UNEP Master’s Scholarships in AIT

(for January 2009 Semester)

The United Nations Environment Programme Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific
(UNEP RRCAP) implements integrated environmental assessments and emerging issues studies. It
emphasizes on building partnerships with relevant regional, sub-regional and national agencies and
organizations. Over the past years, consultations with the national environment agencies stressed the
need for UNEP to help build capacities of institutions on environmental assessment and on addressing
emerging environmental issues

With the aim of building capacities of national environment agencies and inter-governmental
organisations on environmental assessment and in addressing emerging environmental issues, UNEP
Master’s Scholarships are made available at the Asian Institute of Technology

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), founded in 1959, is an autonomous, international, post-
graduate institution, to help meet the growing need for advanced education in Asia. Three schools, and
the AIT Center in Vietnam, provide advanced education, training and research in the areas of
engineering; environment and development; and management, to meet the needs of private and public
sectors. For more than five decades, AIT has been an active partner in the promotion of technological
change and development in the Asia-Pacific region. AIT today has graduated more than 15,000
graduates from close to 60 countries, and currently has an enrollment of over 1,800 full time students
tutored by an international team of faculty and staff drawn from all over the world. Details of AIT
academic programs can be obtained from http://www.ait.ac.th.

Target

The scholarship program is principally aimed at the following target audiences: Mid-level
professionals from national government agencies and inter-governmental organisations who are
associated with national and regional programme implementation, technical evaluation and policy
formulation activities related to environment and sustainable development

Areas of Interest

UNEP Master’s scholarships will be offered across the five regions of Asia – North East, South
Pacific, South East Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia. Students can be admitted to any of the
academic field of studies at AIT but their research activities should be directly linked to UNEP’s
thematic areas. A one page detailed research proposal based on UNEP’s thematic areas should be
submitted with the application. For reference, UNEP’s priority countries and respective thematic areas
are listed below

Central Asia Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan climate change, land degradation,

water security
Southeast Asia Vietnam, Lao PDR ecosystem services, climate
change/urbanisation
Northeast Asia Korea, Mongolia land degradation, energy security
South Pacific climate change adaptation, waste
management
South Asia Bhutan, Nepal climate change, and ecosystem
management (mountain, wetland,
watershed, coastal)
Application Requirements

The scholarships are specifically targeted to those coming from the above-mentioned five regions and
associated with national government agencies and inter-governmental organisations. The minimum
requirements are:

(a) The applicant should hold a bachelor degree (normally from a four-year program) or its equivalent
in an appropriate field of study from an institution of recognized standing; and have undergraduate
grades significantly above average

(b) Priority will be given to candidates who are associated with UNEP (or Environment/Sustainable
development) related projects. His/her Masters Research work could be conducted, preferably, at the
home country

(c) The selected applicant will work on the research areas recommended by UNEP. After graduation,
few selected would be expected to work with the RRC.AP office, as interns, prior to returning to their
home country

(d) All AIT programs are conducted in the English language, the Institute's official medium of all
communication. Applicants have to produce evidence of proficiency in English. UNEP Scholarship
applicants must submit a standard English proficiency score. The minimal scores acceptable are:
TOEFL [Internet-based 83, Computer-based 220, Paper-based 500] or IELTS [6.0].

(e) All candidates for entry to AIT must provide certificated evidence of good health

(f) A one page detailed research proposal based on UNEP’s thematic areas (noted above) should be
submitted with the application

Scholarship

The scholarship will cover the following:

(a) Tuition and registration fees for 4 semesters

(b) Research grant
(c) Travel grant (economy class: incoming and outgoing costs)
(d) Monthly bursary during the period of study
(e) Visa processing and medical insurance

Application, Fees and Expenses

Application forms for attending the Masters Degree program can be obtained by contacting the
Coordinator, Admissions and Scholarships Unit, Asian Institute of Technology, PO Box 4, Klong
Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand or from the AIT website (http://www.ait.ac.th). Additional
details regarding fees and other expenses are available at the same website

The last date for submission of application will be 15 October. Selected applicants will be informed by
20 November. The semester commences on 7 January 2009. For other information/details regarding
the UNEP scholarships, please contact:

Admissions and Scholarships Unit

Asian Institute of Technology
P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120,
Thailand.
E-mail: admissions@ait.ac.th
Telephone: (66-2) 524-5031-33
Fax: (66-2) 524-6326
URL: www.ait.ac.th/admissions