UN Scholarships

Last updated: 4.3.2020

One of the goals of the United Nations is to prepare future generations for careers in human rights, economic justice, and more. This means providing resources and funding for programs that give people essential experience and education. Often times, that takes the form of scholarships with the United Nations University, which represents the research and academic branch of the UN.There are also occasionally opportunities within the offices of the UN itself.

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Here are several scholarships and fellowships for your consideration:

The United Nations University Japan / PhD in Sustainability Science

The application deadline is 9 April 2021. Offered by the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan, this scholarship is for those seeking the school’s PhD in Sustainability Science. It’s a three-year programme. To be eligible, applicants must be from developing countries and prove their need for financial aid. If you live in Japan under a working visa or are pursuing a second PhD at UNU-IAS, you will not be considered.

The United Nations University Iceland / The UNU Fisheries Training Programme

The application is currently closed. Please regularly check the original website for latest updates. The UNU Fisheries Training programme is a postgraduate programme offering training in a variety of areas related to the fisheries sector. The scholarship is available for former UNU-FTP fellows who are accepted into any Icelandic universities with graduate studies in fisheries. To be eligible, your studies at the UNU-FTP must count for a minimum of 24 ECTS towards the post-graduate degree, and your proposed thesis or dissertation must be related to fisheries in your home country.

The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research / Visiting PhD Fellowship Programme

The application deadlines are in March and September every year. Applications open one month before the deadline. This programme provides registered doctoral students with assistance at UNU-WIDER as they work towards a PhD dissertation (or thesis) on developing economics. During the three months at Helsinki, where UNU-WIDER is located, programme fellows write at least one research paper and present a seminar. If accepted, the fellow gets a travel grant that covers the journey from their institute, medical insurance, and a monthly stipend.

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner / Fellowship Programme for People of African Descent

The application deadline is 22 March 2020. This fellowship programme is offered to anyone of African descent living in the diaspora. They must have at least four years of work experience relevant to the rights of people of African descent and a good knowledge of English. If accepted, fellows travel to Geneva and gain valuable experience working and learning about issues facing those of African descent. The programme includes a monthly stipend and basic health insurance.

Codification Division of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs / International Law Fellowship Programme

The application deadline was 24 February 2020. The International Law Fellowship Programme is designed to help professionals (especially international law teachers and government officials from developing countries) learn more about the United Nations’ legal work. Eligible candidates for this Netherlands-based programme will have a legal background as well as experience working in international law. If you are one of the 21 fellows accepted, the scholarship will cover travel costs, accomodation, insurance, the registration fee for The Hague Academy of International law, training materials, and participation in the programme. Fellows also get a stipend to cover additional living expenses. The programme is held in the English language.

Master’s Degree in the United Nations and the Art of Peace

The Master’s Degree in the United Nations and the Art of Peace focuses on 70 years of UN action in peace-making, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Students will develop a deep understanding of the UN’s role in international peace and will benefit from the experience of UN professionals and academic experts on the UN, international relations, and peace studies. Built on the experiences and expertise developed by UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research), WFUNA (World Federation of United Nations Associations) and the Graduate Institute of Peace Studies at Kyung Hee University, this degree explores the different facets of the actions undertaken in the international field to promote, preserve and defend peace; giving students the in-depth understanding necessary to examine and assess the process of building, promoting and preserving peace worldwide.

United Nations University Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants. Scholarship opportunities vary for each degree programme and requests should be submitted with the programme application documents. For more information about the scholarships available for a specific programme, please visit the UNU institute website associated with the programme. If you have more detailed questions, please contact the focal point for the degree programme directly. Contact information for each programme is located on the programme description page.

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