FAQs
Who should I choose as referees?
Please choose individuals who are able to comment professionally on your abilities and your aptitude for your course of study. If you are already engaged on your course of study, please choose at least one referee who can comment on your progress to date.
How much will the comments of my two referees influence the success or otherwise of my application?
Letters of recommendation from referees are of great importance for the GMCTF in assessing applications from individual applicants. Applicants should encourage their referees to read carefully the guidance here. Applications without letters from two referees will be ineligible for an award.
Does the GMCTF have a preference for graduates of any particular subject?
No. Graduates of all subjects are considered equally. Likewise, men and women, and nationals of Sudan/South Sudan are considered equally.
Does the GMCTF have a preference for which courses should be studied?
No. Grants may be awarded for diploma, masters or doctoral courses, or for short training courses of a few weeks or months duration. It is, however, important to the GMCTF that courses studied will enable applicants to contribute to the skills base of Sudan/South Sudan on their return. The GMCTF may give some preference to supporting subjects and areas of study of perceived value to Sudan/South Sudan.
Why does the GMCTF ask for a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3 out of 4.0 in an applicant's first degree?
High academic ability is essential for acceptance on most postgraduate courses. Therefore we have adopted it as one of our criteria.
Can I save my application form and return later?
Unfortunately not. Although you cannot save the form, it does not ‘expire’ after a certain period of inactivity. We advise you to draft your responses in Microsoft Word (or other software), and paste them into the application form when you have prepared all the application materials.
Why is it important to have a good English test result?
Because it is important for the GMCTF to know that your English is good enough for you to participate satisfactorily in your course of study. The preferred measure of English Language proficiency for most universities/institutions is the IELTS and the normal minimum requirement is a score of 6.5 including at least 6.0 on every element. The TOEFL can be accepted with a minimum score of 573 including a Test of Written English score of 4.5. The Internet-based TOEFL requirement is 89 with no component under 22.
Why do I not need to send my degree certificates?
As it is likely that you will be submitting these to your chosen university, therefore the GMCTF does not need to see them as well.
Why have I been unsuccessful in obtaining a grant from the GMCTF?
The application form, along with reports from referees, is the basis on which the GMCTF makes its decision on whether to award a grant or not. There could be various reasons as to why an application is unsuccessful. Please note that when applying for a grant, particular attention should be given to those sections of the application form dealing with the reasons as to why you have chosen to study a particular course, and to how you would be able, on completion of your course, and on return to Sudan/South Sudan, to contribute to the skills-base of Sudan/South Sudan. Please note that the GMCTF's decision on applications is final, and that correspondence cannot be entered into with unsuccessful applicants.
Do you provide emergency funding?
In general, our policy is not to provide emergency funding although we can provide small amounts on an exceptional basis. We are only likely to do so for students that we have previously supported.
Why can't the GMCTF help to support my family if they accompany me?
The funds available each year are limited, and so the GMCTF will not normally provide funds to support dependent family.
Can I apply for funding to cover all the costs of my post-graduate course?
Applicants should note that the GMCTF only awards grants for a year at a time, and generally makes modest grants towards costs, and never for all the costs of a course, unless for a short course. Thus an application for all the costs of a course (unless for a short training course of a few weeks or months) would be unlikely to be successful.
What proportion of applications from individuals receive financial support from the GMCTF?
There is strong competition for the limited funding available and generally about a quarter of such applications are successful.
Does the GMCTF have funds specifically to support female students?
Under the terms of the GMCTF approximately half the money available for distribution each year is directed towards female applicants.
Why can I only access the form for three months of the year?
Because grants are only allocated once a year, usually in April, for courses starting in the following autumn.
What sort of information about an applicant's financial position is helpful to the GMCTF in considering whether to make an award?
Information about whether an applicant can make any financial contribution towards their proposed course of study is helpful to the GMCTF in demonstrating the commitment of an applicant to his or her own future, and can therefore add support to an application. The GMCTF is happy to make a contribution towards course fees, living expenses, bench and equipment costs, or conference and travel costs. But it is the trustees' policy to favour those applicants who are already part-funded and who can demonstrate that they have taken an organised approach to their finances. It is helpful for your application if you are clear about the exact amount of funding required and what this is to pay for. It is also helpful if you set out what other funding is available to you, including your own resources, part time employment, scholarships, or other bursaries and grants.