MSP Iraq

The MENA Scholarship Programme offers Iraqi professional impact makers up to (and including) 45 years training opportunities at Dutch education institutions in the Netherlands. This scholarship is offered by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the Shiraka programme and is managed by Nuffic.

What's on this page?

Requirements

A limited number of approximately 20 scholarships a year is awarded to female and male professionals who are:

  • highly motivated;
  • living and working in Iraq;
  • 20 to 45 years old;
  • proficient in English;
  • working in one of the priority areas fitting the MSP approach for Iraq;
  • using and transferring their knowledge and experience in their employing organisation after the training;
  • agreeing to the MSP obligations and conditions (155.1 kB).

English proficiency

You need English language skills because most courses are offered in English.

Priority areas

You have to be working within one of the following priority themes:

  • governance
  • social change
  • sustainable economic development

Preference is given to the following organisations:

  • youth/civil society organisations
  • national organisations
  • non-governmental organisations (NGO’s)
  • small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s)

Employer statement

You need an employer statement (68.4 kB) that is signed by you and your employer. It shows us that your employer supports your application. And that you can share the knowledge and experience you gained in the Netherlands once you return to Iraq. This is required because the MSP is focused at strengthening organisations by strengthening people.

Other requirements

The education institution will inform you on the requirements needed for your application. Most of the courses are designed for professionals with at least a BSC-level (or equivalent) and a minimum of relevant working experience. Applications from students will not be taken into consideration.

In order to apply for one of the courses you must motivate:

  • that you work within the priority themes for Iraq as mentioned above;
  • how the courses will strengthen both you and the organisation you work for;
  • how you will use your newly gained knowledge and experience in your organisation after your study.

We especially encourage women to apply for a scholarship. 50% of all scholarships per country are reserved for women.

Available courses

This is the provisional MSP course list for the application round that is opening between 3 September and 15 October 4 pm CEST. Please note that some education institutions have an earlier deadline.

Maastricht School of Management (MSM)

Application deadline: 13 October 2024
www.msm.nl
MSM-executiveprogrammes@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Courses
Leading organisations in a digital era: AI For Executives, Strategic Leadership, Change Management
Inclusive Leadership: Strengthening Personal Skills and Promoting Gender Equality
Project Management

MDF Training & Consultancy

Application deadline: 15 October 2024, 4 pm CEST
https://www.mdf.nl/courses
registration@mdf.nl

Courses
Management of Development Projects and Programmes
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Gender Mainstreaming in Development

RNTC Media Training Centre

Application deadline: 15 October 2024, 4 pm CEST
Website: https://rntc.com/scholarships information: info@rntc.com

Course
Counter Disinformation and Hate Speech with Digital Media

The Hague Academy for Local Governance

Application deadline: 7 October 2024
https://thehagueacademy.com/
scholarships@thehagueacademy.com

Courses
Citizen Participation and Inclusive Governance
Inclusive Service Delivery and the SDGs
Urban Governance: Resilient and Smart Cities
Local Climate Response
Migration and Local Authorities

University of Amsterdam (uva)

Application deadline: 15 October 2024, 4 pm CEST https://summerschool.uva.nl/programmes/summer-programmes.html
Contact information: Summer-info-gsss@uva.nl

Courses
Multilateralism, Globalisation and Corporate Diplomacy
Addressing Conflict: Peacebuilding in Theory and Praxis

Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam

Application deadline: 15 October 2024, 4 pm CEST
Academic deadline: 10 October 2024
Website: www.ihs.nl
Contact information: admission@ihs.nl

Course
Sustainable Urban Development (SUD)

"Studying in the Netherlands has opened up my world. The experience of being part of the Dutch culture for a while, and the international class room opened the window to the world for me. A unique opportunity to acquire knowledge and perspective, to grow."

Kamaran Palani, lecturer, alumnus from Iraq

How to apply

You always have to apply in 2 steps:

  1. Apply for academic admission through the education institution.
  2. Apply for the scholarship through Nuffic's online application system. Please check the conditions for receiving the link at the education institution of your choice.

Contact the education institution of your choice well in time to receive more information about the application procedure and deadlines.

To apply:

  • Check whether you fit the requirements and approach for Iraq.
  • Choose a course from the list above.
  • Contact the education institution offering the course as soon as possible. We strongly advise you to contact the institution of your choice long before an application round opens, as additional academic requirements may be needed.
  • Apply for an MSP scholarship through a link for Nuffic’s online registration system which you receive from the education institution. Please check the conditions for receiving the link at the education institution of your choice.

Twice a year you can apply during an application round for a MSP, usually in February and in September. Results of applications are announced 3 to 4 months after application.

Selection criteria

The MSP is a very competitive scholarship. Only a small number of the best candidates receive a scholarship. The available scholarships are equally distributed across the participating countries, taking into account the available budget and the quality of the applications. 50% of all scholarships per country are reserved for female applicants. Preference is given to candidates who have not received a MSP, Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) or Shiraka scholarship before.

Questions

Please contact the education institution where you want to study on questions regarding your application for the MSP scholarship. For other questions please feel free to contact Nuffic on msp@nuffic.nl.

Other opportunities for Iraq

Don’t fit the MSP requirements? Or would you like to do another course? An independent and up-to-date overview of English-taught programmes in the Netherlands is available in the Studyfinder.

We also highlight the following other scholarships for Iraq: