Bachelor's, Master's or PhDs at international universities outside of Myanmar

In-person University Scholarships

What is a Prospect Burma In-person Scholarship

A Prospect Burma scholarship is financial support for a person from Myanmar to study towards a degree level course or higher.

It can be used towards costs such as tuition fees, academic materials, living costs (including food and accommodation) and return travel to and from the place of study.

Our typical support covers the following periods of study. We expect candidates to complete their study within this period of time. We do not guarantee that we will support you for the entire duration of your study. Candidates are required to apply every year and demonstrate that you are meeting the minimum requirements for us to continue your scholarship award. See [In-person scholarships – Continuing students](/students/in-person-scholarships#for-continuing-students)

A scholarship will provide financial support for a period of:

4 years for a bachelor's
up to 2 years for a master's degree
up to 3 years for a PhD

For information on:

How to prepare for an in-person scholarship – see [Preparation](/students/in-person-scholarships#preparation-tips)
Timing, scholarship conditions, scholarship support package, where you can study – see the [Guidance notes](/students/in-person-scholarships#before-you-apply)
Candidate eligibility – see [Eligibility](/students/in-person-scholarships#eligibility-criteria)
Prospect Burma university partners who provide full tuition waivers – see [Partner universities and covered programmes](/students/in-person-scholarships#partner-universities)
Application form and application process – see [Application process](/students/in-person-scholarships#application-form)
Process for successful candidates – see [Successful candidates](/students/in-person-scholarships#if-you-are-successful)
Process for continuing students – see [Continuing students](/students/in-person-scholarships#for-continuing-students)

If you prefer to review this information via video, we also have a [video presentation with visuals in English and narrative in Burmese language](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJr9D9I9Qko&t=581s).

Eligibility Criteria

Prospect Burma scholarships are open to all Myanmar students facing economic hardship. To qualify, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Be originally from Myanmar.
Demonstrate financial need.
Able to present a valid passport at the time of the interview in May. The passport needs to be current for your date of travel and six months beyond.
Have at least an intermediate level of English language proficiency.
Have applied to and been accepted into a university programme (Bachelor's degree, Master's degree or PhD)
English language requirements – see the [guidance notes](/students/in-person-scholarships#before-you-apply)
Have a clear career direction and demonstrate how your education will benefit Myanmar.

Application Form

If you have read all of the guidance notes and are now ready to begin the application, the electronic application form is available between 1 December and 31 January of the scholarship application period.

Please refer to the notes below on how to use the electronic form.

Filling in Your Application Form

The application form must be completed in English.
On the first page, click the 'Start New Application' button and fill in your personal details in section 1, including your email address. When you press 'Next' at the end of section 1, you will be sent an email which will give you an application number (beginning with APP-) and a link to your online application form.
Each time you finish a section of the application form and press 'Next', that page and previous pages will save automatically. You can leave the portal at any time – just use the Online Application Link in the email sent to you to re-enter and continue where you left off.

Application Sections

Sections 1 to 5 are self-explanatory. For the rest of the sections, the following information may help you:

Section 6 – Financial Information: This section will ask you to calculate your expected costs for your year's study, and other ways you have sought to meet or reduce these costs. Use this section to show us how you are already taking steps to fund your study. This could include securing other partial scholarships, personal savings, a student loan, part-time employment, or choosing courses which offer full or partial tuition fee waivers.
Section 7 – About You: This section will ask you to write two short essays about yourself. Read the guidance in the section carefully. You must address all the points mentioned in the guidance in order to be considered for shortlist and interview. You must write the essays yourself – any essays found to be using generative AI, such as ChatGPT, will be flagged and disqualified. If you have applied in a previous year, do not use the essays you wrote before, you must write new ones.

Submitting Your Application

Once you have completed Section 7, the final page will invite you to press 'Next'. At this stage, if you press 'Next', your application will be submitted and you cannot make any further edits.

If you do not want to submit your application yet, just press 'previous' or leave the page, and use the Online Application Link sent to you via email to enter the portal at a later time. You can submit your application any time up until 31 January of the scholarship year.

