This Fellowship Program is an outcome of seven years of collaborative work undertaken by The International Study Commission on Media, Religion and Culture. The fellowships will be offered for research at doctoral level, and master degree if necessary, to applicants from the Catholic community in the Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe regions. The principal aims of the program are to advance scholarly research and leadership in the practical and theoretical dimensions of the interface between media, religion and culture in Asia, Eastern Europe and the Pacific and to develop scholars who can return to provide intellectual and practical leadership in the field within their home countries and regions.

International Symposia on Media, Religion and Culture
In addition to providing the financial support for the duration of the career of master and doctoral studies, and thesis research, the Fellowship Program intends to accompany the Fellows by inviting their participation in a series of high-level International Symposia on Media, Religion and Culture. These symposia will be held in various regions and will include participation by both renowned scholars and prominent church leaders. The fellows will receive funding in order to enable them to participate in the symposia.

Selection of the Fellows
The Fellowship Committee will evaluate all applications and will award the scholarships on the basis of merit, research topic and its imagination and interest, an appropriate supervisor and continental and gender distribution.

Criteria for the Selection of Fellows
Fellows will be selected on the basis of
---Demonstrated academic competence and qualifications for admission to the master and/or doctoral program of the selected institution
---Appropriateness of the proposed area of research to the aims of the scholarship program;
---Agreement of the designated supervisor;
---Ability to support oneself to completion of the program;
---Ongoing relationship to a Catholic institution or community in the home country

Expenses covered by the Fellowship
The Fellowship will be awarded to cover
---the cost of tuition fees for a doctoral program at an approved university
---the cost of tuition fees for master degree if necessary to enter a doctoral program
---travel costs for the Fellow to the place of study
---a resettlement allowance

Fellows will be required to obtain their own support for
---living expenses
---education expenses such as books, computer, etc.
---application and other fees, such as university tests, visas, etc.

Payment of Scholarships
The scholarships for full tuition will be paid annually to the University for the duration of the course of full-time academic study. This will be dependent annually upon a receipt of letters indicating satisfactory progress from the supervisor, the host institution and the home community or institution.
The funds for travel expenses and resettlement costs will be paid directly to the Fellow.