Education
Postgraduate Scholarship Mentorship
Helping graduates find and pursue opportunities for further study abroad
applications received in December 2023
For graduates seeking postgraduate education abroad, finding suitable scholarships and preparing applications can be challenging. GIPSED’s postgraduate scholarship mentorship provides guidance to help prospective applicants identify opportunities and present their qualifications, experience and aspirations clearly.
The intervention extends GIPSED’s commitment to education beyond financial assistance, helping young people access information and guidance as they plan their next academic step.
What the mentorship provides
Identifying scholarship opportunities
GIPSED helps prospective applicants identify scholarship opportunities relevant to their academic background, intended course of study and career interests. This guidance helps them focus their efforts on opportunities suited to their goals.
Reviewing applications
Applicants receive feedback on their applications to help improve clarity and completeness and address the requirements of the opportunity they are pursuing.
Reviewing personal statements
The mentorship includes reviewing personal statements, helping applicants communicate their motivation for further study, relevant experience and future ambitions in their own voice.
Guidance informed by experience
Co-founder Dr Michael Olugbile brings his experience of receiving scholarship support and pursuing postgraduate education abroad to the mentorship. The intervention reflects the belief that access to guidance can help others pursue opportunities that might otherwise seem difficult to navigate.
The December 2023 application exercise
Between 5 and 15 December 2023, the mentorship programme received 86 applications. Applicants included graduates and students preparing for the next stage of their education, with submissions from Odo-Otin, Ifelodun, Boripe and beyond.
The application form gathered information about applicants’ academic backgrounds, intended degrees, preferred universities, admission status and access to funding. It also asked about availability for an in-person mentoring session in Okuku and virtual sessions.
These responses provided a basis for understanding applicants’ interests and the guidance they were seeking.
Programme records and experiences
As participation and outcomes are documented, this section will feature mentorship activities, photographs and accounts from participants. Scholarship and admission successes will be included where confirmed.