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• Sophia-APIC-BRMC Scholarship​​
• ​BRMC Scholarship

Sophia-APIC-BRMC Scholarship
Sophia University, the Association for Promotion of International Cooperation &
Bill Raynor Micronesia Challenge Scholarship

 

Award	Full scholarship for citizens of Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia or Republic of the Marshall Islands
Available Awards	2
Due Date	March 31, 2023

BACKGROUND
The Sophia-APIC-BRMC Scholarship is made possible through a partnership between Sophia University, the Association for Promotion of International Cooperation/ Japan (APIC) and the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT). All three parties administer the scholarship program. The scholarship allows two students from the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Federated States of Micronesia to pursue master's degrees from the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies at Sophia University in Japan. The program aims to foster human resources who will be able to address environmental issues in Micronesia and to contribute to international society, and through cooperation between the parties, deepen friendship between Japan and Micronesia.

Awardees of this prestigious scholarship will receive financial support to earn graduate degrees while receiving close guidance and mentorship from key individuals within the Micronesia Challenge partnership, including members of the peer learning networks, Micronesians in Island Conservation (MIC) and the Pacific Islands Managed and Protected Areas Community (PIMPAC). The mentors/advisors are technical experts who have extensive experience in the field of conservation, climate change adaptation and sustainable development in Micronesia/Pacific. Awardees receive mentorship by conducting required internships with host agencies in a related field in their home countries during each school break.  

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must be citizens of the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Application materials are listed below. Please submit electronic copies to MCT for review and initial screening. Successful applicants will be notified after initial screening and must submit the original/official documents to APIC and Sophia University for final screening. 

1. Application form: use the form provided here.
2. Scholarship application form: use the form provided here.
3. Statement of purpose: Applicant must specify as precisely as possible the area of intended study and its relation to previous academic or career experience. In addition, the applicant is required to describe the research plan intended to conduct at Sophia University. The statement of purpose should be 500-750 words in length and written in English.
4. Official university/college transcripts: Official transcripts showing all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) courses taken and grades received, including the list of courses you are currently attending, must be submitted. The transcript(s) should be certified by a school official and be officially sealed in a school envelope. Photocopies are not accepted. An electronic transcript issued directly from the home university to Sophia University Admissions Office is also acceptable. MCT will accept photocopies for the purposes of initial screening. 
5. Proof of graduation: Applicants should submit one of the following
   (a) University/college-issued certificate of a degree or official letter (original copy)
   (b) Photocopy of diploma certified by a school official
   (c) Transcript indicating degree received and date of conferral
   Proof of graduation must be an official hard copy issued by the home university. An electronic certificate issued directly from the home university to Sophia University Admissions Office is also acceptable. 
6. Two letters of recommendation: 
   (a) One letter of recommendation addressed to Sophia University’s Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies must be obtained from the school official(s) of the school(s) attended by the applicant. The letter must be sealed in an envelope with the recommender’s signature written across the seal. The letter must be addressed as “Dear Sophia University’s Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies”. The letter must be airmailed to the following address: 
   
   Ms. Moeko Kita
   The Association for Promotion of International Cooperation (APIC)
   Fukudaya Building 3F,
   6-12, Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan (zip code: 102-0094)
    
   (b) The Second letter of recommendation should be addressed to Ms. Bertha M. Reyuw at the Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT). This letter can be emailed to capacity@ourmicronesia.org
7. Copy of a thesis: A copy of a graduation thesis honors thesis or a significant term paper/research paper must be provided. The copy can be provided in English, Japanese or other languages. An extensive English summary (approx. 850 words) must also be attached.
8. Copy of passport: Those who do not have a passport, please submit a photocopy of a photo ID. 

 
The application deadline is on March 31, 2023. Incomplete application packages or late submissions will not be accepted.

MEDICAL ATTENTION
Any applicants with physical conditions that might require special attention when undertaking university work should notify the Sophia Admissions Office in writing before the application period.

WHAT IS NEXT?
Submit electronic copies of all application files to Ms. Bertha Reyuw at capacity@ourmicronesia.org for initial screening. Successful candidates will be notified via email to submit the original/official application files to APIC and Sophia University for final screening. 

CONTACT
For questions about the Sophia-APIC-BRMC Scholarship or the application process, please contact: 
​
Ms. Bertha Reyuw
MCT Capacity Building Program Manager
P.O. Box 2177, Kolonia, Pohnpei FM 96941
Phone: (691) 320-5670
E-mail: capacity@ourmicronesia.org