Open Society Foundations: Disability Rights Scholarship Program

Deadline: 1 December 2017

The Open Society Foundations is seeking applications for its Disability Rights Scholarship Program to provide yearlong awards for master’s degree study to disability rights advocates, lawyers, and educators to develop new legislation, jurisprudence, policy, research, and scholarship to harness the innovations and opportunities offered by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Benefits

The fellowship provides:

tuition and mandatory university fees;
monthly stipend for room, board, and other living expenses;
program-related travel;
accident and health insurance during the program;
funds for educational materials and professional development;
all costs associated with pre-academic summer program and annual conference;
support for students with disabilities to obtain reasonable accommodations necessary for participating in the program of study

Eligibility Criteria

The program does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
Candidates with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply. The competition is merit-based and open to those meeting the following criteria:
- be a citizen and legal resident of China, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Mexico, or Peru at the time of application
- have work experience in the legal profession or advocacy focusing on human/disability rights
- have an excellent academic record with a bachelor of laws (LLB; in exceptional circumstances, those without a LLB but with substantial relevant experience may be considered)—a degree must be awarded by the application deadline
- have demonstrated leadership in the field of disability rights
- be proficient in spoken and written English or French and able to meet university-designated minimum scores on standardized language tests
- be able to participate in an intensive academic writing program in summer 2018
- be able to begin the graduate program in August or September 2018
- be able to receive and maintain visa or study permit required by host country
- demonstate a clear commitment to return to home country to contribute to advancing the inclusion and full participation of persons with disabilities in their communities