The Scholarship is designed to facilitate the formation of a young Tunisian professional in a key area, namely humanitarian action. Malta is an ideal location for the realization of this goal, not only because of the relevant expertise it offers, but also because of the strong historic and cultural ties it enjoys with Tunisia.

Objective

Why sponsor a student in Humanitarian Action?

Tunisia has been undertaking its transformation from authoritarian to democratic rule under challenging circumstances. One of the many challenges it has been facing is the instability and civil strife across its border in Libya, which has led to successive influxes of refugees. As a result, Tunisia – which is still facing serious economic challenges – reportedly today hosts upwards of 1 million Libyans – a tenth of the Tunisian population.

This situation led the Government of Malta to launch a scholarship for Tunisian nationals in 2015, making this year’s scholarship the third of its kind. The aim is both to ensure that Tunisians have the capacity and professional knowledge to take the lead in shaping humanitarian policy and practice in the country and the wider region in coming years, and to create a network of professional Tunisian humanitarians with strong links to Malta.

Humanitarian action today emphasizes local ownership, participation and bottom-up approaches. Thus, it is only logical from this perspective to develop Tunisian expertise on an issue which, unfortunately, is set to continue to be prominent in the foreseeable future.

The Master of Arts in Humanitarian Action of the University of Malta combines theory and practice in such a way as to enable the students to work on a range of issues related to humanitarian action, from humanitarian law and diplomacy, via forced migration to management in humanitarian action, all issues of particular interest in the Tunisian context.

The course

Master of Arts in Humanitarian Action

The Master’s programme approaches humanitarian and development action from both a practical and an analytical perspective. Students develop the necessary knowledge and skills to critically analyse humanitarian action, and work effectively in the humanitarian and development field. The programme is taught by a combination of in-house experts and experienced guest lecturers. Candidates for the M.A. in Humanitarian Action will gain a comprehensive understanding of:

-          The variety of humanitarian and more long-term responses to crises across the globe

-          How such responses are shaped and what consequences they have

-          The institutional and legal framework for humanitarian action

-          Medical and public health aspects of humanitarian action

-          Management and humanitarian action

-          Anthropology and humanitarian action

-          Applied ethics in humanitarian action

-          Human security, forced migration and humanitarian action

-          Migration and migration control

-          Applied refugee law

-          Applied research methods in humanitarian action

The M.A. also offers the possibility of placements for those students who wish to expand their hands-on experience of what working in the humanitarian and development fields entails.

The programme is intended for individuals working in, or aspiring to work in, humanitarian agencies, multilateral aid institutions, NGOs and private foundations, government agencies, large corporations with in-house development/outreach work, and think tanks and research centres.

The M.A. enables students to develop a range of skills, including:

-          The ability to analyse critically humanitarian and development action, how it is framed, structured, and delivered

-          The ability to plan, programme, implement, and evaluate effectively humanitarian and/or development interventions

-          The ability to navigate among the numerous players involved in humanitarian and development assistance

-          Confident oral presentation skills on the topics covered

-          Analytical writing in the area of humanitarian and development cooperation

The ideal applicant should have a serious and manifest commitment to humanitarianism, with some prior experience in the humanitarian and/or development sector and a strong motivation to pursue postgraduate studies. The applicant should have intercultural communication skills.  Knowledge of languages beyond English and Arabic is an asset.

Entry Requirements

Admission Requirements

1) A recognised degree as deemed relevant by the Faculty Board of Arts.

Given the multidisciplinary character of humanitarian work, students are expected to hold a first degree obtained with second class or equivalent, in any subject considered to be relevant by the Admissions Committee.

2) English Language Proficiency.

Applicants who have not studied in Malta are required to present an internationally recognised English Language Proficiency Certificate at the required level.  Further information about English Language Requirements is available at:

http://www.um.edu.mt/international/international/english_language_requirements

3) Further details.

For further details, see Bye-Laws for Degree of Master of Arts available at http://www.um.edu.mt/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/95147/MA-Arts-BL-2009.pdf

 and the Course Overview and Programme available at:

http://www.um.edu.mt/arts/overview/PMAHMAFET12-2017-8-O

The Scholarship

One scholarship will be awarded and this will cover:  

-          Payment of the University of Malta Tuition Fee.

-          A premium for a Health Insurance to cover medical expenses up to a maximum of EUR 500 per year. Students will be guided on this and other arrangements upon arrival. Reimbursement for the obligatory Health Test to be carried out in Malta as required for the processing of the Residence Permit. (Information about the health test that will be carried out upon arrival in Malta is available at: http://www.um.edu.mt/international/international/healthtests

-          A monthly subsistence allowance amounting to EUR 1000 per month to be used towards accommodation, living, transport and academic expenses and any other expenses that may arise.   

-          One return direct journey (Tunisia – Malta - Tunisia), the cost of which is capped at EUR 400.  Any additional trips or travel costs higher than this amount will have to be covered by the student.

The scholarship holder will be requested to attend the Orientation Programme that is organised for all new international students joining the University of Malta. This will be held on the 27^th September 2017.

Instructions to Applicants and Conditions of Selection

-          Applicants are to submit their application online and provide copies of their academic qualifications and all other requested documentation to the University of Malta by the 14^th July 2017.  Information is available at: http://www.um.edu.mt/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/232200/octoberadmissioninfo.pdf

-          Applicants who wish to be considered for the scholarship are required to present a letter of motivation and three letters of reference. These are to be submitted as signed and scanned copies to the Attention of the Director, International Office by email at: [email protected].  The covering message is to include reference to the application code generated by the online application and should also be submitted by the 14^th July 2017. Documents that are submitted after the deadline cannot be considered.

-          Applicants who intend to apply for the scholarship must meet the entry requirements set out by the University of Malta and the conditions for joining the specific programme indicated above at the time of application. Applicants who can only be considered on a conditional basis (i.e. are not in a position to provide proof of attainment of the academic qualifications required to join the programme) at the time of application cannot be considered for the scholarship. This also refers to the requirement to present an internationally recognized English Language proficiency Certificate at the required level.

-          Applicants may be required to attend an online interview.

-          Applicants for other courses cannot be considered for this scholarship.

-          Applicants should be Tunisian Nationals, are currently residing in Tunisia and show a clear intention to return to Tunisia at the end of their studies in Malta.

-          Candidates employed in public office in Tunisia, or working actively with NGOs in Tunisia, will be preferred.

-          Preference will be given to candidates who would be unable to attend the programme without the scholarship. 

-          The scholarship holder will be requested to enter into an agreement with the University of Malta for the duration of his studies in Malta, which agreement will be binding in terms of the observation of rules and regulations of the host University and host country, to seriously engage in studies, register monthly progress with his academic tutor/coordinator and complete the set programme within the established time-frame.

Further information is available from:

The International Office, University of Malta –[email protected]

Master of Arts in Humanitarian Action, Department of International Relations, Faculty of Arts, University of Malta – Mr Joseph M. Debono ([email protected])​