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'Science Without Borders'

Background

The Brazilian Government has decided to support a programme of scholarships to promote the consolidation and expansion of science, technology and innovation in Brazil 'through international exchange and mobility'.  The programme is called 'Science without Borders' and the University of St Andrews is delighted to participate in it.

Around 75,000 science and technology scholarships will be made available across the world to support tuition fees, travel and living costs. 10,000 of these scholarships are earmarked for UK Universities. These scholarships are mainly targeted at Undergraduate (1 year), and Doctoral students. The majority of doctoral students will be coming to the UK for 12 months. A smaller number of doctoral students will be sponsored for the full 3 years of a PhD. Collaborative Senior Fellowships will also be targeted. The one-year study at both UG and PhD level will include a 3-month industrial placement or research project.

The main goals of the Brazilian Scientific Mobility Programme are to:

  • Create a collaborative association encompassing the training of Brazilian students and scientists abroad, with reciprocal opening of opportunities at institutions in Brazil. 'Sandwich' year abroad at both UG and PG (PhD only, not Masters) is the main focus for the Brazilian research councils (CAPES for UG and CNPq for PG). Co-tutelle PhDs will be included in the Sandwich year abroad PG call for applications.
  • Create a collaborative Scientific Fellowship Programme for allowing scientists from abroad to join a Brazilian group of excellence (e.g. Brazilian National Institutes for Science and Technology – INCTs) or Brazilian Senior Scientists to stay at foreign institutions within the context of a scientific project.

The UK has been identified as a key partner country (along with the USA). The University of St Andrews has been identified as one of the UK universities suitable to participate in this scheme, based on World Rankings, the National Student Survey and the RAE 2008 Times Higher Education Table of Excellence. St Andrews has a strong research culture and welcomes the very best students and staff from across the world.

Undergraduate programme

The following subject areas will be available for study at St Andrews:

You can find out more about the various modules available in these subjects in our course catalogue.

Study abroad students can take a mix of first and second year courses (sub-honours) with third and fourth year courses (Honours) to a total of 120 credits per year (60 credits per semester). 

Classes cannot be taken within our School of Medicine.

Funding

The University of St Andrews has made available up to five undergraduate scholarships per academic year.  These Scholarships, combined with the Brazilian government scholarship of £15,000 per student, will cover the student’s entire programme fee and accommodation costs for the year.

How to apply

You must apply to the University of St Andrews through the UCAS (Universities & Colleges Admissions Service) application service.  You can apply to three UK universities using this application method.

Please check the Universities UK International Unit's webpages for further information about application procedures and deadlines.

 

Postgraduate programmes

There are two types of postgraduate programmes available to you at St Andrews:

Sandwich PhDs: 1 year in St Andrews; 2 years in Brazil

  • Students will be co-supervised throughout their PhD by supervisor(s) at St Andrews and a Brazilian university (see details of available projects below).
  • On successful completion, students will graduate with a joint PhD from both St Andrews and their respective Brazilian university.

Full Time PhDs: 3 years in St Andrews

  • On successful completion, students will graduate with a PhD from St Andrews University.

Availabilty of PhD projects

Sandwich and Full Time PhD projects are available in the following priority areas (please click on the link to take you to the details of available PhD projects):

  1. Pure and Earth Sciences – Physics, Chemistry, Geosciences
  2. Biology, Biomedical and Health
  3. Computer Science and Information Technology
  4. Pharmacy
  5. Oil, Gas and Coal Technology
  6. Renewable Energy
  7. Biotechnology
  8. Nanotechnology and New Materials
  9. Biodiversity and Bioprospecting
  10. Marine Science
  11. Creative Industry

Funding

The University of St Andrews has SWB Scholarships which, combined with the Brazilian government scholarship of £15,000 per student, will cover the student’s entire tuition fee for the year.  Science Without Borders PGR students will also receive £7,500 from the University of St Andrews which should be used towards accommodation and living costs for their 12-month stay or, in the case of Full Time PhD students, £7,500 per annum.

How to apply

  • If you are intending to apply for a Sandwich PhD (Co-tutelle), please contact the PhD supervisors in St Andrews and Brazil to find out more about the proposed project.
  • If you are intending to apply for a Full Time PhD, please contact the St Andrews supervisor for more information about the proposed project.


Once you have had discussions with supervisers and you wish to formally apply to St Andrews, you should do so through the Universities UK International Unit. Please go to UUK International Unit website for the latest information for how to apply.

Successful applicants to the International Unit will also need to make a formal application to the University of St Andrews.

Accommodation

'Science without Borders' students who have been successful in their application to St Andrews will be placed in University accommodation.  Once you have been accepted, we will contact you with details of your Residence placement.

Support for students

The University of St Andrews takes its duty of care to students very seriously, and our visiting students are treated in exactly the same way as our degree-seeking students with access to help and support across the university, together with opportunities to take part in the many social and sporting activities.

About St Andrews

The University of St Andrews is one of the UK's top universities, celebrating 600 years of academic excellence in 2013. The University is located in the mediaeval coastal town of St Andrews, on the east coast of Scotland, some 50 miles north of Edinburgh. Steeped in history and set in a stunning location, we offer an unrivalled student experience in our close-knit community of 8,000 students. The town of St Andrews (population c. 20,000) is our campus and offers quaint shops, cafes, bars, museums and art galleries and award-winning beaches.  Student life in St Andrews is lively with many student societies and activities, sports clubs and ancient traditions and with 33% of our students arriving from outside of the UK and EU, it is a very welcoming and cosmopolitan community.

Science Without Borders