Scholarships and

Advanced Training
Division

Now that I have

a scholarship,

what is the next step?

5th Floor NALIS Building
Corner Hart and Abercromby Streets,
Port of Spain

(868) 625-6724
Ext: 2032, 2070, 2064

S ch o la r s

I nf o r m a t i o n

G u i d e

ALLOWANCES AND RATES PAID TO SCHOLARS

ALLOWANCE
1165

US $

USA
848

US $

Brazil
932

US $

Mexico
815

US $

Colombia
647

US $

Nigeria
299

US $

Guyana
300

US $

Jamaica
631

US $

India

(Effective September 1, 2008)

Non-Salaried

Currency in Which Allowance is payable

long course

short course

Salaried

132

148

900

604

900

943

143

114

143

862

570

627

684

154

121

154

948

625

545

751

137

110

137

828

548

602

657

266

114

114

683

460

546

539

240

37

550

240

143

13

240

285

106

85

106

642

424

467

509

Personal
Maintenance
Allowance

replacement
196

Warm
Clothing
Allowance

Book Allowance

Special Equipment Allowance

Incidental Travelling Allowance

*Paid to persons in temperate zone only

Note 2: Rates are currently under review

5,495
N/A

Medical
short course

469

Special Equipment Allowance

260

115

141

812

1,539

561/450*

74

37

63

307

212

642

275

275

1,648

1,099

1,319

1,847

349

AUS $

Swiss francs

UK

794/635*

441

189

189

1,124

751

631

1,051

1,261

Australia

Switzerland

United
Kingdom

332

142

142

852

568

779

795

958

NZ $

New
Zealand

Euro

937

781
671

557
838
140
140
317

Rupees

8,884
8,953

7576
11,211
1,879
1879
4,212

311

139

139

846

565

679

790

948

Euro

France Netherlands

10,677

India

Note 1: Two rates of Personal Maintenance Allowance (PMA) currently apply to Non-Salaried and Salaried Scholars in the United Kingdom.
The existing (higher) rates 794 and 561 respectively apply to those students pursuing studies and residing in London.
Note 2: Rates are currently under review

176

replacement

Incidental Travelling Allowance

Warm
Clothing
Allowance

1,967

937

2,663

3,846

Regular

Book Allowance

long course

864

1,172

Salary pd
in post

Salaried

552

1,072

Personal
Maintenance
Allowance

CAN $

BDS $

1,491

TT $

2,418

Non-Salaried

Canada

Currency in Which Allowance is payable

Barbados

Trinidad &
Tobago

ALLOWANCE

(Effective September 1, 2008)

ALLOWANCES AND RATES PAID TO SCHOLARS

Congratulations
on your scholarship!

You would have already received a letter from the Scholarships

and Advanced Training Division informing you of your recent
achievement. However, we know youre wondering what the
next steps are

This document provides a step by step guide on taking you

through the scholarship process.

In order to be eligible for the award of a National Scholarship,

a scholar must be a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Scholarship allows you to pursue an undergraduate (first)

degree ONLY for duration of three (3) years or as specified in
the acceptance letter from the academic institution and the
course outline. This excludes Medicine and Law (including the
Legal Education Certificate or its equivalent), which requires a
maximum period of five (5) years of studies. Please note that
your programme of study must lead to the award of one (1)
undergraduate degree programme only.

Scholarships are for

full time studies only.
Heres a little reminder of the documents required for the processing
of your award:

Letter accepting scholarship

Confirmation of Citizenship (as indicated on the bio data
page of the original passport)
Electronic Birth Certificate
Original Academic Certificates
Letter of Acceptance from the University
Letter of Accreditation
The name of your Guarantor and Witness (who must both
provide one (1) form of national picture ID, a local address
and contact information)
Contact information : Your Guarantor, Your Witness and
Yourself
Completion of Online Application/Recipient Form which is
available at www.scholarships.gov.tt (Applicable to CAPE
Scholarships)
Salary Particulars and Tax Assessment (Public Officers Only)
Bank Account Information (Scholars Studying at Local
Institutions)

