Scholarship

The Education for Sustainable Energy Development (ESED) scholarship program inspires the next generation of innovators and thinkers to create a sustainable future. Our scholars are exceptional students from developing countries studying in sustainable energy development.

Today, the need for globally-oriented practitioners and researchers is growing rapidly. Our one-of-a-kind scholarship program fosters the next generation of energy, climate, and electricity sector specialists who will be prepared to tackle the challenges of the future.

Scholarships awarded to date

Countries of origin represented among our recipients

Applications received in 2022

Applications for the 2023 edition are now open

Submit your application by April 7, 2023 at 5 pm ET

Education level

Master’s-level students

Amount

Up to $10,000 US per year (max. two years)

Scholarships awarded

Approximately 12 students annually

How to apply

The Education for Sustainable Energy Development (ESED) program offers scholarships to approximately a dozen students every year. The maximum value is 10,000 USD per year of study for at most 2 years.

1

Prepare all the required documents

2

Create an account to access the online form

3

Fill in the application form and upload the materials

4

Submit your application

The scholarship application can take a few hours to fill in if you have all the correct information in hand. You will be able to save the application and come back to it later.

As the volume of incoming applications is extremely high around the deadline, we strongly urge you to submit your application as early as possible. Please note that applications sent by email or mail will not be accepted; you MUST use our online application platform.

FAQ

If you cannot find the information you are looking for in the FAQs or on our website, please contact us at [email protected].

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, prospective applicants must:

Undertake master’s-level studies in a field related to sustainable energy development
- Examples: zero-carbon energy, smart grids, electric transportation, energy storage, advanced electricity technologies, public policy, economics, law, political science, etc.
Pursue full-time studies for at least one full school year (two or three semesters) as of mid to late 2023
Be a citizen of a developing country on the list of official development aid recipients identified by the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD
Be committed to contributing to their home country’s development after their studies
Be an outstanding student:
- Excellent grades in the top 20% of their class
- Committed to zero-carbon energy development
- History of community involvement
- Determined to advance their knowledge and understanding

With the aim of supporting developing countries in building local expertise, GSEP will specifically dedicate a share of its scholarships to students pursuing master’s studies in universities based in developing countries.

The academic panel ensures that the yearly selection respects geographical and gender diversity.

Applying

You must provide an electronic copy of all the documents listed below. If the language of your original documents is not English, we require a certified translation of the document including the name of the translator as well as a copy of the original (untranslated) document.

Passport (photo page only) or birth certificate demonstrating citizenship of a developing country
Curriculum vitae detailing your education, work experience (if applicable), awards, and participation in volunteer and/or extracurricular activities
Admission letter from your university program of choice. Please note that each applicant can only submit the admission letter from their top choice of university program.
- If this application is for the second year of a two-year program, please include proof of enrollment, as well as a copy of the official letter of admission. These should be uploaded together in a single document.
A course outline of your intended master’s program (PDF file or link)
All previous university transcripts
- If this application is for the second year of a two-year master’s program, please include your transcript for your first year.
Two reference letters or forms:
- At least one of the references must be from an Academic referee. An academic referee must be a faculty member or professor at your current or previous university who knows your academic abilities. You need to provide a completed copy of the Academic Reference Form. The form must be completed in English and signed by the referee.
- The second referee may either be another Academic referree (as detailed above) or a personal referee. A personal referee should be a person (e.g. employer, supervisor, mentor, coach) who can discuss other personal qualities or interests that make you specially qualified to receive the scholarship. This referee cannot be a family member. Should you go with the Personal referee, the reference letter must be on official letterhead, written in English, and must be dated and signed by the referee. Please make sure that the referee includes your full name in their letter.

You need to provide two references. Both references must be in English. Please make sure that your full name is included on all references.

One reference must ABSOLUTELY be from a faculty member or professor at your current or previous university who knows your academic abilities. They must complete the Academic Reference Form.
The second reference can be from a second academic referee (same process as above) or a personal reference letter. Personal references need to be in letterform (with an official letterhead of the referee’s organization, if possible), written in English, and must be dated and signed by the referee. A personal referee should be a person (e.g. employer, supervisor, mentor, coach) who can discuss other personal qualities or interests that make you specially qualified to receive the scholarship. This referee cannot be a family member.