Before you submit your application, make sure that all sections of the form are completed, and your essays are clear and well written in English.

When you sign and submit your application, you will be certifying that the information you have provided is true to the best of your knowledge. Supplying false information could result in a scholarship award to be cancelled and repaid back to Prospect Burma.

After you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email which will have a copy your application attached as a PDF for your reference and will ask you to submit supporting paperwork to complete the application.

Additional Documents

Here is a checklist of the documents which we require:

Education certificates/transcripts: Include official documents for all previously completed studies.
Academic/professional references: Two references are required, either from academic sources (professors, lecturers) or professional ones (supervisors, colleagues).
Additional awards/grant letters: If applicable, include copies of any awards or grant letters you have received.
ID (Passport/Travel Document): A copy of the personal details page with your photo, name, and other identification details.
University admission letter or application evidence: If you've already been accepted into a university, include the admission letter. If you haven't, provide proof of application.
English proficiency score (if applicable): Include your official English language test scores (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL) if required for the application.
Letter of Statement (if applicable): If you are not able to provide certain documents, attach a 'letter of statement' in your application explaining why you cannot provide them.

After You Have Submitted Your Application

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview in May. You will be notified if you are selected.

Please note that enquiries regarding the status of your application will not be answered, as we can only contact those candidates who have been successfully shortlisted. If you do not hear from us by the end of June, it means that your application has not been successful. Additionally, we will be posting updates regarding the scholarship outcomes on Prospect Burma's official Facebook page.

Before You Apply

Please read all the guidance notes on this page before applying for a Prospect Burma In-person Scholarship.

Timing

Scholarship applications open on 1 December and close on 31 January each year. Announcements regarding the application process will be made on Prospect Burma's Facebook page and website.

To ensure fairness, all applications must be submitted using the designated application form. Applications received after 31 January or submitted outside of the official application form will not be accepted.

Scholarship Conditions

The scholarship is awarded for a period of one year, and students are required to reapply each year, ensuring that they meet the minimum criteria for renewal. This includes maintaining a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.00 or above, completing mandatory surveys, and submitting required reports.

In the event that recipients misuse the funds, drop out of their studies, or fail to comply with the conditions set forth by Prospect Burma, the organisation reserves the right to reclaim the funds that have been awarded.

Failure to meet the conditions of the scholarship could also result in the termination of the scholarship, and the recipient may be blacklisted, preventing them from applying for future scholarships through Prospect Burma.

Changing academic programmes is strictly prohibited, unless there are exceptional circumstances that warrant an exception, which must be discussed and approved by Prospect Burma in advance.

Maximum Duration

The maximum duration of the scholarship is as follows (please note that continuing students need to apply each year for a continuation of their support):

Undergraduate degree: 5 years
Master's degree: 3 years
PhD: 3 years

Other Funding and Restrictions

Students are permitted to apply for other scholarships simultaneously, however they must fully disclose such applications to Prospect Burma to maintain transparency and ensure compliance with the scholarship's policies.

We positively encourage you to explore other funding opportunities at the same time including other 'partial' scholarships, so that Prospect Burma would provide just part of your funding. However, if you have received a 'full scholarship' from elsewhere, you will be identified as fully funded already and we will disregard your application. You must insert all details of your other funding in your application form.

A scholarship cannot be used to support other family members, additional travel during study, or additional trips (e.g. seminars, conferences, field trips) which do not contribute to degree credit.

Scholarships can be used to cover health insurance, but not separate medical, dental or other health-related costs. You must purchase adequate health insurance or have other arrangements in place to cover these costs.

Payment and Decisions

Scholarship awards are paid directly to your bank account in most circumstances. However, where we have an agreement in place with your university, the tuition fee portion of the award can be paid directly to the university.

Decisions on awards are made by the Prospect Burma Scholarship Committee and are final. Anyone submitting false documents, making untrue statements or failing to disclose all relevant information will not receive a grant either this year, or in the future.

