Fulbright Program
J. William Fulbright African Research Scholar Programs
The African Senior Research Scholar Program awards grants for three to nine months to university faculty members to conduct postdoctoral research at a U.S. academic or research institution. Applicants must have at least three years of university teaching experience. Research projects must be linked to on-going teaching and/or research responsibilities. A good command of English is essential.
The African Research Scholar Program for Professional Development awards grants for three to nine months to university members to undertake a planned program of reading and research that should be linked to professional duties (teaching, advising, administration). Applicants must have a master's degree and at least five years of teaching experience. A good command of English is essential.
Both programs are non-degree programs. Applicants must be Beninese citizens. Candidates affiliated with independent research centers, museums, or other cultural institutions that have educational and research objectives, are also eligible to apply.
J. William Fulbright Fellowships
The Fulbright Junior Staff Development Program (JSD) offers higher degree training to faculty members towards an M.A. or a Ph.D. for a maximum of two years. Candidates may be from universities, public and private educational and cultural institutions (museums, libraries, etc.). It also offers a training in non-degree research or non-academic professional program for one academic year. English proficiency is required - a minimum of 550 (for the paper-based test) or 80 (for the Internet-based test) on TOEFL. Applicants must be Beninese citizens. The application form is available online and the deadline for submitting applications is May 1st, 2013 at 05:00pm. For more details, please call the Cultural Affairs Assistant at the Public Affairs Section at 229-21-30-03-12.
The Fulbright Francophone/Lusophone Junior Staff Development Enhancement Program (FLJSD). This program is offered to candidates who are highly qualified academically and eligible to pursue a master's degree, but whose English is not proficient enough to meet the basic TOEFL requirement of 550. They must, however, score a minimum of 480 on the TOEFL. Selected candidates will be funded for a maximum of four (4) months of intensive English training and a maximum of two years in a master's degree program. Candidates for MBA or Ph.D., as well as candidates in the fields of English, TEFL, Linguistics and English literature are NOT eligible. Candidates who meet the basic requirements in the field of economics, history, information science, political science and public administration are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be Beninese citizens.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Screening procedures vary from country to country and adjustments are made to accommodate local preferences. To maintain the integrity of the selection process, applications are considered in a transparent competition, and the screening committee is comprised of qualified U.S. and local members.
- Nominees must be citizens or nationals of the nominating country, or permanent residents holding a valid passport issued by the nominating country.
- Nominees must have at least the equivalent of 4 years of university study and the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree.
- Nominees should have a sufficient level of English proficiency to enable them to realistically accomplish full-time graduate level study in the U.S.
- Nominees must meet the minimum score on required standardized tests.
- Nominees should have a high motivation and a serious commitment to completing the program as scheduled and to returning home.
- Preference will be given to nominees with no extensive or recent U.S. experience.
- No applicant shall receive more than one Fulbright Student Program grant. This applies to Humphrey Scholar alumni. This does not apply to Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program alumni.
- Local employees of U.S. missions abroad employed by the State Department are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment.