The BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health (BRAC JPGSPH) at BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is pleased to announce a Call for Applications for the award of TDR Postgraduate Training Scholarships for the 1.5-years Master of Public Health (MPH) 2025–2026 Programme, beginning in January 2025. The International MPH Programme is an 18-month full-time programme which is taught in English with a focus on promoting problem-based experiential leaning. To access the prospectus click here.
The scholarship is supported by TDR, the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, hosted by the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Only candidates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of WHO South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions are eligible to apply. The scheme focuses on building capacity on Implementation research on four major global health challenges; Epidemics and outbreaks; Control and elimination of disease of poverty; climate change’s impact on health; and growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance affecting infectious diseases of poverty using a One Health approach.
Those with research experience in implementation research on the above-mentioned areas will be prioritized during the selection process. A limited number of scholarships will be offered to both national and international candidates for the 2025–2026 academic year for the Master of Public Health Programme.
Study areas
As a part of the MPH, the TDR Postgraduate training will comprise modules relevant to a career in implementation research, a growing field that supports the identification of health system bottlenecks and approaches to addressing them. It is particularly useful in LMICs, where many health interventions do not reach those who could be benefitting from them. The goal of this training scheme is to strengthen the capacity of researchers to gather evidence-based knowledge using sound methodology to incorporate into policies and practices in LMICs.
Further information on implementation research is available on the TDR website.
Scholarship recipients will be enrolled as postgraduate students and conduct their thesis on implementation research on infectious diseases of poverty with major focus on Epidemics and outbreaks; Control and elimination of disease of poverty; climate change’s impact on health; and growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
The scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to join the global prestigious alumni platform, IR connect, which would monitor the impact of the training programme on their career and allow them to network with other alumni for further career opportunities.
Eligibility for the scholarship
Candidates must be eligible for both the MPH Programme and TDR Scholarship. Applicants must meet the following BRAC University post-graduation admission criteria:
- Meet standard minimum university requirements for international postgraduate students at https://www.bracu.ac.bd/admissions/postgraduate or https://bracjpgsph.org/mph-admission;
- Have a 4-Year Bachelor’s Degree or 3 Years Bachelor plus 1-Year Master’s/Postgraduate Diploma Degree in Health Sciences /Life Sciences/ Social Sciences;
- Minimum CGPA 2.5 out of 4.0 or 2nd Class/Division for Bachelor degree;
- Minimum GPA of 2.5 or 2nd Class/Division in SSC/Equivalent and HSC/Equivalent (including additional subject)
- Minimum GPA of 2.5 in O-Levels in five subjects and A-Levels in two subjects according to the scale (A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 & E=1). Only one E is acceptable;
- Proficiency in oral and written English and basic Mathematics;
- Be an employee of an academic or research institution, not for profit organization, or ministry of health or its agencies in an LMIC of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region or WHO South-East Asia;
- Be able to identify a local supervisor or mentor before the commencement of the programme;
- Basic Computer skills including Microsoft Office and Data Analysis Software;
- Be a national of and resident in a low- and middle-income country (as defined by the World Bank) of either the WHO South-East Asia region (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste) or Eastern
- Mediterranean region (Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen);
- Be under 37 years of age at the time of application for the Masters programme;
- Be interested in developing a career in implementation research on infectious diseases of poverty, including neglected tropical diseases.
The scholarship package
- One return economy airfare between the home country of the student and Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Tuition and academic fees
- Basic medical and accident insurance
- Monthly stipend to cover living expenses
- Accommodation for the duration of the MPH programme from January 2025 – June 2026
- Support for Thesis expenses during data collection
Applying for the TDR postgraduate scholarship scheme at BRAC University
To apply, you must complete the following two steps:
- Step 1. Apply for the Master’s of Public Health Programme. Call for Applications for the MPH 2025-2026 academic year will open in June 2024
- Step 2. Complete the TDR postgraduate scholarship application form and email it to: [email protected] with a copy to [email protected] and [email protected]
- Students must submit their online application for the MPH Programme at BRAC JPGSPH at https://admissions.bracu.ac.bd/academia/authentication/login or https://admissions.bracu.ac.bd/academia/admissionProcess/listAvailablePublishedCircularForAdmission (Only completed forms will be further processed).
Application and selection process
All candidates are required to apply online for the MPH Programme. Once the online application has been successfully completed, it will be reviewed based on MPH programme requirements. If all requirements are met, candidates will be contacted for assessment for the MPH programme through a written test and viva. The written test and viva will take place virtually/in-person by panel of experts.
In addition, candidates are required to apply forthe TDR scholarship separately. Qualifications will be reviewed based on TDR Scholarship requirements. If the candidate successfully passes the MPH programme assessment and fulfils the requirements of the scholarship, they will be invited to participate in a TDR scholarship specific interview carried out by BRAC JPGSPH, BRAC University.
The final approval of this scholarship and placement of students will depend on the candidate’s assessment result and other criteria relevant to the MPH programme and scholarship.
Finally, selected candidates will be required to confirm acceptance of the offer by submitting a Statement of Undertaking and a Fitness Certificate, as per BRAC University requirements.
Timelines
- 15 May, 2024 : Call for TDR Applications
- 15 August, 2024: Last date for submission of completed applications
- 22 September, 2024: Final selection subject to TDR scholarship acceptance
- 19 January, 2025 : Academic session begins
For more information on the TDR scholarship program at BRAC JPGSPH, please contact:
Humayra Binte Anwar
Lecturer
BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +880 2 48812213 18
Fatima Afrin Shammi
Programme Officer
Master of Public Health Programme
BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +880 2 4881221318
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