You are kindly asked to provide a copy of all the above mentioned
documents.
Notably, there are four (4) categories of National Scholars therefore the
documents and procedures which will enable each group to proceed
on your award are varied.
The Categories of National Scholars are:

Scholars pursuing studies in Trinidad and Tobago

Scholars pursuing studies abroad
Scholars who are Public Officers
Citizens from other countries who are awarded scholarships
by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Unit C
Engineering
Management Sciences
Social Sciences
Applied Sciences
Accounting
International Studies/

International Relations
Chemical Engineering
Business Administration
Political Science
Computer Engineering
Communication Studies
Psychology
Computer Science
Economics
Social Work
Electrical Engineering
Finance
Sociology
Industrial Engineering
Management Studies
Information Technology
Oil And Gas Management
Mechanical Engineering
Sports Management
Manufacturing /Process
Petroleum Engineering
Telecommunications

Unit Head: Dhanraji Ramlakhan

Charmaine Sookal
Omega Khan-Smith
Vitra Nanan
Lisa Parag

ext 2027
ext 2026
ext 2068
ext 2021
ext 2021

ramlakhand@mpa.gov.tt
sookalc@mpa.gov.tt
khan-smitho@mpa.gov.tt
nananv@mpa.gov.tt
paragl@mpa.gov.tt

NB: To ensure that your email is answered, kindly email the head of the Unit
and carbon copy all the other officers

Unit A
Humanities/Education
Archaeology, History
Cultural Studies
Dance/Drama/ Music
Fine Arts
Languages
Library and Information Science
Media, Journalism, Visual Arts
Theatre,
Theology
Teaching/Education

Earth Science
Mathematics
Agriculture
Actuarial Science
Environmental Sciences
Mathematics
Forestry
Statistics
Geography, Geophysics
Geographical Sciences
Geology
Marine Studies
Meteorology
Petroleum Geosciences
Palaeontology
Sedimentology

Unit Head: Wendy Durham

Julien Raeburn
Grace Harper
Leela Arjoon
Claire Greaves
Otthalie McMillan

ext 2402
ext 2094
ext 2029
ext 2063
ext 2215
ext 2092

durhamw@mpa.gov.tt
reaburnj@mpa.gov.tt
harperg@mpa.gov.tt
arjoonl@mpa.gov.tt
greavesc@mpa.gov.tt
mcmillano@mpa.gov.tt

Medical Sciences Physical Sciences Natural Sciences Law

Allied Health
Architecture
Biology
Environmental Law
Dental
Technical Studies
Botany
Oil and Gas Law
Forensic Science
Technology Studies Chemistry
Physiotherapy
Urban and Regional

Planning
Life Sciences
Psychiatry
Valuation Sciences
Physics
Sports Medicine
Zoology
Surgery
Veterinary Sciences
ext 2024
ext 2028
ext 2031
ext 2066
ext 2031
ext 2305

Step 1

Acceptance
You must indicate acceptance of your award in writing to the Ministry
of Public Administration, Scholarships and Advanced Training Division
within one (1) month of being informed.
Subsequent to your acceptance, if your award is not taken up
within one (1) year the scholarship will be considered to have
lapsed.

Step 2

Submission of Documents and Completion of

Application Form
Depending on the category you fall within, your application form
will be completed either before or after an offer of a scholarship was
made.

Unit B

Unit Head: Maureen Ramjohn-Bickraj

Evelyn Alfred
Sherine Kalloo
Dawn Singh
Francine Lohar
Anselm Emmanuel

The following steps are applicable

to all categories of scholars:

ramjohn-bickrajm@mpa.gov.tt
alfreda@mpa.gov.tt
kalloos@mpa.gov.tt
singhd@mpa.gov.tt
loharf@mpa.gov.tt
emmanuela@mpa.gov.tt

You are required to visit the Scholarships and Advanced Training

Division to submit all the required documents as indicated above. The
Scholarships and Advanced Training Division will verify that all the
relevant documents and information have been received.
All persons granted scholarships by the Government of Trinidad and
Tobago will be required to sign a scholarship agreement. This is a
legally binding document (contract) which details the obligation of
the Government, the scholar and his guarantor.
**It is important that all required documents are submitted, for
the agreement preparation process to begin.

