BOTA Foundation - BOTA Foundation Tuition Assistance Program Frequently Asked Questions

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Scholarship Program (TAP) : Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

BOTA Foundation Tuition Assistance Program Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTIONS ABOUT “BOTA” FOUNDATION

Is BOTA Foundation a governmental organization? What does it have to do with the Government of the Republic Kazakhstan?
• BOTA Foundation is a non-governmental organization registered under the Kazakhstani law as a public foundation (obshchestvenyi fond), independent from the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, its officials and their personal or business associates.

What is BOTA funding source? Who does this money belong to?
• BOTA initial capital consists of USD $84 million repatriated to Kazakhstan. In 1999, when trialing a case involving a US citizen, the United States Department of Justice sanctioned a Swiss bank account with $84 million in funds that had come from Kazakhstan in accordance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Under the 2007 trilateral agreement among the governments of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the United States of America and the Swiss Confederation, these funds were designated to return to Kazakhstan for establishing BOTA Foundation aiming at improving the lives of children suffering from poverty. Financial management of the funds is overseen by the BOTA Board of Trustees and Program Manager with the assistance of the World Bank. In addition to the initial $84 million, BOTA Foundation will seek to raise additional funds from individuals, corporations and government sources to invest in innovative child welfare practices.

DETERMINING YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM

Are there any restrictions regarding the age, race, and ethnicity of an applicant?
• All citizens of Kazakhstan are eligible to apply. There are no age limits, as long as you meet the appropriate educational criteria listed in the application instructions.

Can I apply if I am a citizen of another country but currently live/reside in Kazakhstan?
• No. You must be a citizen and current resident of Kazakhstan to apply.

Where can I use this scholarship (what types of institutions)?
• The scholarship can be used at institutions of higher education (universities, institutes, or ВУЗы) and colleges (колледжи).

I’m planning to enroll at a non-Kazakhstani university (for e.g., a Russian one) having a branch in Kazakhstan. Do you provide scholarships to study in such universities?
• It is possible if:
1. The university is accredited by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan to provide the educational services on the territory of Kazakhstan.
2. The university carries the educational process (tests, diploma defence etc.) without the need of attending the head university outside Kazakhstan.

Do I need to study in my own oblast to get the scholarship?
• It is not necessary. You can choose any educational institution on the territory of Kazakhstan, but you must be able to fulfill all university/college entrance requirements yourself. BOTA staff will not provide any assistance with the enrolment process.

What specialties does BOTA scholarship cover?
• There are no limits in choosing specialty, i.e. a candidate can choose any specialty s/he wants to study at a college or university. Note that at this time, the scholarship is only possible for up to four years, so recipients who choose fields which take longer than four years to complete (like medical school) should be prepared to fund their studies after the 4th year themselves.

I’m currently enrolled at a university or college. Can I apply for a scholarship to fund the rest of my studies at my current institution?
• No. BOTA Foundation scholarships are only available for students beginning a new program of study at a university or college.

I would like to study abroad (Russia, US, Germany, etc.) Can I apply for your scholarship?
• No. The scholarship is only available to study within Kazakhstan.

I enrolled at a university but dropped out without finishing my degree. Can I use this scholarship to finish my degree or start a new degree program?
• No. Only applicants enrolling at university or college for the first time are eligible.

I plan to study in correspondence courses (заочное отделение). Can I use the scholarship for this type of education?
• No. The scholarship may only be used for full-time (очное) study.

Can I use this scholarship to fund my second higher education degree?
• No. If you have already received a bachelor’s degree, you are not eligible to apply for a scholarship to begin a second bacheloar’s program. If you have already finished a college (колледж), you may not use the scholarship to fund a second program of education at a college (колледж).

If I receive an educational grant from the government of Kazakhstan or an educational grant from another source, can I also receive a Tuition Assistance Program scholarship from BOTA?
• No. If you receive an educational grant from the government of Kazakhstan or from any other source, you will no longer be eligible for a Tuition Assistance Program scholarship.

