Masaryk University (MU) is offering scholarships to 20 students from the Republic of Belarus in amounts ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 Kč per month (approx. 380–460 EUR/month), as well as academic grants to persecuted researchers in amounts of up to one million Kč per year (approx. 38,000 EUR/year). MU has taken this step in response to the alarming events that have been unfolding in Belarus since the recent elections. The scholarships and grants will be awarded based on merit. Students interested in this scholarship should send an application to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until 30 September, 2020. The conditions of the research grant programme are available here.
“The deans of all our faculties immediately expressed their support for this scholarship progamme and are prepared to release money from their scholarship funds. I believe that by taking this step we will motivate other universities to follow suit,” says MU Rector Martin Bareš.
MU will finance research grants using funds from the Grant Agency of MU. “This support programme is intended for excellent researchers in all fields of the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences. These grants will provide researchers with enough financial support to further develop their research activities and thus create unique career opportunities,” adds Vice-Rector for Research Šárka Pospíšilová. The progamme will be open for applications in mid-September.
Last week, MU leadership expressed deep concerns about the events in the Republic of Belarus related to the presidential elections and their aftermath. By all accounts, these elections were neither free nor fair, and the basic principles of democracy were not respected.
Thus, the leadership of MU calls upon Belarussian authorities to cease persecuting and committing acts of violence against the citizens of Belarus who have been protesting the undemocratic nature of the elections, which were marked by fraud, and who desire democratic change and a better future for their country.