We interviewed L.Udval, Advisor Talent at Oyu Tolgoi about the International Student Scholarship programme.
Tell us about the Oyu Tolgoi International Student Scholarship programme? When did it start?
Oyu Tolgoi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in 2010. Under the Memorandum, Oyu Tolgoi is committed to provide scholarships for 30 students, to study at international universities, between 2010 – 2015. So far 15 students have received this scholarship. Today, Oyu Tolgoi is announcing the the 3rd year of its International Scholarship programme.
What are the requirements for students applying for this scholarship?
The general requirements for the scholarship applicants are: to be Mongolian, have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 or higher, have a TOEFL and /or IELTS English language proficiency score to fulfil the English language requirements of the intended school of study, they must be studying for a Bachelor of engineering degree or must have graduated from school within last three years, they must not hold any other scholarships except for the Oyu Tolgoi National scholarship and must not have a full-time employment contract with Oyu Tolgoi.
What are the requirements for applicants for undergraduate study?
The applicants must be third or fourth year, full-time student at an accredited Mongolian university, majoring in mining engineering, mechanical engineering, geology, geosciences, electrical engineering, mineral processing/metallurgy engineering, chemistry, civil engineering or environmental studies.
How are the requirements for the graduate programme different to the requirements for undergraduate programme?
Graduate programme applicants must have graduated within the last three years and hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited higher education institution, majoring in mining engineering, mechanical engineering, geology, geosciences, electrical engineering, mineral processing/metallurgy engineering, chemistry or civil engineering. All applicants who meet the above mentioned essential criteria are eligible to apply for a scholarship from the Oyu Tolgoi International Scholarship programme.
What are the essential considerations for the applicants?
The successful students will study English abroad so the applicants must have an English language proficiency score. This is a key document in the application. This score will prove that the applicant can obtain the proficiency score required by given school. We require an official proficiency score. If applicant does not have a TOEFL English language proficiency score they should not rush and take an exam paying US$160 dollars only to obtain score of 400. If applicant has doubts about their language skills, they can take a paper based TOEFL exam by paying a fee of US$20 dollars. The exam result is produced within a week. Unlike the official TOEFL exam, there is no speaking component in the unofficial TOEFL exam, therefore, the applicant can only know if they are making mistakes in reading, listening and grammar sections.
What are the considerations for the applicant's school and teachers?
References from teachers are required for the International Scholarship programme. The students need to have clear short term and long term goals, and have already chosen their major, their in-depth study and their area of specialisation. Their teachers need to understand these goals and provide references based on these aspects of the applicants application.
Are there cases of applicants meeting requirements of the Oyu Tolgoi scholarship programme, but failing to meet the requirements of their chosen school?
Yes. There have been cases where the applicants met our qualification requirements, but could not achieve the required English language proficiency score for the given school. The Oyu Tolgoi International scholarship does not indicate the required TOEFL and IELTS scores. Why? Because the TOEFL and IELTS score requirements vary for each university. For example, Utah State University in the US requires a TOEFL score of 577 points and Curtin University in Australia requires a TOEFL score of 570. At the University of British Columbia, Cananda, each department requires different score points. Generally, the schools require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. It may seem like a relatively high score; however, this is achievable for students with a good knowledge of English. Oyu Tolgoi supports students with high score points even if they did not meet required score threshold.There are cases where students took the English language exam, of a chosen school, several times and eventually passed. This year, the scholarship programme specifies 3rd and 4th year students only, because in Mongolia, theoretical subjects dominate university curriculum and laboratory classes are relatively rare. Credit scores that students gain in Mongolia can’t be transferred to international universities, so students have to study for an additional one or two years. We will provide more support to 4th year students although truly exceptional 3rd year students will be considered.
I want to note here that students who have a US green card or are currently studying abroad for their undergraduate degree or have majored in other areas; are not eligible for the scholarship programme. However those who have successfully graduated from universities with undergraduate degrees majoring in mining within the last three years and want to study for a graduate degree can apply for the scholarship programme.
What should the applicants who want to study for graduate degrees consider most when applying?
People who want to apply for graduate study should have graduated successfully from university within the last three years and have professional qualifications and work experience. The applicants have to write an essay highlighting these points in detail. I would advise the applicants to check the websites of their chosen universities and find out details information about the areas of study, which the teachers are and what they require and then write the essay.
You said that 15 students out of 30 are studying at international universities under the Oyu Tolgoi scholarship programme. So are you going to select the remaining 15 students in next 2 years?
Oyu Tolgoi prefers quality over quantity. Last year, only one applicant passed the exam. I want to emphasise here that preparation, responsibility; English language levels and work experience are all of great importance.
What benefits will the scholarship recipients receive?
The international scholarship programme of Oyu Tolgoi has many advantages. The scholarship covers tuition fees, dormitory fees, and health insurance, visa and travel fees. On top of this, it provides a monthly living allowance and contributions to the purchase of study materials. The scholarship students are able to focus on their studies without having to worry about other things. We train and support applicants who will return to Mongolia after graduation and work here.
When is the deadline for the applications?
The application deadline is 5pm on 18 October, 2013. I want to remind applicants that materials submitted late, or incomplete, will not be considered. Information about the Oyu Tolgoi international scholarship programme can be obtained from the daily newspapers, the Oyu Tolgoi website and Facebook page. Application forms can be downloaded from the Oyu Tolgoi website.
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