CEDAW FOR CHANGE OXFORD INSTITUTE – JUNE 2020

Application Process

To be considered for the program, you must first submit an online application.  Once your application has been reviewed, we will be in touch. If you have reasonable grounds to request a discount, please see the details below.  The online application form is available here:   
General application form:   http://learnwhr.org/oxford2020-application/ 
Eurasian Fellowship application form is here:  http://learnwhr.org/eurasian-fellowship-app/ 

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, but decisions will be made during specific time windows, until the course is full.  You can expect to hear back about your application on the following schedule:

First round of acceptances:  December 1st

Second round of acceptances:  January 10th

Third round of acceptances:  Feb 10th

Fellowships and scholarships will have a single deadline, please find application here.

Note: Our first program at Oxford University in 2017 generated a lot of interest – we expect the program to fill up fairly quickly, so please plan accordingly.

Payment Deadlines

Once you have received an acceptance to the program, you must pay a deposit to guarantee your space in the program, as space is limited.  We recommend submitting payment immediately upon acceptance to avoid disappointment. Payment deadlines and amounts are as follows:

Immediately: $300 USD deposit due to guarantee space in the course. Deposit refundable minus $150 USD administration fee and reverse wire transfer costs only before April 1, 2020.  Payment must be made by international wire transfer, details will be provided.

By April 1, 2020: Full payment is due. 

Discounts

CEDAW for Change Institute Discounted rate: Unwaged participants, full-time students and staff of women’s organizations with an annual budget of less than USD $80,000 are automatically eligible for the discounted tuition rate of $1500 USD.

Requests for discounts will be considered on a case by case basis, but please bear in mind that fees are charged in order to help us cover expenses and support the sustainability of this program. We do our best to make it accessible.  We are also happy to work out a payment plan schedule that works for you.

Discounts may be available for multiple participants from the same/affiliated organizations—inquire by email if this applies to you.

Please note: Past applicants’ experience with funders has been that they only fund people working within organizations, not independent individuals, and they often only give funds to their current funding recipients. Thus, we suggest you approach your own funder(s) and think creatively for fundraising—you may have success in finding local patrons to support you, some embassies offer funds, some unions, etc.   Many people find success with GoFundMe campaigns or other online fundraising tools. We are happy to provide documentation to assist you in your fundraising.

Scholarships

A limited number of partial and full tuition scholarships will be made available to support attendance at the program.

Eurasian Region Fellowships: Women’s Solidarity Fund (WSF) with support of Open Society Foundations (OSF) is pleased to provide a number of funded fellowships (tuition+travel+accommodation) for applicants from the Eurasian region (see eligible countries below) who clearly demonstrate a deep commitment to using CEDAW to make social change for women in their respective communities/countries. To be eligible you must be a citizen or full-time resident of: Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova (Central Europe), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia (South Caucasus), and Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (Central Asia).

Tuition scholarships:  a limited number of tuition scholarships (no travel support) will be available through a competitive application process for women’s human rights defenders from the Global South.  Scholarship allocation prioritizes under-represented groups of women and applicants who are well-positioned to make an impact in their communities and organizations.  Note that scholarships do not include travel or other costs, only the cost of tuition for the program, and are not generally available for persons working in large, well-funded organizations that can access funds to support training and capacity-building.

The application period for fellowships and tuition scholarships is NOW OPEN. Please check application form here You MUST be able to prove that you can cover travel and ancillary costs to be eligible for the full tuition scholarship.  You must also commit to an action plan and provide a short report 6-8 months after the program.  Don’t wait – start fundraising for travel and other costs now.

Planning – Accommodations & Budgeting

Please note that the cost of tuition does not include accommodation or travel costs.  We regret that we cannot make bookings on your behalf.  Oxford has many accommodation options at a variety of price ranges.  We strongly recommend booking early so that you can find something in your budget range.

