Vietnamese Student Program AY 2014-2015

The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam is pleased to announce the Fulbright Vietnamese Student Scholarship Program for the academic year 2014-2015. Established in 1946 and funded by the U.S. Congress, the Fulbright Program aims at achieving mutual understanding through academic and cultural exchange. The Fulbright Vietnamese Student Program is a competitive, merit-based scholarship program which recruits and nominates young Vietnamese professionals for Master’s degree programs at U.S. universities. Approximately 20 to 25 fully-funded scholarships are granted on an annual basis. Since 1992, more than 500 Vietnamese students have been selected to participate in the Program.

WHAT does the Scholarship provide? Successful candidates will pursue a Master’s degree program that begins in the academic year 2014-2015. The Fulbright Program will arrange placement at universities in the United States. Successful candidates will receive a full scholarship which covers tuition and fees, monthly stipend, round-trip airfare to the U.S. and health insurance.

WHO can apply? Competition is open to all applicants who meet the following minimum criteria:

1. Be a Vietnamese citizen (no dual citizenship)
2. Have at least one undergraduate degree
3. Have at least two years of work experience after graduation by the time of application
4. Have a valid minimum TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.5.

(These requirements must be strictly followed.)

Ineligibility factors

The following persons are ineligible to apply for the Fulbright Vietnamese Student Program:

1. Candidates who already received one Fulbright Student Program grant
2. Candidates who are currently living or studying in the United States
3. Candidates who have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a U.S. college or university within the last 3 years
4. Local employees of the U.S. missions in Vietnam who work for the U.S. Department of State and their immediate dependents are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment

WHICH fields of study are supported?

The Program supports study in most fields of social sciences and humanities, including:

• American Literature
• American Studies
• Agricultural Economics
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Art/Film Studies
• Business (all fields)
• Communications
• Development Studies
• Economics
• Education
• Environmental Studies
• Management of IT/Information system
• Journalism
• Language/Literature (non-U.S.)
• Law
• Library Science
• Linguistics/Language Teaching
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Project/Program Management
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Public Policy
• Public Health
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Urban/Community Planning
• Women/Gender Studies

(A brief introduction of each field of study is available here (PDF, 180KB). Please contact the Fulbright office if your desired field of study is not on the list)

HOW to apply?

All applicants must APPLY ONLINE at: https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/international/20/

A complete online application package must include:

1. Application form
2. Two essays (study objectives and personal statement)
3. 03 letters of recommendation
4. Transcripts and diplomas
5. TOEFL iBT and/or IELTS score reports

Please read the application guidelines in the Fulbright Booklet (PDF, 924KB) carefully before starting your application. Failure to comply with the guidelines may make your application “ineligible” for the further rounds of competition.

Deadline for application submission: 5:00PM, May 2, 2013.

Emailed or faxed applications will not be considered.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Competition will be based on academic and professional merits, without regards to affiliation, race, religion, or gender. Preference is given to those without recent experience in the United States. A successful applicant is someone who can:

• Demonstrate a clear and detailed description of the study objectives, and show a clear connection between their study objectives and future goals through a compelling set of essays
• Have a depth and breadth of work experience in their intended field of study, and a full understanding of the field
• Demonstrate leadership potential based on the participation in academic, extra-curricular, community and professional development activities, and personal attributes.
• Show dedication to Vietnam & potential impact upon return
• Contribute to promoting the mutual understanding between the people of the United States and Vietnam through educational and cultural exchange activities.
• Have academic excellence and strong English proficiency
• Obtain excellent letters of reference that reflect/cite/support the qualities above

TIMELINE

• January 1, 2013 -- Grant announced and application materials available
• May 2, 2013 -- Deadline for submission of application
• June – July 2013 -- Application review and semi-finalists selection
•  August 2013 -- Interviews & finalists selection
•  October – November 2013 -- Finalists (re)take GRE/GMAT/TOEFL iBT
•  November – March 2014 -- Submission of application to U.S. universities
• April - May 2014 -- University placement announced
• May 2014 -- Pre-departure orientation
• June – July 2014 -- Medical check-up and visa application
• July – August 2014 -- Departure

INFORMATION SESSIONS:

The information session schedule in other cities/provinces will be updated soon. Please visit our website at a later time for details.

CONTACT

For further information, please contact Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, the Program Assistant at (04) 3850-5089 or email: nguyenHT4@state.gov.