Filip
Scherf

He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in International Security Policy at Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Prior to joining SIPA, Filip worked as an Expert Advisor to Senator T. Grulich, was a Security Analyst for the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic and a Project Coordinator at the FORUM 2000 Foundation. Filip received his BA with honors from the School of International and Public Affairs and completed the year-long Robinson-Martin Security Scholars Program at the Prague Security Studies Institute. Filip was selected by the Global Security Forum in 2012 as one of the 25 Global Leaders Under 35 in Security Policy and is a member of the Brussels-based Young European Leadership. Filip has published over thirty essays in the media in the US, UK and the Czech Republic, and his first book, The European Union as Security Actor of a New Type, after joining Columbia University. At the university he co-founded the university-wide Central and Eastern European Club, where he is currently Vice President. Filip speaks English, Russian and Spanish and is an avid sportsman.

How do I get a scholarship to study abroad?

Each year, the Krsek Foundation, will pay the tuition fees of 10 students admitted to master's degrees in engineering, natural sciences, economics, history and political science at one of the top universities listed below.

The scholarship is conditional upon confirmation of admission to a master's degree programme at one of the following schools. The maximum age of the applicant is 25 years.

Only students with Czech citizenship can receive the scholarship.

The application form includes:

• CV of the student in Czech language with information about his/her studies and experience so far
• portrait photograph in print resolution
• information about the school to which the applicant is admitted
• an essay (3,600 characters) in Czech describing why the applicant wants to go to the school, what he/she expects from it and what he/she wants to do after graduation
• proof that the applicant's and his/her family's financial circumstances do not allow them to finance their studies (e.g. copy of tax return)
• confirmation that the student has applied for a scholarship at the school of his/her choice but has not been awarded (or has only been partially awarded)

The Krsek Foundation will select the candidates according to the information provided in the application form and conduct interviews with the finalists (the interview includes a psychological-intelligence test)

Tuition fees will be paid directly to the school account.

The candidate will undertake to fulfil the following conditions:

• To hold at least three lectures for Czech high school and university students about their experiences, opportunities and advantages of studying abroad (the lectures will be organized by the Foundation) during the next 2 years.
• To produce an essay of 5,000 characters each year for five years on a topic assigned by the Foundation.

In general, the scholarship is awarded for the first year of the Master's degree.