Scholarships - Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC)

Call for Application for 400 Postgraduate Scholarships for Students from OSC Member States

The Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC) is pleased to announce the 2nd annual OSC-GCUB Scholarship, which once again provides up to 400 postgraduate scholarship benefits to students from eligible OSC Member and Founding States. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the International Cooperation Group of Brazilian Universities (GCUB), aligns with the OSC’s commitment to promoting international academic mobility and South-South cooperation as a means to break down barriers, build bridges between different cultures and communities through education, and give individuals the tools to become agents of change.

Overview

Timeline

Online application period: 5 June – 17 July 2025.

Results announcement: 31 October 2025.

Selected candidates begin postgraduate programmes: 2026, in accordance with the academic calendar of each host university.

Approximate duration of Master’s programmes: Up to 24 months, subject to the rules of each host university.

Approximate duration of Doctoral programmes: Up to 48 months, subject to the rules of each host university.

Eligibility

Citizens from eligible OSC Founding and Member States listed below:

- Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of
- Cambodia, Kingdom of
- Comoros, Union of
- Congo, Republic of
- Djibouti, Republic of
- Eswatini, Kingdom of
- Ethiopia, Federal Democratic Republic of
- The Gambia, Republic of
- Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of
- Nicaragua, Republic of
- Nigeria, Federal Republic of
- Palau, Republic of
- Palestine, State of
- Togolese Republic
- Yemen, Republic of
- Zimbabwe, Republic of

Individuals interested in pursuing a Master's or Doctoral degree in a Brazilian university linked to GCUB.

Applicants must be in good physical and mental health.

Individuals from any country that has diplomatic relations with Brazil.

Brazilian citizens are not eligible.

Please note: Citizens of the Republic of Sudan may also become eligible for the OSC-GCUB Scholarship, subject to the written notification of the OSC to GCUB after 4th July 2025.

Benefits

The selected candidates will be exempted from paying enrollment fees, tuition, or academic fees at the host university, related to the study program for which they were selected. Additionally, the universities will fund monthly scholarships (stipends) and provide access to classes, classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other university services.

Subject to the availability of funds, the OSC will provide selected candidates from eligible OSC Founding and Member States a one-time allowance of USD $750, disbursed in Brazilian currency after arrival in Brazil, to reimburse expenses such as airfare, visa processing, international medical insurance, and other personal expenses not covered by GCUB’s associated universities. Should additional funds become available at the time of disbursement, the allowance may be increased accordingly.

Application Elements

National ID.
Application submitted in Portuguese, English, Spanish, or French.
Diploma or certificate of completion from previous degree programme.
Curriculum Vitae.
Two essays for each chosen course:

Essay stating academic expectations and interests, and career plans to return to the country of origin (max 1000 words).
Essay stating the applicant’s proposed central theme and research problem to pursue during the Master’s or Doctoral programme (max 4000 words).
Note: While Essay #2 serves as an evaluation instrument, proposed research plans may be modified after enrollment in the programme, depending on alignment and feasibility.

Application Process

1

Submit an online application with the required documents by 17 July 2025.

2

Applications will be screened for completeness (Phase 1).

3

Shortlisted applications will be sent to chosen universities for evaluation of merit and admissibility (Phase 2).

4

Final selection will be based on a point system (Phase 3).

5

Selected candidates will be notified by 31 October 2025.

Responsibilities of Selected Candidates

Sign a scholarship acceptance contract.
Obtain a valid student visa.
Purchase international medical insurance.
Follow Brazilian immigration regulations, academic standards, and internal university regulations.
Demonstrate intermediate proficiency in Portuguese before defending their thesis or dissertation.
Return to the country of origin after completing their studies.

Additional Information

Partner institutions provide support for the programme but hold no liability.

Contact

For questions, contact the OSC Secretariat at [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions on the GCUB-Mob Scholarship Programme

What is the GCUB International Mobility Programme (GCUB-Mob)?
- The GCUB-Mob is a scholarship programme that fosters international collaboration for postgraduate programmes in Brazil. Up to 400 selected candidates from eligible OSC Member States will receive an additional one-time allowance of USD 750 from the OSC, subject to the availability of funds.

Where to find information about the GCUB-Mob?

- The call for application and registration can be found at the following link https://www.gcub.org.br/programas/ativos/fourth-edition-of-the-gcub-international-mobility-program-gcub-mob-gcub-mob-call-for-applications-no-001-2025/ (available in multiple languages: English, French, Spanish and Portuguese)
Who is eligible for the GCUB-Mob?
- The GCUB-Mob programme is open to international students from countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Brazil.
When can I apply for scholarships?
- Online registration for the GCUB-Mob programme is open from 5 June to 17 July 2025.
I am interested in a specific scholarship programme, can you tell me more about it?
- If you are interested in a specific programme, we recommend reviewing the program details and eligibility requirements on the programme website https://www.gcub.org.br/programas/ativos/fourth-edition-of-the-gcub-international-mobility-program-gcub-mob-gcub-mob-call-for-applications-no-001-2025/

The programmes are in portuguese only, can you send the English version?

- We understand you are looking for an English version of the “Table of Masters and Doctorate of Brazilian Universities” document found at the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wujQDquvUTNI35HNM_Fv1QnNeuma7R4u/view
- Unfortunately, this specific document is currently only available in Portuguese. However, we encourage you to visit the websites of the Brazilian universities listed in the document. Most universities have English versions of their websites where you can review their postgraduate programmes in detail.

Can you assist with technical questions?

- Regarding technical questions, we recommend reaching out directly to our partner organisation, GCUB. Their technical support team is best equipped to address these inquiries in detail. You can contact GCUB at the following email address: [email protected]