Founded on 27 November 1966, SEARCA is mandated to strengthen institutional capacities in agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia through graduate education, short-term training, research, and knowledge exchange. It serves the 11 SEAMEO member countries, namely: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and most recently Timor-Leste.

SEARCA is hosted by the Government of the Philippines on the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños in Los Banos, Laguna.

Eligibility
Southeast Asian citizens, not more than 35 years old, who will pursue MS or PhD in agriculture and related fields and conduct thesis/dissertation on topics in line with promotion of agricultural competitiveness, sustainable land use and water management, and biodiversity conservation by addressing economic and institutional constraints, expanding access to productive resources and technology, and strengthening local governance capability to deliver agricultural services.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Any interested national of a SEAMEO member country may apply for scholarship. Applications may be submitted to any one of the following Ministries of his/her own country:

• Ministy of Education,
• Ministry of Agriculture,
• Ministry of Forestry,
• Ministry of Fisheries, and
• Ministry of Rural Development

Application forms and information brochures on the universities that may serve as study posts of SEARCA scholars are available at these Ministries.
Each applicant is required to submit the following documents:

• SEARCA Scholarship Application Form (2 copies);
• Application forms for admission to the Graduate School of the universities where the applicant may pursue graduate studies under SEARCA scholarship;
• Official transcript of academic records of each degree completed (BS transcript for MS applicants and BS and MS transcripts for PhD applicants);
• Certification of employment;
• A two-page write-up on agricultural competitiveness or natural resource management;
• A brief description of the research that the applicant plans to conduct for thesis/dissertation. The research topic must be in line with the priority thrusts of SEARCA. (The SEARCA Five-Year Plan may be viewed at http://web.searca.org/elib_list.asp?Category=reports.)
• Two copies of passport-size pictures of the applicant;
• Certification from a medical doctor that the applicant is in good physical and mental health condition and is fit to undertake graduate studies;
• English proficiency test or TOEFL (score of 500) or IELTS results (5.0). (Note: This is not required of Filipino applicants.); and
• Official endorsement from the employer.

All applicants are required to check from their Ministries of Education for the deadline of applicants’ submission set by the Ministry. (View Recruitment and Interview Calendar here)

Deadline for the Ministries to send endorsements to SEARCA is every 30 July.

For inquiries, please email: gsd@agri.searca.org

Deadline: July 30, 2007

Contact:
Graduate Scholarship Department
SEARCA, Los Baños, Laguna
Philippines
Email: gsd@agri.searca.org
more info click here

• [USA] National University of Singapore (NUS)-Stanford Southeast Asia Fellowships
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• [Japan] Fellowships for Visiting Scholars at The Center for Southeast Asian Studies Kyoto University
• [USA] Doctoral Assistantships in Planning and Climate Change, Georgia Institute of Technology
• [USA] East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowships Program