Scholarship Support Package

Prospect Burma offers a comprehensive scholarship support package, determined by the applicant's financial need and study conditions, which includes:

Tuition support for eligible courses
Allowances to cover living expense, and study materials
Students are paired with a dedicated senior scholarship recipient who provides guidance throughout their studies
For postgraduate students, a research allowance may be provided if the programme requires it. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Please note, the scholarship does not cover expenses beyond those listed above.

Partner Universities

Here is the list of Prospect Burma's partner universities which provide tuition fee waivers:

Thailand

Asia-Pacific International University: 25% tuition fee waiver for all international programmes
Chiang Mai University: 50% tuition fee waiver for programmes under the School of Public Policy, graduate programme
Mae Fah Luang University: 50% tuition fee waiver in any subject
Mahidol University: 50% tuition fee waiver for programmes under the Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies
National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) through the Gentian Fund: 100% tuition fee waivers for Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Master of Public Policy Administration (MPPA)
Khon Kaen University: 50% tuition fee waiver
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT): 75% tuition fee waiver for MSc/MPA programmes
Thammasat University: 50% tuition fee waiver for programmes under the Faculty of Public Health

Canada

Wilfrid Laurier University: 100% tuition fee waiver. This is for any bachelor's degree programme in any subject offered at the Waterloo campus, although exceptional applications for postgraduate courses may be considered. The selection process is carried out a year ahead of the academic intake to ensure adequate time for visa and logistical processes. Please note that the application process and timeline differ slightly.

Preparation Tips

Here are some tips to help you prepare before you apply for an in-person scholarship:

Collate proof of your academic achievements, from your schools and places of study
Search for post-high school courses to add to your academic record – this is especially important if you are unable to retrieve proof of your academic record from your school or place of study
Collate academic references from teachers or employers
Learn English – most international universities require some form of qualification – but also practice written and verbal English (if you are reading this, you are doing great already!)
Boost your extra-curricular activities – this might include volunteering in a field relevant to your intended study

Planning Your Application

When applying to a university, or to a scholarship provider such as Prospect Burma, you will be expected to outline why you have applied for a particular course, and how it will help you contribute to Myanmar's development.

It is never too early to think about what you want to achieve in life. What problems do you want to solve? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What do you enjoy? What gives you fulfilment?

Think about these questions first. Then, you can research how you might achieve your ambitions. You may not need to go to university at all. If your career plan does require a degree, research which courses will give you relevant knowledge and skills to help you find the right career path.

Only then should you consider applying to university. If you have good ambitions, and a good plan as to how your study will realise those ambitions, your application will be stronger and more likely to succeed.

Choosing the Right University and In-person Programme

Once you have identified your area of study, take the following steps to ensure you make an informed decision:

Research the university and course: Ensure the institution is accredited and internationally recognised. Look into the programme's reputation, faculty expertise, and alignment with your academic and career goals.
Understand the learning format: In-person programmes typically include scheduled lectures, seminars, and collaborative group work conducted on campus. Before applying, confirm the academic timetable, attendance requirements, and any blended components—such as occasional online sessions, field trips, or exchange programmes. It's important to contact the university directly to clarify the curriculum, available student support services, and campus facilities.
Assess your study environment: Consider your ability to relocate or commute to campus. Make sure you have access to safe and affordable housing, reliable transportation, and a study environment that supports your learning.
Evaluate costs and funding options: Research tuition fees, exam costs, research expenses, and other potential expenditure. Having this information early allows you to explore funding options such as part-time employment, savings, loans, and multiple scholarship applications. It is important to note that Prospect Burma's in-person scholarship can help alleviate some of your financial burdens, but may not cover all of your financial needs.

For Continuing Students

These are the guidance notes for CONTINUING students who are already receiving support from Prospect Burma. For guidance notes for NEW applicants, please see the main application guidance.

