The Loden Foundation

The Loden Scholarship for Higher Education is being established through generous support from our two stalwarts and will run the competition annually. It aims to provide financial support and guidance to students who come from poor families and rural communities with little or no access to information on higher education and may otherwise miss out on higher education despite being deserving candidates for university education. We strongly believe in the value of ‘right’ education and empowerment through education.

1. The scholarship is open to all subjects but the applicants must demonstrate strong desire and strength to pursue the field. The candidate will be asked to prove this in the interview and written test.
2. The applicant must have finished education to the level of high school. (People who do not have this qualification and desire to finish school education may consider the Loden Sponsorship Scheme.)
3. The applicants must have achieved an aggregate score of at least 50% in the Class XII or equivalent exams.
4. The scholarship will be either full or partial depending on the costs and will normally but not strictly be capped at Nu.150,000.
5. The applicant must submit two references, one preferably from a former teacher, explaining both the academic aptitude and moral integrity of the candidate.
6. The applicant must submit a cover letter stating the reasons for the choice of the subject and the financial needs, citing the annual income of the family, etc.
7. The applicant may submit other documents which may have a bearing on the selection.

Scope

The scholarship is open to all subjects including sciences and humanities. However, the candidate must effectively demonstrate the reason to pursue a degree in that field. If more than one scholarship is offered, the panel will try as far as possible to award one scholarship in each field. Subjects which are not traditionally supported by Royal University of Bhutan and government scholarships and subjects directly relevant to the Loden Foundation’s works may be shown preference.

In addition to the academic ability, the applicant must also convince the panel of his or her financial need. Those who have already got partial financial means are encouraged to apply. While the scholarship mainly aims to support candidates from poor families in all parts of Bhutan, preference may be given to applicants from outside the urban centres and marginalized groups.

Schedule

1. The scholarship competition will be announced at the end of March 2012 for the competition in 2012.
2. The applicants must submit their applications by 31 May 2012 with all required documents.
3. The selection committee will look at the applications and shortlist no more than three times the number of offer for that year by 15 June.
4. The shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by 30 June 2012.
5. The award will be made in the first week of July 2012 for courses which began by October.
6. The instalments of the award shall be issued ten days before the beginning of the term of study or according to the college schedule.

Selection Committee

The selection committee is composed of two trustees or members of the Loden Foundation, the co-ordinator, a high school teacher or lecturer and a CSO member, and constituted each year a month before the application deadline by the trustees of the Loden Foundation.

Administration

Either the co-ordinator or one of the trustees of staff of the Loden Foundation is responsible for the administration of the scholarship funds and for organization of the selection process. Applicants must submit their enquiries and applications to this focal person.

For 2012, please send enquiries and applications to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 17115060 during office hours.

Agreement

The recipient of the scholarship will have to sign a legally binding agreement with the Loden Foundation to successfully compete the study. If the recipient of scholarship fails to obtain the degree for which the scholarship is awarded in the stipulated duration, the scholar will be liable to reimburse the whole or part of the amount spent except if the study cannot be completed for reasons which the trustees of the Loden Foundation consider beyond the control of the scholar.

The scholars who have completed the degree successfully will join the Fellowship of Loden Scholar and make contributions in money or voluntary service to the Loden Foundation or another charitable organisation, at least to the value of approximately one quarter of the total scholarship in the first five years of his or her employment.