Maqsut Narikbayev University is launching the new MNU Research Fellow scholarship program starting from the 2024-2025 academic year!

This initiative aims to support current undergraduate students, master’s students, doctoral students and young faculty members who are pursuing research and academic careers.

Purpose of the programme:

Attracting, supporting and developing talented and promising scientific personnel at the university, as well as creating conditions for their long-term contribution to the scientific community.

Requirements for the participants:

• • MNU master’s students in their first, second year of education who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and/or research potential.
• • MNU doctoral students in their first, second, and third years of education who are actively engaged in research and/or have the potential to do so.
• • Young scientists under 25 years of age, working in universities or scientific institutes and with significant achievements in their scientific field.
• • MNU undergraduate students in their final year of study showing outstanding academic performance and research potential.

Selection criteria:

• • Academic achievements: Successful studies, publications in scientific journals, participation in conferences, awards for scientific activities.
• • Research potential: Originality and relevance of the research topic, well-developed research plan.
• • Research Skills: Demonstrate analytical and independent research skills.
• • Motivation and ambition: Willingness to devote themselves to scientific activity at Maqsut Narikbayev University and to contribute to the scientific community.

Documents for submission:

• • Academic CV.
• • Research design with objectives, methods and expected results.
• • At least one letter of recommendation from a professor of any scientific school or research centre of Maqsut Narikbayev University.
• • Letter of motivation (see writing requirements and evaluation criteria in the appendix).
• • Additional requirements for undergraduates of final year of study:
  • 1) GPA not less than 2.5;
  • 2) confirmation of the student’s passion for scientific research (participation in student scientific conferences, subject olympiads, publications, work in student scientific clubs).

Stages of the competition

Submission of applications:

• • Candidates shall submit a complete package of documents within the established deadline.

Evaluation of applications:

• • Preliminary selection: the Committee verifies the completeness and compliance of the submitted documents with the requirements.
• • Evaluation Criteria: Academic achievement, research potential and the quality of the proposed research plan are assessed.
• • Scoring system: Each panel member evaluates applications on a scale of 1 to 100 points.
• • Candidates who are in the top 30 per cent of scores are considered to be shortlisted and progressed to the next stage of the selection process. The remaining candidates are considered unselected and may not apply for this competition until at least the next academic year.

Interview and project presentation:

• • Shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview to present their research plans and address questions from the committee.
• • Final evaluation: The final scholarship award decision is based on the results of the interview and the evaluation of the research plan.

Announcement of winners:

• • The winners are announced on the University’s website and through official social media profiles. The winners are sent official letters inviting them to sign a scholarship agreement.