Important Information

Prospect Burma In-person Scholarships are typically awarded for one year from the date of your grant letter.
Continued support is only available for returning students who have received a Prospect Burma in-person scholarship for the previous academic year and are continuing in the same degree programme. It is not available for a new subject or a higher level of study.
It is not guaranteed that we will support you for your remaining years of your in-person study.
All in-person scholarship students who wish to receive continued funding need to apply at least two months in advance before your current scholarship ends.
To apply for continuing support, please contact your Prospect Burma Scholarship Officer who will send you an online application form via email.

Required Forms

Continuing students will be required to complete two forms:

Application for Continuing Funding Form
Continuing Students Progress Report Form

After receiving the online application link, please check it promptly to ensure there are no errors and that the application is functioning properly.

Submit your application as soon as possible. Last-minute submissions may result in delays in the decision-making process.

Application Requirements

As part of the continuing application process, you will be required to:

Complete the Progress Report detailing your academic and personal experiences over the past year.
Submit financial information, indicating the expenses you require for the upcoming academic year.
Provide an academic reference from your current university tutor.
Submit your academic transcripts. To be eligible, you must maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.0 or equivalent, if your university uses a different grading system. If your final grade is not available, please let us know and submit the last grade(s) that you have received.

Without this information, your application is likely to be rejected.

If you are successful in your application for continued funding you will be asked to sign and return another grant letter. You will need to provide a receipt and copy of your bank statement once you have received your grant.

If You Are Successful

If you are successful in your application for an in-person scholarship, you will be notified via email and must fulfil the following obligations:

Sign a Grant Letter and return it within the agreed timeframe.
Attend an Orientation Session online to learn about the programme and meet fellow scholars.
Submit an Annual Report at the end of your academic year, detailing your progress.
Participate in surveys and assessments.
Provide Academic Documents, including copies of certificates and transcripts upon graduation.
Comply with Scholarship Conditions as outlined in the grant letter and Student Handbook.
Respond to any Additional Requests for information as required by Prospect Burma.

If a scholarship recipient fails to fulfil the above obligations, they may be liable to repay the scholarship and will not be eligible for future awards.

Decisions on awards are made by Prospect Burma's Scholarship Committee and are final. Anyone submitting false documents, making untrue statements or failing to disclose all relevant information will NOT receive a grant.

Scholars' Orientation Session

If you are selected as a successful Prospect Burma scholar, you will be required to attend an in-person scholars' orientation session. We hold these sessions twice a year so that there will be one which is most appropriately timed for you. During the session, we will cover the following topics:

About Prospect Burma
Your obligations as a scholar
Who supports you?
Networking with fellow scholars and senior students
Information and experience sharing
Q&As

Grant Letter

We will issue an official grant letter to you after you win the award, which you'll receive by email. Once you have received this, you are required to sign and return it back to Prospect Burma by email to scholarships@prospectburma.org, within an agreed time period.

Introduction to Your Fellow Scholars

We will introduce you to fellow scholars studying the same programme and/or attending the same university. For example, if you are studying Education Administration, we will connect you with a current Prospect Burma in-person scholar in a similar field.

Communications with Prospect Burma

If you have any problems, concerns or queries during your studies, the Prospect Burma team are here to help you. We can be contacted via email, Signal and Zoom. You will be notified at the start of your scholarship which member of the team you can contact.

Becoming an Alum

You will join a vibrant network of [Prospect Burma alumni](/students/alumni). Once you graduate, you will be invited to register in the Prospect Burma alumni database.

Where can you study?

The scholarship can be used to support your study at any university or college outside of Myanmar, from which you already have a letter of acceptance or have applied for admission. We particularly welcome applications to study at universities which offer reduced tuition fees for certain courses. See the list of [universities and courses offering full or partial fee waivers for Prospect Burma scholars here](/students/in-person-scholarships#partner-universities).

What can you study?

A Prospect Burma scholarship can be used to support your study of any bachelor's degree, master's degree, PhD or equivalents. However, you must demonstrate to us how the qualification will help you benefit people in Myanmar.

We do not choose or select a university or course for you and will not offer advice. We will, however, provide guidance in our information sessions to help you in this process. Applicants must clearly demonstrate how their chosen field of study will contribute to Myanmar's development and social progress.

