Evaluation Criteria

	MSc	PhD	Post-PhD and Fellowship
University academic performance	4 points	3 points	---
Research aptitude, relevant experience and quality of the application	2 points	3 points	4 points
Quality and scientific interest of the research project	4 points	4 points	4 points
Transdisciplinary aspects	4 points	4 points	5 points
Letters of support/evaluation	2 points	2 points	2 points
Training environment	2 points	2 points	2 points
Qualifications of Research Supervisor and Co-Supervisor	2 points	2 points	3 points
Total	20 points	20 points	20 points

University academic performance

Research aptitude, relevant experience and quality of the application

Research experience: nature and duration of participation in research projects;
Technical skills and independent thinking;
Research productivity and achievements: quantity and quality of publications, authorship and relative contribution, presentations at national and international scientific conferences;
Motivation for bursary application ;
General presentation of the candidate's application;

Quality and scientific interest of the research project

Adequately background information, rationale and importance of proposed research;
Research objectives and questions clearly stated or hypothesis-driven studies;
Novelty and innovation;
Relevance of the described methodology;
Feasibility of proposed research (i.e. human and material resource’s availability;
Type of analysis

Transdisciplinarity aspects

Transdisciplinary nature of the research project (particularly for Ph.D. and fellowship candidates):
1. Which axes/ pillars are involved?
2. Nature of the research question;
3. Research methodology;
4. Possible impact on health, health policies or interaction with consumers/public;
Transdisciplinary nature of the research environment:
1. Which axes/ pillars are involved?
2. Regular interaction with researchers/trainees from different disciplines in the area of reproductive health;
3. Appropriate and complimentary skills and expertise of Research Supervisor and Co-supervisor: nature of mentoring and research support;
Multidisciplinary profile of the candidate

Letters of support/ evaluation

Referees:
1. Qualifications of referees;
2. Nature of professional relationship between referees and candidate;
3. Strength of letters of support;
4. Strength of the evaluation: sufficient detail/depth in the assessment of the candidate’s originality, research potential/aptitude or achievements, motivation, industriousness, judgement/critical appraisal skills.
Research Supervisor:
1. Strength of the evaluation: sufficient detail/depth in the assessment of the candidate’s originality, research potential/aptitude or achievements, motivation, industriousness, judgement/critical appraisal skills.

Training environment

Stimulating learning environment: journal club, seminars, discussion groups;
Mentor’s availability for interactions with research trainee and nature of interactions (i.e. quality of supervision);
Availability of other help and support;
Availability of funding for the research project.

Qualifications of Research Supervisor and Co-supervisor

Previous experience of Research Supervisor and Co-supervisor in research training (i.e. number of past graduate and post graduate research trainees);
Peer-reviewed funding support for research program of Research Supervisor and Co-supervisor (i.e. supported by peer-reviewed grants from national or provincial granting agencies);
Candidates’ proposed project in accordance with interest and expertise of Research Supervisor and Co-supervisor.

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