RECEIVING, COMPLETING, AND SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS

How can I request an application?
• You may download the application materials in Kazakh and Russian on our website, www.bota.kz. You may also request that an application is mailed or e-mailed to you; to do so please e-mail info@bota.kz or call 8-800-080-58-80. If you are requesting a regular mail application, make sure you provide your full address, including street name, building number, apartment number, city, and postal code (индекс).

Is there a possibility to get the application on my e-mail?
• Yes. To get the application to your e-mail please send us a request to info@bota.kz or call 8-800-080-58-08.

Can I fill in the application online (on BOTA website)?
• Yes, you can complete the application on www.bota.kz. To do so, check the Foundation website, find Tuition Assistance Program section and Tuition Assistance Program Application insert. Follow the instructions for application completion.

I have a question about the application. How can I get help?
• You can make a free call to speak to one of our staff at 8-800-080-58-80. It is free to make this call from any place in Kazakhstan. Also, you can call on the following telephone number in Almaty: 8 (727) 264 34 87 (paid trunk calls).

I am having trouble with downloading the application from your website. How can I get help?
• Please call 8-800-080-58-80 or 8 (727) 264 34 87 for assistance.

Can I fill out my application in either Russian or Kazakh?
• Yes, you may complete the application in either language.

I saw that the application is available in English on your website. Should I, or do I have to, complete the application in English?
• No, the English version of the application is for informational purposes only. You must complete the application in either Kazakh or Russian, not English.

I received the TAP application from my teacher at school. Does this mean that I am already approved for the TAP scholarship?
• No. BOTA works with schools to distribute applications only, you must comply with all other TAP requirements to be eligible for a scholarship.

Can I send the application to my friends who might be interested and qualified to apply for a TAP scholarship?
• Yes. The application may be freely distributed, either by photocopying it or by emailing the electronic version.

When is the application deadline?
• The application is due April 09, 2010. If sent by mail, it must be postmarked on or before April 09, 2010. If you would like to submit the application in person, you may bring it to the Almaty office by 5PM on April 09, 2010. If e-mailed, the application must be sent by 5PM on April 09, 2010.

How do I return the application?
• Please mail it to our PO Box at: 050051, Almaty, Prospekt Dostyk 91/1, PO Box #6
OR
• Bring it in person to our Almaty office at: Prospekt Dostyk, Building 160, Office #303
OR
• Send the application electronically by email to tap2010@bota.kz
Applications sent by email should contain the pages from 15 to 28 of the application. You must print p.28 of the application “BOTA Foundation privacy policy statement and application certification sign, scan and email it in with your application. Make sure the scanned page is legible.

What happens if I don't complete the application entirely because I am not sure how to answer one or more of the questions?
• Only 100% completed applications will be considered. If you are not sure how to answer any of the questions, please call 8-800-080-58-08 or email info@bota.kz for assistance.

EXPLAINING THE SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA

How many recipients have won the scholarships to study in the academic year 2009-2010?
• Tuition Assistance Program issued the scholarships to 87 students all over Kazakhstan to study at colleges and universities of their choice.

What are the selection criteria?
• The two main selection criteria are the academic potential (determined by the answers to questions 20-23 in the application, and the follow-up interviews for short-listed applicants) and financial need (determined by the answers to questions 24-36).

Why is this scholarship only available for economically disadvantaged students?
• The BOTA Foundation's mission is to improve lives of children from low-income families of Kazakhstan through the investment in their education, health and social welfare. The aim of the Tuition Assistance Program is to extend opportunities of young people who want to get full-time education at colleges and universities of Kazakhstan, but having no means to pay for education.

Will I have to provide documentation in support of my application?
• Applicants that pass the first stage of the selection process will be asked to bring documentation that proves income and family status to the interview, but not earlier.

What is considered an economically disadvantaged household?
• Preference will be given to applicants from economically disadvantaged households. Specifically, preference will be given to applicants whose expenditures are estimated to rank in the bottom 20% of all households in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Do applicants from rural areas or other oblasts receive preference?
• No, living in rural or urban areas or other oblasts of Kazakhstan is not a determining factor. The selection is based on the financial condition of a household and a candidate’s academic potential.

