Call for applications! BRAC University TDR Postgraduate Scholarship in Implementation Research 2023–2024

The BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health (BRAC JPGSPH) at BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh announces a Call for Applications for the award of TDR Postgraduate Training Scholarships for the one-year Master of Public Health (MPH) 2023–2024 Programme, beginning in January 2023. The International MPH Programme is a 12-month full-time programme which is taught in English with a focus on promoting problem-based experiential learning. To access the prospectus for the current 2022-2023 academic year.

The scholarship is supported by TDR, the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, based at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Candidates and residents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of WHO WHO South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions are eligible to apply.

The training will focus on modules relevant to a career in implementation research, which is 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 scheme is to enhance graduate training capacity and boost the number and quality of researchers in LMICs.

Further information on implementation research is available on the TDR website.
A limited number of scholarships will be offered to both national and international candidates for the 2023–2024 academic year for the Master of Public Health Programme.

Scholarship recipients will be enrolled as postgraduate students and conduct their Thesis/Summative Learning Project (SLP) on implementation research on infectious diseases of poverty, which includes Neglected Tropical Diseases, TB/HIV, Malaria, other vector-borne diseases and COVID-19. Recipients will be enrolled as postgraduate students, and their careers will be tracked through the TDR postgraduate alumni platform, IR Connect, which monitors the impact of the programme and provides networking and opportunities to increase visibility for students and alumni. The programme provides on-campus teaching. However, depending on regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the course may be adjusted, for example with entirely online delivery.

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, including accommodation equivalent to local cost of living
• Support for Thesis/Summative Learning Project expenses during data collection.

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP

• Candidates must be eligible for both the MPH Programme and TDR Scholarship. Applicants must meet BRAC
• University post-graduation admission criteria.
• Applicants should: Meet standard minimum university requirements for international postgraduate students at
• https://www.bracu.ac.bd/admissions/postgraduate
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 for Bachelor’s Degree
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in O-Levels/SSC/Equivalent in five subjects and A-Levels/HSC/Equivalent in two subjects or equivalent as per BRAC University scale (A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 & E=1)
• Proficiency in oral and written English and basic Mathematics
• Basic Computer skills including Microsoft Office and Data Analysis Software
• Have a 4-years Bachelor Degree or 3-years Bachelor Degree and 1-year Master/Postgraduate Diploma
• Degree in Health Sciences (Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, including Allied Health Sciences)/Life Sciences/Social Sciences (Anthropology, Public Health, Food and Nutrition, Sociology, Psychology or any
• other Social Sciences Discipline);
• 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 or Eastern Mediterranean region;
• Be under 35 years of age at the time of application for the Master’s programme;
• Be interested in developing a career in implementation research on infectious diseases of poverty, including neglected tropical diseases; and
• Submit a statement of purpose on the reason for pursuing a career in infectious diseases of poverty.
• Priority will be given to applicants with 1 to 2 years of professional public health experience in infectious diseases of poverty, including neglected tropical diseases, malaria and tuberculosis. TDR is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity in science. Applicants are encouraged to apply irrespective of gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious, cultural and social backgrounds, or (dis)ability status.

APPLYING FOR THE TDR POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME AT BRAC UNIVERSITY

To apply, you must complete the following two steps:

Step 1. Complete the TDR postgraduate scholarship application form and email it to: [email protected] with a copy to [email protected] and [email protected]

Step 2. Apply for the Master’s Programme. Call for Applications for the MPH 2023-2024 academic year will open in April 2022.

Students must submit their online application for the MPH Programme at BRAC JPGSPH at

https://bracjpgsph.org/mph-admission.php or https://admissions.bracu.ac.bd/academia/admissionProcess/listAvailablePublishedCircularForAdmission

(Only completed forms will be further processed)

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

Candidates are required to apply online for both the MPH Programme and TDR scholarship. 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 through a written test and viva. The written test and viva can take place virtually by panel of experts.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the assessment will be done online. Qualifications will be reviewed based on TDR Scholarship requirements. If the candidate successfully fulfils the requirements, they will be invited to participate in a TDR scholarship specific interview carried out by BRAC JPGSPH.

The final approval of this scholarship and placement of students will depend on the situation of COVID-19 in the respective region.

Finally, selected students will be required to confirm acceptance of the offer by submitting a Statement of Undertaking and a Fitness Certificate, as per BRAC University requirements.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

The deadline for receipt of applications is 30 June 2022. However, the selection and placement of candidates will depend on the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the regions.

For more information on the scheme at BRAC JPGSPH, please contact:

Humayra Binte Anwar, Lecturer

Focal point, WHO TDR Postgraduate Training Scheme on Implementation Research, BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health, Email: [email protected], Phone: +880 2 48812213 18

Tahsin Madani Hossain

Assistant Coordinator, Master of Public Health, Programme, BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health, Email: [email protected], Phone: +880 2 48812213 18.