NMAIST Applications for Admission to Master’s and PhD Programmes 2016/17

INVITATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO MASTER’S AND PhD

PROGRAMMES FOR 2016/17 ACADEMIC YEAR

1.0BACKGROUND

The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Arusha, Tanzania is one in a network of Pan-African Institutions of Science and Technology located across the continent. These institutions envision training and developing the next generation of African scientists and engineers with a view to impacting, profoundly, on the continent’s development through the application of Science, Engineering and Technology (SET).

The NM-AIST, which is accredited by the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) is a research intensive institution for postgraduate and post-doctorate studies and research in SET. Its mission is to produce: (1) top-notch SET academics for Higher Learning Institutions; (2) competent researchers for Research and Development (R&D) Institutions; and (3) techno- preneurs, industry captains and innovations managers for stimulating, catalyzing and promoting business start-ups and growth of the local Industry. The training, therefore, incorporates appreciable doses of relevant business studies and humanities ingredients designed to develop attributes that will enable graduates become better scientists and engineers for the society and industry.

The Goal of NM-AIST is to catalyze the development of world-class SET through the production of high quality scientists and engineers in Eastern Africa to stimulate, catalyze and promote economic growth and employment creation. Pursuant to this goal, the objective of NM-AIST is to educate the next generation of African scientists and engineers by equipping them with the technical, entrepreneurial and leadership capacities to solve African problems thereby contributing to the economic and social transformation of sub-Saharan Africa. More information on NM-AIST is available on the website: www.nm-aist.ac.tz.

2.0PROGRAMMES AND AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

The NM-AIST hereby invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for admission to pursue various Master’s or PhD programmes. Programmes on offer this and next academic year including the areas of specialization are shown overleaf:

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Table 1: Degree Programmes and Specializations

3.1ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

3.2Admission to Master’s Programmes

To be admitted to Master’s programmes at NM-AIST, candidates shall meet the minimum requirements as stipulated below:

3.2.1 Master’s by Coursework and Dissertation

(i)Possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or similar institution of higher learning with GPA of at least 3.0/5.0.

(ii)Candidates that hold unclassified degrees (e.g. MD, BVM and DDS) shall have at least an overall of “C” grade and an average of “B” grade in the relevant subject or field of his/her specialization.

(iii)Satisfy the programme and specialty specific requirements as specified by the School/Department hosting the programme in section 3.5 below.

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3.2.2 Master’s by Research and Thesis

(i)Possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or similar institution of higher learning with GPA of at least 3.5/5.0.

(ii)Demonstrate ability to undertake research by either providing evidence of at least ONE year working experience in a research group/environment or at least ONE publication in an accredited peer-reviewed journal as the FIRST or SECOND author.

(iii)Submit along with application documents, a concise ONE-page concept note of what he/she wishes to research on as part of the study in order to demonstrate his/her ability to organize thoughts in writing, logically and creatively. The candidate shall be required to defend the concept note before a panel appointed by the host School/Department.

(iv)Be ready to pursue prescribed skills and capacity enhancing courses which are offered to all Master’s students at NM-AIST as common core courses and as may be recommended by the supervisors, to enhance research performance. The courses may be taken flexibly during the duration of the programme but MUST be successfully completed before graduation.

3.3Admission to PhD Programmes

To be admitted to PhD programmes at NM-AIST, candidates shall meet the minimum requirements as stipulated below:

3.3.1 PhD by Coursework and Dissertation

(i)Possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or similar institution of higher learning with GPA of at least 3.0/5.0.

(ii)Possess a Master’s degree from an accredited university or similar institution of higher learning with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0 and least an average of “B” in the relevant subject or field of specialization.

(iii)Satisfy the programme and specialty specific requirements by the School/Department hosting the programme as specified in section 3.5 below.

3.3.2 PhD by Research and Thesis

(i)Possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or similar institution of higher learning with GPA of at least 3.5/5.0.

(ii)Possess a Master’s degree from an accredited university or similar institution of higher learning with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0.

(iii)Demonstrate research experience by either producing evidence of at least TWO publications in accredited peer-reviewed journals, being the FIRST author in ONE publication and FIRST or SECOND author in the second publication, or produce evidence of a patent/prototype emanating from his/her research/innovation work and/or a funded research project with a PhD training component.

(iv)Submit along with application documents, a concise TWO-page concept note of what he/she wishes to research on as part of study in order to demonstrate his/her ability to organize thoughts in writing, logically and creatively. The candidate shall be required to defend the concept note before a panel appointed by the host School/Department.

(v)Be ready to pursue prescribed skills and capacity enhancing courses which are offered to all PhD students at NM-AIST as common core courses and as may be recommendedby the supervisors to enhance research performance. The courses may be taken flexibly during the duration of the programme but MUST be successfully completed before graduation.

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School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering (LiSBE)

School of Computational and Communication Science and Engineering (CoCSE)

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4.0FEE STRUCTURE

Visit NM-AIST website: www.nm-aist.ac.tz for details on fee structure. Note that it is mandatory to pay all direct University costs.

5.0ADMISSION AND SPONSORSHIP

Applicants meeting the admission requirements will be offered provisional admission letters to enable them find sponsors for their studies. The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology DOES NOT offer any scholarship to students.

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6.1APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

6.2Applicants are required to read and understand all information before submitting their applications.

6.3No student will be allowed to change the programme specialty admitted to.

6.4Selected applicants will be required to produce their original transcripts and certificates for authentication during registration.

6.5Applicants are required to submit the following documents to support their applications:

a)Duly filled application forms (Form NM – A101) available on the website www.nm-aist.ac.tz.

b)Copies of degree transcripts and certificates certified by the offering Universities/Colleges.

c)Certified copies of Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) and Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) and other relevant academic certificates.

d)Completed reference form (Form NM – A102) available on the website: www.nm- aist.ac.tz.

e)If employed, a signed certification of employer regarding grant of study leave.

f)Evidence of English proficiency if the medium of communication in the preceding academic levels was not English.

g)Bank pay-in-slip as evidence of payment of application fees (non-refundable):

i)TShs 50,000/= ( for Master’s) or TShs 65,000/= ( for PhD) for Tanzanian applicants.

ii)USD 30 (for Master’s) or USD 50 (for PhD) for international applicants.

7.0PAYMENT OF APPLICATION FEES

Application Fees should be paid to the following accounts:

NM-AIST Accounts Numbers at CRDB Bank Plc:

c 0150047604202 for TShs

c 0250047604201 for USD Swift Code: CORUTZTZ}

8.0SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

Applications can be submitted by e-mail, post or hand delivery to the following addresses:

(a)By E-mail: admission@nm-aist.ac.tz

(b)By Post:

The Admissions Department,

The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 447,

ARUSHA – TANZANIA.

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(c)Hand Delivery:

The Admissions Department,

Administration Block, Wing E; Office No. 105

The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Tengeru.

NOTE:

(i)Applications may be submitted throughout the year. However, applications for admission into coursework and dissertation programmes should reach the institution before 31st July 2016 for students intending to commence studies in the subsequent academic year.

(ii)Candidates for Master’s and PhD by research and thesis programmes will be admitted throughout the year.