Why do I have to report my household details?
• The BOTA Foundation understands that many young people in Kazakhstan are currently having difficulties financing their education, and expects to receive a large number of applications for the 100 scholarships. In order to ensure that the Tuition Assistance Program serves the young people in the most need, the application is designed to capture information about the applicant’s living situation and financial status. Questions 24-36 are taken from the Government of Kazakhstan’s Annual 2008 Household Survey, and the answers to these questions will help the BOTA Foundation understand the applicant’s financial status. The BOTA Foundation will use this information to compare the applicant’s financial status with that of other applicants and with government statistics.

Why do you make home visits?
• Home visits will be made in order to verify the household details provided in the application.

What is the selection procedure like?
• The selection process consists of seven stages:
1. All received applications will be checked by BOTA Foundation staff for technical eligibility (educational and citizenship requirements, etc.)
2. All applications meeting the technical eligibility standards will be ranked based on the financial status of the applicant, according to the information provided in Questions 24 – 36.
3. All financially eligible applications will have the responses to the essay Questions (numbers 20-23) evaluated by a BOTA screening committee for clarity, logic and completeness.
4. 250 of the most highly ranked applicants will be asked to participate in an interview with an independent Selection Committee. The Committee will assess the candidates’ potential to successfully complete university or college study.
5. Applicants that do well in their interviews will have income status and family status documentation verified by TAP staff.
6. Applicants must take the Unified National Test (UNT) or complex test(s) or other examinations and get high enough scores to meet entrance requirements of the Kazakhstani university or college of their choice. Applicants should then apply to that university or college as commercial students and be accepted.
7. The first 100 applicants that meet all requirements mentioned above, and have not received educational grants from the State or any other source, will receive educational grants from BOTA.

When will I get a decision on my application?
• Semifinalists will be notified in May or June and invited to an interview. Final scholarship recipients will be announced in August in accordance with the national schedule of entrance examinations and institution admissions.

What happens to my application if I do not pass the UNT or other entrance exams?
• If you do not obtain the minimum UNT or other entrance exam score required to enroll in a college or university, your application will be dropped from consideration.

How many applicants will get the scholarship?
• Up to 100 scholarships will be awarded.

Can I apply next year (2011-2012) if I am not selected for a scholarship this year?
• Yes, but only if you have not yet enrolled at a university or college. For example, if you were not enrolled at an institution while you wait to re-apply, you are eligible to apply again. The terms of the scholarship (what is supported and for long) may change next year. You should check the BOTA website in January 2011 to find out more about terms and conditions for next year scholarship program.

UNDERSTANDING THE TERMS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP

Will I have any obligations to the BOTA Foundation if I receive a scholarship?
• Yes. Recipients are required to perform community service (20 hours per academic year), submit written reports and grades to the BOTA Foundation, attend workshops conducted by the BOTA Foundation, and submit financial reports on the funds dispensed directly to them.

What grades are needed in order to maintain the scholarship?
• Grantees are required to achieve the grades necessary to remain enrolled in their educational institutions.

Will I get the funding for the total amount of study years or only for one year? Do I have to re-apply each year?
• The scholarship will be awarded for one year of study. Recipients may apply to extend their scholarships each year, contingent on good academic performance (up to 4 years total) and completion of the BOTA social service requirement.

How much funding does the scholarship provide and how will I receive the funds if selected?
• The scholarship covers the cost of tuition and fees at the institution you choose to attend, plus room and board (housing and meals) and travel expenses for students studying outside of their home city/village. Tuition and fees will be transferred directly to the grantee’s educational institution. Travel and living expenses will be transferred directly to the grantee’s bank card account.

After graduating from a college or university, should I return the money paid by the foundation for my education and accommodation?
• No. The educational scholarship is issued without compensation and should not be returned. You need to fulfill the requirements of the Program during the period of studying.

After graduating from a college or university, should I pay by working for some time at the Foundation?
• No. After graduating from a college or university, you do not have any further obligation to the BOTA Foundation.