The Oort Scholarship is offered annually by Leiden Observatory. This scholarship is designed for non-Dutch master’s students who excel in their fields. Students must be of exceptional academic ability and in dire need of financial support. The award is designed for students who already have undergraduate degrees in astronomy or physics and wish to obtain their master’s degree in Astronomy research at Leiden University. Acceptable degree programs include Astronomy Research, Astronomy and Cosmology, Astronomy and Instrumentation, or Astronomy and Data Science.

All materials must be submitted by October 1 for students starting in February, or by February 1 for students starting in September. The scholarship is only available to students who are not of the Dutch nationality. This award may not be combined with other types of financial support such as scholarships or grants. In addition, throughout the duration of the master’s studies program students must pay the statutory home tuition fees necessary to Leiden University.

If for whatever reason scholarship recipients stop their master’s studies, they must inform the Education Office Astronomy as soon as possible. Students are not eligible or this ward if they are pursuing astronomy specializations in Astronomy and Science Based Business, Astronomy and Science Communications and Society, or Astronomy and Education.

This award can be used for one year, with conditional renewal for a second year as long as the first year was completed successfully. Students will receive the tuition fee (just the residential fee) and an allowance of up to €11,000 per year for living costs. Partial scholarships may also be awarded. This award is paid out as a partial allowance.

To apply, students should apply for admission to the Astronomy master’s program through the online application system. Only applications that are submitted before the deadline are given full consideration. Students must also submit brief statements underlining the reasons why they satisfy the two conditions of outstanding academic merit and need for financial support. All contact information must be included as well. Materials and questions can be directed to masters@strw.leidenuniv.nl. Successful applicants will be notified within a month of the submission deadline.

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California Institute of Technology (Caltech) invites qualified first-year applicants to its stellar undergraduate programs. The admissions team reads every application to get to know each student personally before making an admissions decision. Each student is more than a set of test scores and grades.

As a result, the Caltech team looks at academic ability by evaluating recommendations, grades, and test scores. Generally, most Caltech students are gifted in test-taking as a result of high mathematical and scientific abilities, but if this is not the case, the team will look more closely at applicant recommendations and other documents. Applications are not compared against each other, even if coming from the same high school. The admissions team will take into consideration the personal background of each applicant, as well as the secondary school profile.

It is recommended that students who have taken courses or completed research outside of school include those documents in the application. Students should indicate what, exactly, about math and science interests and excites them. The team also likes to read about how future students will impact the labs, classrooms, and community. The essay will ask students to explore and discuss an ethical dilemma that they have encountered.

To apply, students should submit the Common Application or the Coalition Application with specific Caltech questions. Students may also apply through the QuestBridge National College Match. Students should also submit a $75 application fee or fee waiver, standardized tests, teacher evaluations, a secondary school report, and academic transcripts. International students should also submit TOEFL scores and an International Financial Aid Statement of Intent.

International students are those who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Financial aid is limited for international students, so it is important that all students who intend to apply for aid indicate likewise on their applications. International students must also have completed an approved curriculum required by Caltech, including, but not limited to, the IGCSE, O, AS, and A Level curriculums. IB, AP, and other options may also satisfy high school course requirements.

Students may apply as either Early Action or Regular Decision to Caltech. Early Action is non-binding and non-restrictive. However, international students may not receive financial aid if they apply early action. The deadline is November 1, with notifications sent in mid-December. Regular Decision applications must be received by January 3, with responses received in mid-March. For questions on admissions procedures, students should email admissions@caltech.edu.
 

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