Two graduates from Universidad ORT Uruguay for the United Kingdom this September to pursue a one-year master’s degree with all expenses paid, after winning Chevening scholarships. They are Paula Mosera, a graduate of the Public Accounting program, and Fiorella Santo, who holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
In Mosera’s case, she will pursue a master’s degree in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the London School of Economics. She explains that she chose this program because she has been working for several years at an organization dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs who want to develop their social enterprises. In addition, ever since her time as a student at ORT, she has been involved in various volunteer activities and social projects.
“The idea behind studying abroad is to learn more about social innovation initiatives. In fact, as part of the master’s program, there’s a professional internship that will take place in Africa, so I’ll likely have to go there for a week to work on various projects. “In London, there are many initiatives focused on social innovation; there’s a legal framework for this type of social enterprise, and there are what are called social impact bonds, as well as other topics that interest me and that I want to explore in greater depth so I can bring them to Uruguay and Latin America,” Mosera explained.
For her part, Santo, who holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies, will pursue a master’s degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the University of Huddersfield, located in the city of the same name, 20 kilometers from Manchester. In her case, her interest in the field also stemmed from the fact that in recent years she has been working in the logistics and supply departments of multinational companies.
The selection process began in November of last year. Both candidates were required to submit four reports each, in which they answered questions about their short- and long-term career plans, what they would study, and how that would benefit the country once they returned. They were also asked to elaborate on their leadership and teamwork skills.
Once they had passed that stage, it was time for the interview at the British Embassy in Uruguay, where a panel—comprising members of the Embassy and the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII)—asked them a series of questions to get to know them better. A few weeks later, the graduates were informed that they had been selected for the scholarship.
At the same time, the two ORT graduates had to begin applying to the various universities in the United Kingdom they wanted to attend. “We had to select three master’s programs that interested us and rank them in order of preference, and at least one of them had to accept us. It could happen that you’d get the scholarship but not be accepted by the university, or the other way around—that you’d be accepted by the university but not awarded the scholarship,” Mosera explained.
In total, nine Chevening scholarships were awarded to Uruguayan students this year. Worldwide, 65,000 people apply each year, and a total of 1,800 Chevening scholarships are awarded. “Those of us who were selected make up 2.5% of the total,” Santo explained proudly.
After completing the master’s program, scholarship recipients must return to Uruguay and remain in the country for at least two years, as the purpose of the scholarship is for them to apply what they have learned in their home countries.
The scholarship covers travel expenses, accommodation, and tuition fees, as well as transportation and meal costs. To apply for a Chevening scholarship, applicants must be university graduates, have at least two years of work experience, and possess a high level of English proficiency.
“I applied because I thought it was a good opportunity to achieve my goal of pursuing a master’s degree abroad, specifically at a university in the United Kingdom, which are renowned for their prestige and high academic standards. Furthermore, the scholarship not only allows you to meet people and build professional networks, but also gives you the chance to pursue a fully funded master’s degree,” Santo concluded.