2016-17 Fellowship Program in USA Fulbright for Citizens of Afghanistan
Applications are invited for Fulbright Program for Citizens of Afghanistan for the year 2016-2017. Fulbright Graduate Fellowship Program for citizens of Afghanistan to pursue a fully-funded Master’s degree in the United States. The Fulbright Graduate Fellowship pays for up to two years of graduate study in the United States to earn an MA, MS, MBA/MPA, LLM or similar graduate degree. For the 2016-2017 program, approximately 53 graduate fellowships may be available. Fellows receive a tuition grant for their coursework and a monthly stipend to cover living expenses at their host institution. Fellows also receive roundtrip transportation and health benefits. The application deadline is March 20, 2015.
Study Subject(s): The Fulbright Graduate Fellowship pays for up to two years of graduate study in the United States to earn an MA, MS, MBA/MPA, LLM or similar graduate degree and Fellowship pays for up to five years of study in the United States to earn a PhD in selected fields.
Course Level: Fellowships are available for Master’s and Doctoral studies in the United States.
Scholarship Provider: U.S. Government
Scholarship can be taken at: USA
Eligibility: Applicants must be citizens of Afghanistan and currently reside/live in Afghanistan;
-Applicants must have a four-year bachelor’s degree (first university) by March 20, 2015 and a strong academic background as demonstrated by their post-secondary transcripts. Please note that if you have a 3-year bachelor’s degree from any country, you are required to have at least a 1-year Master’s/post-baccalaureate diploma in order to be competitive and be placed in a U.S. university;
-Applicants must present three letters of recommendation from their professors and/or employers (usually two from professors and one from an employer);
-Applicants must score a minimum of 75 on the Internet-based TOEFL exam and submit their score with their Fulbright application.
-Applicants should demonstrate leadership qualities — including volunteer experience and involvement in their communities;
-For some fields of study work experience is strongly preferred (e.g., Public Health, MBA);
-Applicants must submit two application essays (a Personal Statement and Study Research Objectives) with clear goals, well-reasoned statements describing why a specific academic track is the best fit, and tying their academic plans to longer term professional goals;
-Applicants must be committed to returning to Afghanistan and a specific plan for using their Fulbright experience in their professional lives and in service to their country;
-Strong preference will be given to applicants who have not had extensive recent experience in the United States.
-Note: All grantees are required to return to Afghanistan for at least two years at the conclusion of their grant in compliance with the J-visa requirements, promote mutual understanding, and serve as future leaders in the public and private sectors of Afghanistan. After grantees return to Afghanistan and establish themselves in their careers, it is still possible to get another visa to the U.S. allowing travel back and forth on necessary business.
Scholarship Open for International Students: The students of Afghanistan can apply for these scholarships.
Scholarship Description: The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government. The Fulbright Program in Afghanistan is currently one of the largest Fulbright Programs in the world. It is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Afghanistan. The Fulbright Program provides participants – chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential – with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Fulbright, the most widely recognized and prestigious international exchange program in the world, actively seeks out individuals of achievement and potential who represent the full diversity of their respective societies and selects nominees through open, merit-based competitions.
Number of award(s): For the 2016-2017 program, approximately 53 graduate fellowships may be available. For the 2016-2017 program, as many as 3 Doctoral fellowships may be available.
Duration of award(s): The Fulbright Graduate Fellowship pays for up to two years of graduate study in the United States and The Fulbright Doctoral (PhD) Fellowship pays for up to five years of study in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in selected fields.
What does it cover? Fellows receive a tuition grant for their coursework and a monthly stipend to cover living expenses at their host institution. Fellows also receive round trip transportation and health benefits.
Selection criteria: The Fulbright Program’s application process is lengthy and rigorous, and prospective applicants are encouraged to consider carefully their intentions, goals, future plans and prospective projects before applying for a Fulbright grant. Participants will be recruited through a merit-based, open competition and selected based upon their leadership potential, academic excellence, community involvement, maturity, ability to adjust successfully to life in the U.S., strong interest in engaging Americans, and potential to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Afghanistan. Applications are reviewed by an American-led panel from the U.S. Embassy and the applications of the finalists are submitted to the Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York.
Notification: The application review and interview process continues until June and selected Fulbright finalists are notified sometime in July.
How to Apply: Send complete application (all application materials as one single PDF file) as an email attachment via e-mail. A complete application package must include a scanned PDF file of the following: completed application form, including the signed application checklist; copies of attested diploma(s) and transcript(s); screenshot of TOEFL/iBT score; scanned copies of three recommendation letters; current CV or resume; and (for PhD applicants only) a sample of professional writing (10 to 15 pages).
Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is March 20, 2015.
http://kabul.usembassy.gov/fulbright.html