture, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Engineering, Electrical engineering, Electronic Engineering.

Other general requirements include:
1. Citizen of WASCAL member country.
2. Proficiency in English Language will be an addition.

PROGRAMME DURATION

The time frame for the master’s programme is two years. During the first-year, students participate in the course programme of their Master Research Programme and work on their research outline. Research will be conducted during the second year within a period of six to nine months. Students would be expected to complete their thesis and internships with relevant government ministries, the national meteorological/hydrological agencies or relevant industry during the last three to six months of their study.

The 24 months full time programme has the following components: i) Preparatory phase: four (04) months of language proficiency courses in English language for francophones and lusophones at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana; and French language for anglophones, at the University of Lomé in Togo;

ii) Lectures – 14 months, comprising 3 semesters at the Université Joseph KI-ZERBO (UJKZ); i
ii) Research proposal preparation – concurrent with (
ii) above; iv) Internship/Field/Research work/ – 4 months. Students are expected to select topics that are in line with the research agenda, mission and objectives of WASCAL; v) Final thesis write-up and defense – 2 months.

SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH SUPPORT

WASCAL will grant scholarships to selected students in the Master Research programme in Informatics for Climate Change. The scholarship is extended every year after successful completion of the study programme.

The scholarship includes: – – – – monthly stipend to cover accommodation, and living expenses for the period of studies; payment of university fees; research budget; a personal laptop computer on loan for the duration of the programme.

MASTER’S RESEARCH PROGRAMME IN MARINE SCIENCES 2024/2025 

The Atlantic Technical University (UTA) is pleased to call for applications for its Master’s Research Programme on Climate Change & Marine Sciences (MRPCCMS) under the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL).

Atlantic Technical University is launching its fifth Master’s Research Programme on Climate Change & Marine Sciences for the 2024-2025 academic year, and scholarship possibilities for at least 12 of 24 selected students.

Eligibility conditions

Applicants are required to:

  • Be a citizen of a WASCAL member country (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, The Gambia or Togo); other ECOWAS member countries may be admitted as self-funded student on an availability basis.
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields or any other related fields: Biological Sciences, Oceanography, Fishing or Livestock Engineering, Geography, Sciences of the Atmosphere.
  • Have at least an intermediate level in English language.

This programme includes:

  • Four months of Language Proficiency courses in English Language for Francophones and Lusophones students at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana; and French Language for Anglophones students, at the University of Lomé, Togo.
  • Three semesters of joint Master courses related to marine sciences, coastal and marine management and climate change at the Atlantic Technical University (including national and international lecturers).
  • Shipboard training with a local research vessel and/or a German international research vessel (availability and sponsoring pending) for training on ocean observation and data collection for individual student research projects (field training and research projects will be supported by the Ocean Science Centre Mindelo – OSCM).
  • Three weeks of scientific trip to the German partner institutions, when applicable.

Scholarship and Research Support:

The best 12 students ranked (one per WASCAL member country) will award a scholarship and research support. The scholarship and research support will be provided following the criteria below:

  • Upon admission, students will be required to maintain a graduate level Grade Point Average (GPA) of B or a minimum of B from the course.
  • During the course curriculum phase, students will be required to develop a detailed research proposal, including a budget, that will have to be accepted by a committee, consisting of at least four graduate faculty members, and endorsed by the Graduate Council.
  • During the project research stage, students are expected to present their progress reports regularly and be evaluated accordingly.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the WASCAL Master Research Programme