Step 3

Verifying Agreement Information

Once all the required information listed above is provided, a draft of
the agreement will be prepared and forwarded to you via e-mail so
that you and your Guarantor can peruse the agreement. Both parties
are required to READ and review the draft contract to ensure accuracy
of information and that all parties are aware and understand the Terms
and Conditions of the Agreement.
Once you have reviewed the draft contract, kindly contact your Scholar
Support Officer to arrange an appointment to visit the Scholarships
and Advanced Training Division for signing your Contract Agreement.

Step 4

Signing the Agreement

You must visit the Division on the date and time of your appointment
with both your Guarantor and your Witness. Please remember these
persons must provide one (1) valid form of national picture ID when
signing the contract. Once your contract is signed the following
document will be provided:

Letter to the University informing them that you have

been granted a scholarship and will be funded by the
Government.

Once the contract has been signed it will be forwarded to the

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration for signature.
Once the contract has been signed by the Permanent Secretary, you
will be contacted to visit the Scholarships Division to collect the
contract in person. In the instance that you are unable to collect the
contract in person, a designated individual can collect the contract
on your behalf with written Authorisation from you. The letter must
clearly state the persons name and national identification information.
The person must produce the identification stated in the letter and
sign as having received the contract on your behalf.
** The payment of allowances commence once the agreement is signed. Whether
you are pursuing studies locally or abroad you are required to provide your bank
account details to facilitate the payment of allowances. Local scholars provide
local bank account numbers and scholars studying abroad provide account
numbers provided by the Unit Trust Corporation. Scholars pursuing studies locally
receive allowances monthly whilst, scholars studying abroad receive allowances
quarterly.

4. Important Notice
Recipients of Open National Scholarships can pursue their
studies at any accredited academic institution locally or
abroad. Recipients of Additional National Scholarships who
are not pursuing studies at the University of the West Indies
will be paid tuition fees and allowances, equivalent to that
payable to scholars pursuing studies at the University of
the West Indies. All tuition fees will be paid directly to the
academic institution on behalf of the student, on receipt of
the invoice from the institution.

Please visit our website at www.scholarships.gov.tt for

additional information on scholarships, including the support
services and allowances payable to scholars.

5. President Medal Recipients

Scholars in receipt of the President Medal Award are
entitled to funding which would allow them to complete an
undergraduate first degree and post graduate degrees up to
the PhD. Funding will be provided for a maximum period of
seven (7) years.

In order to proceed from an undergraduate programme to

the post graduate programmes, President Medal scholars
are required to provide evidence of enrolment into the post
graduate programmes to ensure the continued payment of
scholar allowances and fees to the University which are via
the Trinidad and Tobago Foreign Embassy, Consular Office or
Mission.

SCHOLAR SUPPORT
CONTACT INFORMATION
Please call

623-4724/8578 or 625-6724
or visit

www.scholarships.gov.tt

and the extension next to the name of the Officer

Please email or call one of these officers
if your field of study is in one of these areas

Tell us your area of study!

These officers can help you!

Scholars who are

Public Officers

Scholars pursuing studies abroad must note that Allowances are paid
on a quarterly basis as follows:

On November 28th for quarter December to February

On February 28th for quarter March to May
On May 28th for quarter June to August
On August 28th for quarter September to November

Scholars are therefore encouraged to be judicious with how they

allocate their money over the quarter.

Agreement Signing
In the instance that the scholar is already abroad the agreement is sent
to the scholar via the relevant Embassy, Consular Office or Mission.
The scholar is able to sign the agreement in the presence of the staff
of the Embassy, Consular Office or Mission or can sign in the presence
of a Notary Public. The Notary Public must affix his official stamp on
the agreement. The agreement must then be sent to the Scholarships
Division via the nearest Embassy, Consular Office or Mission.
Upon receiving the agreement from the Embassy, Consular Office or
Mission the Guarantor and Witness is contacted in order for the signing
process to be completed.