1. University Residences

North Oxford Overseas Centre (http://nooc.org.uk/index.php/vacancies (http://nooc.org.uk/index.php/vacancies)) offers rooms with shared kitchen area and shared bathroom for about $30-40 USD/night for short term stays. If you wish to contact them to reserve a room you can contact them through their website or phone them at (+44) 01865 311 277. Please confirm the rates as they may fluctuate slightly from summer to summer. North Oxford Overseas Centre tends to fill up quickly, so do book early. Also, please note that booking is open no earlier than 3 months before the requested time.

2. Hostels:

There are other private student options and one such is YHA Oxford, available on: 

https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-oxford and https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-oxford

Few examples of hostels:

PRICE RANGE: £ 0-127 per night

Oxford Backpackers can be accessed on:

 https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/oxford-backpackers.en-gb.html

PRICE RANGE: £127-254 per night

Hampton by Hilton Oxford – can be accessed on:

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/hampton-by-hilton-oxford.en-gb.html

Valentia Lodge Short Stays Oxford – can be accessed on:

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/valentia-lodge-short-stays-oxford.en-gb.html

3. Bed and Breakfast:

For Bed and Breakfast options, you can check at https://www.booking.com/bed-and-breakfast/city/gb/oxford.en-gb.html or/and https://www.bedandbreakfast.eu/bed-and-breakfast/oxford/united-kingdom/c2640729

EXAMPLE:

PRICE RANGE: £ 90-110 per night

Heather House Bed and Breakfast – can be accessed on:

https://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html

4. Airbnb

 www.Airbnb.com and http://www.airbnb.com/ offer private listings of short-term rentals all over the city. You are sure to find something suited for you either in a shared house or a whole apartment at rates comparable to a hostel or hotel.

For additional information, visit the main website: www.learnwhr.org (http://www.learnwhr.org/) Or get in touch with us at info@learnwhr.org (mailto:info@learnwhr.org)

Points to consider

•        As you make your bookings, please take note of your arrival and departure dates to avoid any inconveniences.

•        As the course will take place in two venues, you may opt to stay at a central location which will allow you to move freely. However, this should not be a major concern as there is efficient public transport around Oxford. 

Budgeting for your stay:

 Your costs to participate in the program beyond tuition will depend on your location and other factors, but please budget for the following: 

• Approx. 40-50 pounds per day for meals and incidentals (You can save costs by shopping at a nearby grocery store rather than eating only in restaurants)
• Accommodation costs – will vary depending on whether you find room lodgings, use AirBNB, or book a local hotel.  A map and info on the area is available on the Somerville College website:  click here
• Personal travel medical insurance for non-residents of the UK (purchase in your home country)
• Visa fees, if you require a visa to enter the UK
• Flight from your place of origin to London – Heathrow or Gatwick airport
• Local transportation costs:  return bus between Heathrow or Gatwick airport in London and Oxford  (25-30 pounds each way)

Visa Information 

Please be aware that a visa for the United Kingdom may be required. Participant visa processes can take one – two months, or even longer, and require much supporting documentation. In the past, visa delays have forced some participants to arrive late and have caused others to miss the Institute altogether. PLEASE APPLY FOR YOUR VISA EARLY.

• Once we accept your application, we will provide you with a visa support letter, but you must find out from your nearest UK consulate or embassy what documents and procedure are required—it may require you to gather many documents on your end.
• You must have a valid passport.
• Two recent passport photos are usually required. Make sure these photos meet the requirements as outlined on the website.
• You must provide proof that you have enough money for your visit abroad. The amount of money may vary, depending on the circumstances for your visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives. You can get more information from the visa office in your country or region.
• You will need to include other documents. These documents could be: identification cards, proof of employment, a letter of invitation from your hosts, or a proposed itinerary. Check the website of the visa office responsible for the country or region where you live for more information.
• Other information related to your ties to your home country, such as marital status, children if any, family ties, property ownership, can be helpful
• If you have traveled abroad previously, please include information on past visas as demonstrating travel history can be helpful to your application
• Be aware when you book your flight that a transit visa may be required for transfers or stopovers, for example, if your flights connects via the US or a European airport.  Check carefully to avoid problems.