Introduction
The IRAS Foundation was created in the fall of 2008. In the fall of 2008 IRAS professor dr Bert Brunekreef has been awarded the dr A.H Heinekenprijs for Environmental Sciences. Prof Brunekreef chooses to use this award to increase knowledge on the relationship between environmental factors and public health. This award was the starting point to establish the IRAS Foundation.
About IRAS
IRAS is the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences of Utrecht University, located in Utrecht, the Netherlands. It is an interfaculty research institute within the faculties Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, Sciences of Utrecht University. Support is also provided by the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in Bilthoven, and by TNO Quality of Life, Zeist.
The mission of IRAS is to provide education and research on the human health risks of exposure to potentially harmful agents in the environment, at the workplace and through the food chain. Effects on ecosystems are also considered.
The research takes places within three domains: Toxicology, Environmental Epidemiology and Veterinary Public Health.
Objectives of the IRAS foundation
The objective of the IRAS foundation is to provide financial support for
- students enrolled in the Utrecht University MSc programme on Toxicology and Environmental Health, or
- students enrolled in the Utrecht University MSc programme Epidemiology, with specialization Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
- students pursuing a PhD education with IRAS and
- who are financially incapable of covering all costs involved with this education.
Students with a Dutch nationality can not apply for this support.
Scholarships
Each academic year (September- September) €25,000 euro is available for scholarships. Scholarships can consist of
- (partial) fee waiver (max €6,250/year)
- (partial) support in travel, accommodation and living costs
Each student can apply for a maximum of €12,500 for the total period of 2 years. The scholarship will never fully cover all costs. The applicant must have other sources of income.
Eligibility criteria
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Applicants should have at least a BSc degree in
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Next to these academic qualification applicants must show
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How to apply
In order to apply for a scholarship the applicant must provide
- Complete application form
- Proof of application for MSc programme Toxicology and Environmental Health or Epidemiology, specialization Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
- Letter of motivation
- At least 2 letters of reference by academics
After application
- The student will be informed on the Board’s decision within three weeks after the deadline.
- Acceptance of the scholarship must be confirmed with 2 weeks after the decision is announced.
- Once the scholarship is accepted the student must start his/her education programme at the earliest possible starting moment (for the MSc programmes September or February).
- The scholarship will be made available in a Dutch bank account in monthly terms.
During the study
Upon arrival in the Utrecht, the student on a grant will be appointed an IRAS tutor by the Foundation Board. His/her study progress will be monitored and discussed over the year. After 8 months a decision on continuation of the scholarship for the next year will be made.
Deadlines for application
May 1, 2012 for the programme starting September 2012
October 2012 for the programme starting February 2013
May 1, 2013, for the programme starting September 2013
Contact person
Ms Mieke Lumens, PhD
Msc coordinator Toxicology and Environmental Health
Chair of the IRAS foundation
E: m.lumens@uu.nl
T: + 31 30 253 9447
