About these scholarships
The Forward Bound scholarship is available to Health Promotion MSc applicants from low or lower-middle income countries where similar postgraduate education opportunities are not available. It is intended to support health and other professionals who are employed or who volunteer in roles where they will be able to influence health promotion practice and policy on their return.
The scholarship will fund course fees, travel costs, accommodation, visa, subsistence and health insurance for 12 months – equivalent to a cost of £25,000.
There is one scholarship fund of £25,000 each year, however for 2022–23 only there are two scholarships. This is a highly competitive scholarship, by invitation by the Course Leader.
Invitation to apply for the scholarship is given to applicants as follows:
- Applicants who have a directly relevant degree (e.g. public health, nutrition, medicine, sport science, health sciences), relevant professional or voluntary experience, a strong personal statement and vision of how the Health Promotion MSc can enhance their future work for their country/community.
- Candidates with indirectly relevant degrees (e.g. psychology, social sciences, behavioural sciences) are also considered based on their professional or voluntary experience and strong personal statement as above.
- Candidates with non-relevant degrees (e.g. biosciences, business, lab technology) are only considered if they have extensive experience and a strong personal statement explaining their engagement in the health promotion and vision as above.
- Applicants who already hold a degree which is considered equivalent to a masters degree from the UK are unlikely to qualify for a Student Visa (Tier 4) study visa and are not normally invited to apply.
Please note that the Forward Bound Scholarship Award Committee's decision is final.
Who is eligible?
The Forward Bound scholarship is for applicants from low-income countries, and lower-middle income countries where similar postgraduate education opportunities in health promotion/public health are not available. (Currently, this excludes applicants from Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria).
To be eligible for the Forward Bound scholarship award, you need to have been offered a place on the Health Promotion MSc course and be living and/or working in a low income or low-middle income country as defined by the World Bank.
Applicants would normally be working in a professional capacity in health promotion or a public health role. In exceptional cases, applicants whose influence is through non-paid roles – for example, through voluntary agencies or through other health related work – may also be considered.
Please note that applicants who have previously had an opportunity to study in the UK (or other higher income country included in the terms and conditions) are not eligible to apply.
How to apply
Application is by invitation only. First you need to apply for a place on the Health Promotion MSc course using the application form, stating clearly in the Additional Information section of the form that you would like to be considered for the Forward Bound scholarship (see further details in About the scholarship). Eligible candidates will then be sent an application pack by email.
The scholarship panel meets in June. The closing date for scholarship applications is 31 May 2022 - this means that course applications need to be received before this date.