Mexican government offers scholarships to Jamaican students
THE MEXICAN government is offering Jamaicans wishing to pursue academic studies at the master’s and doctoral levels scholarship opportunities to study in Mexico at any of its more than 90 institutions of higher learning in science and technology.
The government of Mexico is granting these opportunities through the 2017 Mexican Government Scholarships for International Students programme.
Applications are to be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade for validation and presented to the Mexican Embassy in Kingston on or before September 23. The embassy will announce the names of selected persons in late November.
Prerequisites for scholarship eligibility are that individuals must be nominated officially by his or her government, submit application forms, explain reasons for applying to study in Mexico, include curriculum vitae (maximum three pages) and an acceptance letter from the Mexican host institution (for researchers, acceptance letters should state that the candidate will receive mentoring needed for research projects).
Applicants must also include certified copies of diplomas and of the highest degree received, along with a transcript for last degree showing a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 8/10 or the equivalent to a 10-point scale.
Copies of applicants’ birth certificate, passport and a medical certificate, issued no more than three months prior to applying, should also be included in the package, with recent passportsize photos (original) on white background.
For research grant applicants, a copy of the academic document must show that the applicant has finished or is currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral programme. If the applicant’s native language is not Spanish, a certificate of an advanced level of proficiency in Spanish from a university or language centre is to be submitted.
Individuals selected will benefit from scholarships within the framework of the MexicoJamaica Cooperation Agreement on education and culture, as well as the cooperation initiatives offered by Mexico to the Caribbean Community member states and Association of Caribbean States.
Benefits include full coverage of tuition fees, round-trip transportation to and from Mexico, monthly stipends and medical insurance.
The entire application process will take place at the Mexican Embassy in Kingston.
Araceli Grave, head of cooperation at the Mexican Embassy in Jamaica, told The Gleaner that “Jamaican students who have travelled to Mexico have recognised the richness of the Mexican culture and the benefits that this experience had provided them. One of the main benefits for Jamaica is the acquisition of a solid level of Spanish. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reiterated his interest to boost the teaching of this language so that Jamaica can consolidate deeper exchanges with Latin America.”