Scholarship : The HSBC Scholarship Programme 2009

The 2009 Scholarships Programme is open till 26 May 2009 12 AM IST.
The HSBC Scholarships Programme aims to nurture leaders around the world and help build global knowledge with the accompanying expectation that the lifelong careers of the scholarship recipients will be marked by significant contributions to the community in which they live and work.

Over time, the HSBC Scholars will form an influential international alumni network, bringing vision and commitment to improving lives of citizens throughout the world. The scholars are thus expected to use their education for the benefit of others.

Eligibility :

• Candidates must be Indian citizens, resident in India, and below 25 years of age as on September 1 in the year of the Scholarship.
• The Scholarship is open to students admitted for undergraduate or graduate studies at Oxford, Cambridge or London Universities, in the UK for a maximum period of three years for any of the courses offered at these Universities. (The Scholarship is not open for PhD students)
• Applicants should have independently gained admission to the Universities at the time of applying for these scholarships. Applications should be accompanied with the acceptance letter of admission by the University's Admission Office.

Awarding Criteria :
2 scholarships are to be awarded to outstanding men and women candidates in India each year. To conduct a fair and equitable selection of the most meritorious scholars, the HSBC Scholarship Programme has established criteria for evaluation. These criteria are applied to all applications in a balanced and judicious manner. Four main criteria for selection are listed below, together with the elements that constitute each criterion.

• Previous academic record and future potential of the applicant. This criterion relates to the future potential and continued excellence of the applicant in his/her discipline. Records of school and or college academic results and other accomplishments in both academics and extra curricular activities will be taken as valuable evidence for competency and as evidence of academic achievement in their line of study.
• Leadership qualities. Applicants should submit a 500-word statement of purpose that sets out their own ambition for the future which illustrates how study in the UK would help them achieve their personal goals.
• References. Applicants will be invited to nominate two referees (should not be related to the applicant) who can write knowledgeably about them as individuals and their contribution to society, and who can comment authoritatively on their character and their non-academic attributes and achievements.
• An HSBC Scholarship can be taken up only by a student who does not have any other scholarship to study in the UK.

The Scholar should submit progress reports on a six-monthly basis to the HSBC Scholarships Programme Secretariat. Such reports should include academic and extracurricular achievements and the reports have to be endorsed by the relevant Heads of Department of the University.

Progress reports will be monitored by the Secretariat to ensure the continuation of the Scholarship for the full three - year term.

Funding :
Each HSBC Scholarship will be worth upto GBP 25,000 a year and is expected to cover the following costs:

• University fees which will be paid directly to the University
• Board and Lodge expenses sufficient for a single student
• Books
• One return economy airfare from India to London (for each of the three years)

Selection Procedure :
The HSBC Scholarship Programme Secretariat will administer a five-level selection process:

• Level 1 The Application Cover Sheet will be processed online to screen eligible candidates
• Level 2 Information provided will be appraised to shortlist candidates for the next level.
• Level 3 A special panel will evaluate the shortlisted candidates on the basis of the submissions to further shortlist upto 12 candidates for the next level
• Level 4 The shortlist candidates will then be evaluated by the HSBC Assessment Centre in Mumbai for the Final interview.
  Shortlist candidates will be required to have:
  
  • Records of school and or college academic results and other accomplishments in both academic and extracurricular activities
  • The original letters of reference
  • The original acceptance letter of admission by the University's Admission Office before appearing for evaluation by the HSBC Assessment Centre
• Level 5 A Selection Panel will hold interviews in Mumbai of 8 selected applicants to nominate the 2 HSBC Scholars.

--The decision of the Selection Panel will be final

Click here to fill the application form

Courtesy:- HSBC