Additional Scholarships Recipients who

opt to pursue studies abroad
Student who have been awarded an Additional Scholarships who
have opted to study overseas are not entitled to airfare, however
they are required to submit a copy of the relevant VISA. The above
mentioned guidelines for Scholarship Recipients pursuing studies
abroad are applicable with the exception of the guidelines for the
purchase of airline tickets.
Additionally, fees equivalent to the cost of similar degree programmes
pursued at the University of the West will be paid on behalf of the
scholar to the relevant Universities abroad via the Trinidad and Tobago
Consulates or Missions.
Tuition fees equivalent to that paid to the University of the West Indies
will be paid to the academic institutions by the Trinidad and Tobago
Foreign Embassy, Consular Office or Mission upon receipt of official
invoices from the academic institution.

Scholars who are Public Officers pursuing studies locally should refer
to the steps applicable to all categories of scholars mentioned
above.
Scholars who are Public Officers pursuing studies aboard should refer
to the steps applicable to all categories of scholars mentioned
above.
Scholars who are Public Officers are provided with letters:

Informing their Ministry that they are the recipient of a

scholarship from the GoRTT and requesting salary particulars
are necessary for the payment of the salary loan
To the Chairman, Board of Inland Revenue requesting a Tax
Assessment on the scholar

Public Officers are required to:

Ensure that all arrangements are made with their Ministries so

that they can proceed on no pay study leave on the grounds
of scholarship policy
Submit salary particulars and tax assessment to ensure that
the salary loan payable to Public Officers on the grounds
of scholarship policy is honoured by the Ministry of Public
Administration, Scholarships and Advanced Training
Division

Scholars pursuing
studies overseas

Scholars who are Teachers pursuing the Bachelor of Education

Degree at the University of Trinidad and Tobago
Scholars who are Teachers should refer to the steps applicable to all
categories of scholars mentioned above.
Teachers:

Do not have to fill out an application form

MUST ensure that all arrangements are made with the
Ministry of Education so that they can proceed on no pay
study leave on the grounds of scholarship policy
MUST ensure that Salary particulars are submitted to
the Scholarships Division to ensure that the salary loan
payable to Public Officers on the grounds of scholarship
policy is honoured by the Ministry of Public Administration,
Scholarships and Advanced Training Division

General scholarship
guidelines
1. An award not taken up within one (1) year will be considered
to have lapsed.
2. The scholarship is tenable at any accredited academic
institution. The course of study must be accredited.
3. Please note that you will be required to enter into a Scholarship
Agreement, which requires that you serve the Government
of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on completion of
your studies. You are required to provide this Ministry with
the name and address of the person who can guarantee your
undertaking of the Agreement. This information must be
provided on the Form mentioned at 6 (ii) above. This person
must sign a Letter of Guarantee in your favour.

When you visit the office to sign your Scholarship Agreement,

you must bring along your Guarantor and someone who
can witness both you and your Guarantors signature to the
Agreement. Please note that they are required to present
some form of national picture identification. Your Guarantor
cannot be be your spouse. In addition your witness cannot
be the spouse of your Guarantor.

After you have signed your contract, you will be provided with:

A letter to the University;

A letter to the relevant Embassy; and
A letter to the Unit Trust Corporation which enables the
scholar to open a TT$ International Visa Debit Card Account.

Tuition fees are paid directly to Universities via the relevant

Embassy, Consular Office or Mission.

Visas

When applying for your Visa please note the following:

Students studying in the United States will be required to

obtain a J1 Visa
Students studying in the United Kingdom will be required
to obtain a Tier 4 Visa
Student Studying in Canada will be required to obtain the
IMM 1294 study Visa

Airline Ticket

Once your Visa has been collected from the relevant Embassy, you are
required to obtain quotations from three (3) Travel Agencies for a ONE
WAY ECONOMY CLASS Airline Tickets. It is advisable that you only
secure the quotations from the Agencies. Flights should not booked
at this stage.
A copy of the Visa and the three quotations which were sourced should
be submitted to your Scholar Support Officer. The Scholar Support
Officer will then issue to you an invoice for the selected Travel Agency
to provide you with the One Way Ticket to your destination.

Unit Trust Corporation Account

The Unit Trust Corporation will provide you with your account number.
This number must then be provided to your Scholar Support Officer
for processing your allowance payments.