Guidelines

The Government of Canada under the Canada-CARICOM Virtual University Scholarship Program (CCVUSP) will offer three selected certificate programs, delivered entirely online or through distance education, to learners from CARICOM countries.

The scholarships will be awarded and funded by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) and will be co-administered by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) and the Canadian Virtual University (CVU).

Scholarship Value and Duration

The scholarship will cover the costs of tuition for all the courses required to complete one of the certificate programs listed below. All payments will be made on behalf of the student directly to the Canadian institution at which the student is registered.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be citizens of one of the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitt's, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos.
• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time of their application.
• Applicants must have academic level English reading and writing skills as required for university-level studies
• Applicants to the Certificate in University and College Administration must be currently employed at a university or college in a mid-level or higher administrative position.
• Applicants already enrolled full-time at another institution are not eligible for this award.
• Priority will be given to candidates who have not previously participated in a DFAIT program.

Eligible Certificate Programs

The available programs listed below are currently offered in English only. Students must be prepared to begin their program of choice as soon as their scholarship is confirmed.

• Certificate in Business Skills
• Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• Certificate in University and College Administration

Deadline

The deadline for applicants to submit an online application and the required supporting documents is 11:59 p.m. EDT, February 28, 2013.

Application Process

Instructions

Applicants must complete the online application form available on this page.

• Enter the data in the fields provided, following the instructions for each item.
• Upon completion, verify the data prior to submitting.
• A hard copy for record keeping can be obtained by printing the form using the print function of the browser. Note that a hard copy is not required by the administrator for the selection process.
• Click SUBMIT to send the online application. A confirmation page and reference number will appear after submission.

Successful candidates will be required to sign a declaration of commitment.

Supporting Documents

The following documents must be uploaded and attached to the online application form in one of the following formats: .pdf, .jpg, .doc, .docx, .txt or .gif. Each document must be smaller than 2 Mb in order for the application to upload successfully.

• Curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages).
• Proof of citizenship: a copy of the passport or national identity document with valid dates; a baptism certificate is not accepted as proof of citizenship.
• Academic transcripts for most recent studies.
• Applicants to the Certificate in University and College Administration must also submit a letter of recommendation from their employer confirming the applicants’ current position and suitability for this scholarship.

The name of qualified applicants will be forwarded to the Canadian Virtual University (CVU). CVU will contact the applicant to guide them through the admission process. The scholarship will not be confirmed until registration is complete.

Conditions

• Online applications and all required supporting documents must be submitted before an application can be reviewed. Incomplete applications will not be considered and applicants will not be contacted to provide missing information.
• Awards are conditional on receiving admission confirmation from CVU.
• Applicants must be able to commit to at least 10-15 hours per week toward their studies.
• All courses required for a certificate must be completed within two years of initial enrolment.
• Successful applicants will be required to obtain a free Skype internet telephony account.
• UPDATE: Applicants whose native language is not English may wish to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test and attach the test results to the online form or attach academic transcripts demonstrating previous higher education completed in the English language.

Background

The Canada-CARICOM Virtual University Scholarship Program (CCVUSP) was announced in 2007 by Prime Minister Harper during a visit to the Caribbean. The program serves to enhance the skill sets required to advance the development and sustainability of CARICOM and seeks to strengthen institutional linkages between Canadian universities and colleges and those in the region.

Further information

Canadian Virtual University (CVU) is an association of 12 Canadian universities specializing in online and distance education. Collectively, these universities offer over 2,500 courses and 350 degrees, diplomas and certificates available completely at a distance to students across Canada and around the world, in English and French.

CVU is committed to collaboration in the development, delivery and marketing of online degrees, as a means of ensuring quality, reducing costs, and presenting a strong single Canadian presence in the global marketplace for online education.

CVU was created in 2000 and has established a firm foundation for facilitating collaborative government-funded projects among its universities and reaching international students through its web site.