Program Announcement

New Information Coming Soon for the 2014-2015 Academic Year

2013-2014 Fulbright Graduate Fellowship Program

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the 2013-2014 Fulbright Graduate Fellowship Program for citizens of Afghanistan to pursue a master’s degree in the United States.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

Participants will be recruited through a merit-based, open competition and chosen based upon their leadership potential, academic excellence, 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.

Applicants must be citizens of Afghanistan and have completed their undergraduate education and hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree by the start of the grant period.

Applicants should have a sufficient level of English to enable them to successfully complete full-time graduate study in the U.S. Many successful applicants earn a score of 600 or higher on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Long-term language training may be available for some applicants who fail to obtain the required TOEFL score; however, all applicants must demonstrate sufficient English language skills during the interview portion of the selection process. Semi-finalists will also be required to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination).

Strong preference will be given to applicants who have not had extensive recent experience in the U.S. Applicants currently living in the U.S. are ineligible for the program.

All grantees are expected to return to Afghanistan for at least two years at the conclusion of their grant in compliance with the J-visa requirements and to promote mutual understanding.

All grantees receive tuition, monthly stipend, supplemental health and accident insurance, book and supplies allowance, travel support and the opportunity to attend Fulbright enrichment activities.

The link for applying online is - https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/international/20/

Applications has been extended to midnight (Kabul time) on May 1, 2012.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Programs Details – Fulbright Graduate Fellowship Program

The Fulbright Graduate Program enables Afghans to pursue graduate-level study in the United States, build leadership skills and exchange cultural understanding with Americans.

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 2013-2014 program, as many as 60 graduate fellowships may be available. Fellows receive a tuition scholarship for their coursework and a monthly stipend to cover living expenses at their host institution. Fellows also receive roundtrip transportation and health insurance. In addition, Fellows may also attend special enrichment activities throughout their program.

Guide on How to Apply for Fulbright Scholarships.

Requirements for Applicants

• Applicants must be of Afghan nationality and resident in Afghanistan
• Applicants must have an undergraduate (first university) degree by June 1, 2012 and a strong academic background as demonstrated by their post-secondary transcripts
• Applicants must present at least three letters of recommendation from their professors and/or employers
• Applicants must pass an Institutional TOEFL exam (PBT) with a score of at least 600 points – this score corresponds to an advanced level of proficiency in general English; knowledge of specialized English in your particular field is not sufficient
• Applicants should have limited or no prior experience in the United States
• Applicants should demonstrate leadership qualities

No Dependents
The Fulbright Graduate Fellowship is provided for the recipient only; dependents cannot be supported. Dependents of Afghan Fellows are not permitted to accompany them to the United States. All Fellows must return to Afghanistan immediately following the completion of their academic program in the United States.

Placements
Fulbright Graduate Fellows will study at a university in the United States for up to two years. Applicants may indicate a preference for universities in which they would like to study. These placements will be explored but cannot be assured.

Deadline

Applications has been extended to midnight (Kabul time) on May 1, 2012. Fellowships will be awarded for academic programs beginning in the United States in August/September 2013.  Late applications will not be accepted.

How to Apply

Step 1: The first step in applying for the Fulbright Graduate Fellowship is to read the instructions carefully. Before you apply, be sure that you qualify.

The Fulbright Graduate Fellowship is open to Afghan citizens living in Afghanistan, who:

• Hold a minimum of a BA/BS degree;
• Want to pursue graduate study at the master’s degree level;
• Are proficient in English; and
• Are able to function easily in academic and social settings.

Step 2: To apply for the 2013-2014 Fulbright Graduate Fellowship, you must submit a preliminary application online at: https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/international/20/ by Midnight  May 1, 2012, Kabul Time.

The application will ask you to provide such information as:

• Proposed field of study
• Future plans
• Educational background
• Work experience
• Language skills
• Study/research objectives
• Personal history
• Academic transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation from your supervisors or former professors

Please review the advice on writing a Statement of Purpose.

Step 3: The U.S. Embassy will review the applications and inform the most promising applicants by email that they are registered for a free English test called the institutional TOEFL. We expect the iTOEFL to be offered in late May and June.

Step 4: After we receive the institutional TOEFL scores, the U.S. Embassy will contact the most competitive applicants for a personal interview, beginning at the end of June.

Step 5: We will make the final decisions on the selected candidates and notify all applicants of the decisions by the end of July.