The CSLA is funded by the Open Society Foundations (OSF). It is explicitly designed for individuals from countries where civil society is actively repressed or in deep transition. You are funded to study at select host universities across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.0
- Offer Degrees
- Masters
- Subjects
- Law
- Seats Available
- Dozens annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- No
- Work Experience
- Yes (2 yrs)
- Age Range
- No Age Limit
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- Optional
- TOEFL
- Optional
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- English
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- See Description
- Monthly Stipend
- Varies 0/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- Yes / Yes
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
It provides elite-level funding (full tuition, living stipends, pre-academic summer schools) and inducts you into a powerful global network of human rights defenders and policy reformers.
Application Process
You apply directly through the OSF portal. The eligibility list of countries fluctuates yearly based on global geopolitical crises (e.g., Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, or specific African nations).
How to Win This Scholarship
Do not apply if you just want a standard corporate Master's. The OSF is looking for activists, journalists, and human rights lawyers who are actively fighting systemic injustice in their home countries. Your application must demonstrate incredible grit and a proven track record of civil society engagement, often at great personal risk.
Benefits After Completing Study
Graduates often secure leading roles in international NGOs like Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch.
Be warned: the Open Society Foundations have been actively banned in several authoritarian countries. Being affiliated with an OSF scholarship can sometimes draw scrutiny from security services in heavily repressed nations upon your return.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source