Funding
The International Office of Osnabrück University (UOS) awards funds to promote bilateral relations between Costa Rica and the UOS. Funding is provided by the Costa Rica Center Fund, established by the university through generous financial support from the Sievert Foundation for Science and Culture. In general, funding is available for the establishment and expansion of collaborations in research, teaching, administration, and social dialogue. The financial resources are distributed via the following three funding lines: "Travel", "Scholarships", and "Events and Projects".
Subject to funding approval by the Sievert Foundation for Science and Culture, there are four application deadlines per year as follows:
- January 20
- April 20
- June 20
- September 20
In principle, funding can be applied for on any deadline for activities that are carried out by December 31 of the current year.
Funding lines
Eligible for funding are trips to Costa Rica that serve to achieve the aforementioned goals. Applications can be made for travel costs up to a maximum of 2,000 euros per funded person.
Details and conditions
- UOS academic and non-academic staff in research, teaching and administration as well as
- Academics in the qualification phase at the UOS who are not employed at the UOS (e.g. scholarship holders)
- Travel by UOS student and research assistants can also be funded. An application from the supervisor is required for this
Applicants must be members or relatives (employees, scholarship holders, etc.) of UOS from the time of their application until the end of the trip (exception: habilitation students at UOS who are not employed by UOS)
Application documents
General documents:
- Application form (PDF, 105 kB)
- Curriculum vitae of the applicant
- Description of the project in Costa Rica including cost calculation
- Invitation or proof of the planned stay, if available
Additional documents according to groups of people:
- Researchers in the qualification phase: Master's certificate or equivalent (postdoctoral researchers: additional doctoral certificate)
- Doctoral candidates: Certificate of enrolment
- For applications for student/research assistants: if available: Bachelor's and Master's degree certificate (otherwise transcript of records), confirmation from the supervisor of the assistant's contract during the travel period.
Stays at the UOS by persons from Costa Rican universities and research institutions that serve to achieve the aforementioned objectives are eligible for funding.
Applications can be made for a scholarship consisting of a lump-sum travel allowance. The maximum amount per person corresponds to the DAAD travel grants for foreign scholarship holders (max. 1,750 euros, as of 04-2024)
Details and conditions
Eligible applicants are
- Scientific and non-scientific employees
- Scientists in the qualification phase
Applicants must be members or affiliates of Costa Rican universities or research institutions (exception: habilitation candidates at the aforementioned Costa Rican institutions who are not in an employment relationship with the institution) with which an institutional partnership with UOS exists or is envisaged at the time of application.
An application is only possible with the accompanying endorsement of the host or supervisor at UOS.
The scholarship will be paid out in one sum after arrival in Osnabrück. The scholarship is a non-repayable grant. The scholarship may not be made dependent on a specific academic or artistic consideration, nor does it constitute an employment relationship.
Application documents
- Application form (PDF, 105 kB)
- Curriculum vitae of the applicant
- Description of the project at the UOS including cost calculation
- Certificate of university degree
- written endorsement from the host or supervisor at UOS (from a UOS academic in the case of research stays, from a member of the UOS administration in the case of administrative staff stays)
- informal proof of employment or institutional affiliation from the home institution, which also includes the period of the stay at UOS.
Projects and events at the UOS that have a clear connection to Costa Rica and serve to achieve the aforementioned goals are eligible for funding.
Project and event costs of up to 10,000.00 euros can be applied for. These include material costs, honorary activities up to a maximum of 1,000 euros per person, teaching assignments up to a maximum of 1,000 euros per person, personnel funds for student or research assistants, as well as scholarships for students or doctoral candidates from Costa Rican universities (scholarship consists of a travel allowance as a lump sum, maximum amount per person corresponds to DAAD travel allowances for foreign scholarship holders - max. 1,750 euros, as of Apr 2024). In the case of teaching assignments that extend over two financial years, the funding commitment is subject to the approval of funds by the Sievert Foundation for Science and Culture.
Details and conditions
The following are eligible to apply
- UOS academic and non-academic staff in research, teaching and administration
- Academics in the qualification phase at the UOS who are not employed at the UOS (e.g. scholarship holders)
Applicants must be members or affiliates (employees, scholarship holders, etc.) of the UOS from the time of their application until the completion of the project or event (exception: postdoctoral researchers at the UOS who are not employed by the UOS).
Application documents
General documents:
- Application form (PDF, 105 kB)
- Curriculum vitae of the applicant
- Description of the event or project at the UOS including a list of the requested costs
- For events: Draft event program
Additional documents according to groups of persons:
- Doctoral students: Certificate of enrollment
- For honoraria or teaching assignments: CVs of the persons for whom honoraria or teaching assignments are being applied for
- For scholarships for students or doctoral candidates from Costa Rican universities: CVs of the students or doctoral candidates and certificate of university degree if available
Selection criteria
- Target fit
- Quality, feasibility and sustainability of the project
- Expected impact on the internationalization of the UOS
Researchers in the qualification phase and persons who have not yet received funding from the Costa Rica Center should be given special consideration.
Application
The documents must be submitted in full and on time as one PDF file by e-mail to crz@uos. Please arrange the documents in the same order in which they are listed in the call for applications. Applications must be submitted in German or English. In exceptional cases and only after prior consultation, applications in Spanish may also be considered.
The application documents differ depending on the funding line and are indicated separately in each case.
If you have any questions, please contact crz@uos.de.
Selection procedure
Funding is awarded in a quality-oriented selection procedure. A selection committee decides on the award and amount of funding. There is no entitlement to the award of funding. As a rule, a selection decision is made at the earliest four weeks after the application deadline.
By accepting the funding, the recipients undertake to report on their experiences to the Sievert Foundation for Science and Culture if this is requested or if an invitation to do so is extended. In addition, the grantees are expected to participate in the Costa Rica Center's public relations work afterwards - especially in the context of the annual Future Forum.