We prefer that you have already applied to and been accepted at your chosen university and provide evidence for this in the scholarship application process. If you have not yet been able to gain admittance, please explain this in your scholarship application. See the [application form requirements](/students/in-person-scholarships#application-form) for more details.

What else should you consider when choosing an in-person university programme?

University credibility: Verify the legitimacy of your chosen university.
Programme details: Admission requirements, application date, fees, study duration.
English requirements: Check the university's language requirements and ensure you meet them.
Tuition fee waivers: In addition to our partner universities, some universities offer reduced fees for Myanmar students – contact the university to confirm.
Scholarship opportunities: Some universities partner with non-profits, offering more affordable tuition.
Study Commitment: Be realistic about how much effort you can consistently dedicate to your studies.

Studying at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Prospect Burma has an agreement with Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) in Canada, and their International Students' Overcoming War (ISOW) programme. Together, we help students from Myanmar take an exciting and rewarding educational journey in a different culture, on a different continent.

Who is eligible, and what can I study?

The same [Prospect Burma eligibility criteria](/students/in-person-scholarships#eligibility-criteria) apply to scholarships at WLU as for any other Prospect Burma scholarships.

When can I study?

Applications are submitted one year ahead of the intended start date; the successful applicant will therefore begin their studies the following year.

What is the application process?

You can see which programmes they offer at [WLU programs](https://wlu.ca/programs/?filter=undergraduate). Click on the program you are interested in for more information. The scholarship providers for Myanmar students are [International Student Overcoming War (ISOW)](https://www.isow.ca/) in partnership with Prospect Burma.

Use the [same form](/students/in-person-scholarships#application-form) as for all scholarships
Wilfrid Laurier course application: 31 May
WLU programs/courses: https://wlu.ca/programs/?filter=undergraduate
International Students Overcoming War (ISOW): https://www.isow.ca/

Filling in your Prospect Burma application

[Browse their programs/courses here](https://wlu.ca/programs/?filter=undergraduate) (select 'Waterloo' in the location dropdown menu).

In Section 3, you will need to enter the course you are interested in, even though you have not applied to WLU yet. Only courses at WLU Waterloo campus are eligible. Browse their programs/courses here (select 'Waterloo' in the location dropdown menu). Usually we will only support undergraduate courses, but we will consider exceptional applications for post-graduate courses.
In Section 6, select the currency as Canadian Dollar, and enter 8,000 in the academic fees box. Enter 0 in all the other costs and expenses boxes (this is only to complete the page; don't worry, we will see this is a WLU application)

So who actually provides the funding?

Tuition funding is subsidised by generous students at WLU, through a student initiative called International Students Overcoming War (ISOW). They fund students from conflict-affected regions around the world to study subjects that will help peaceful development in their home countries. The cost of travel and living in Canada is subsidised by Prospect Burma. The value of our scholarship award reflects the additional cost compared to studying in South East Asia.

Choosing the Right University and In-person Programme

Once you have identified your area of study, take the following steps to ensure you make an informed decision:

Research the university and course: Ensure the institution is accredited and internationally recognised. Look into the programme's reputation, faculty expertise, and alignment with your academic and career goals.
Understand the learning format: In-person programmes typically include scheduled lectures, seminars, and collaborative group work conducted on campus. Before applying, confirm the academic timetable, attendance requirements, and any blended components—such as occasional online sessions, field trips, or exchange programmes. It's important to contact the university directly to clarify the curriculum, available student support services, and campus facilities.
Assess your study environment: Consider your ability to relocate or commute to campus. Make sure you have access to safe and affordable housing, reliable transportation, and a study environment that supports your learning.
Evaluate costs and funding options: Research tuition fees, exam costs, research expenses, and other potential expenditure. Having this information early allows you to explore funding options such as part-time employment, savings, loans, and multiple scholarship applications. It is important to note that Prospect Burma's in-person scholarship can help alleviate some of your financial burdens, but may not cover all of your financial needs.