Fulbright Foreign Student Program

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Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Program Description

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program, the flagship international academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government, has fostered mutual understanding between the United States and other countries since 1946. The program provides awards to approximately 8,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals each year from the United States and 160 countries.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program will provide a scholarship for students to obtain a master’s degree from an accredited U.S. university.

All awards are contingent upon approval by the J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board, availability of funds, and successful academic placement.

Eligible Fields of Study

All fields of study are eligible.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications are considered in a transparent, merit-based competition. Candidates must:

  • Be citizens or nationals of Angola, or permanent residents holding a valid Angola passport.
  • Have at least the equivalent of 4 years of university study and the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. University students currently in their final year may apply, but must provide their bachelor’s degree diploma and final year transcript by August 2022.
  • Have a sufficient level of English proficiency to enable them to engage in full-time graduate level study in the U.S.
  • English test valid for up to one year (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo etc.) and should meet the minimum scores on required standardized tests.
  • Be highly motivated and have a serious commitment to completing the program as scheduled and returning to Angola.

Applicants with no extensive or recent U.S. experience will be given preference.

Additional selection criteria for participants in the Long-Term English (LTE) training component

  • Only candidates for Master’s degrees in their current field are eligible. Individuals seeking Ph.D., MBA, Law, or non-degree programs are not eligible for the LTE component.
  • Candidates in the fields or sub-fields of English, TEFL, and Linguistics must have a minimum TOEFL score of 65 to be eligible LTE.

LTE participants who are not successful in gaining an academic placement within an allowable period following LTE will return home. Participants may not bring dependents to their LTE program.

The following are not eligible to apply to the Fulbright Foreign Student Program:

  • Medical studies candidates who wish to pursue internships, residencies, or studies in medicine. Candidates with medical degrees may receive grants for advanced academic study only (e.g., Master’s degrees in public health).
  • Previous Fulbright Student Program or Humphrey Program grant recipients (with the exception of Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program alumni).
  • Employees of U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and their immediate family members (spouses and dependent children) are ineligible for grants during and for a period ending one year following the termination of such employment, association, or service. This provision includes all employees, paid or unpaid (including part-time or temporary employees, consultants, externs, fellows, and contract employees). This provision does not apply to interns and does not disqualify self-supporting children who live apart from their parents. The one-year period of ineligibility is calculated from the date of termination of employment, service, or association until the program application deadline.

Grant Objective and Duration

Awards are granted as follows:

  • Graduate degree program: One (1) to two (2) years of study towards either a Master’s or PhD degree (Eligible grantees may apply for one renewal grant). Master’s Degree candidates will receive priority;

OR

  • Non-degree research: Participation in an academic year (9-10 months) non-degree research program. (Grants are not renewable).

Plagiarism Policy

Please note, in 2019 the Fulbright Foreign Student Program implemented a zero-tolerance plagiarism policy. ECA and IIE will follow the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of plagiarism: Plagiarism is the wrongful appropriation or purloining and publication as one’s own, of the ideas, or the expression of the ideas of another. Application materials will be processed using software to help identify any instance of plagiarism. If plagiarism appears in any part of the application, it may result in the nominee’s disqualification from participation in the program. Prior to submitting your application, you must complete a plagiarism certification. Please read through the Fulbright Foreign Student Essay Tips before applying.

Funding

Fulbright grants cover full costs for round-trip travel, insurance coverage, tuition and fees, maintenance allowance, books and supplies, room and board, and program-related conferences. Depending on availability of Fulbright funds, grant awards may also include a pre-academic orientation in the first year. Fulbright Foreign Student Program funding is limited to two years. Master’s applicants are given priority due to the uncertainty of third and subsequent years of funding for Ph.D. grantees. Ph.D. candidates who secure funding from outside sources will remain under Fulbright visa sponsorship rather than having sponsorship transferred to the host institution. Ph.D. candidates unable to secure funding for the additional years will return home without completing their degree.

Testing

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program competition is extremely competitive and high test scores are critical.

 Only individuals selected as semi-finalists will be required to take the standardized tests below and their test fees will be paid by the U.S. Department of State.

Selected candidates should familiarize themselves with the tests in advance and utilize practice tests and available online resources to prepare.

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – A desirable TOEFL score for Fulbright Master’s candidates is 90 and a score of 80 is preferable on internet-based tests (IBT). Ph.D. candidates are expected to score a minimum of 100 on IBT; however, this varies by field of study. Consideration will be given for a limited number of nominees with a TOEFL score in the range of 60-79 (internet-based) to be placed in LTE language training.  LTE grantees must re-take TOEFL again and score adequately to qualify for Master’s degree placement. Candidates in the fields or sub-fields of English, TEFL, and Linguistics must have a minimum TOEFL score of 65 to apply for LTE. More information on the TOEFL is available at http://www.ets.org/toefl.
  • Graduate Record Exam (GRE) – GRE is required for those seeking admission in all fields except law and business. Fulbright candidates should score above the fiftieth percentile in both sections of the GRE. More information on the GRE is available at http://www.ets.org/gre.
  • Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) – GMAT is required in the field of business in lieu of the GRE. A minimum 550 GMAT score is required for Master’s candidates in business and a minimum score of 600 is required for Ph.D. candidates.  More information on the GMAT is available at http://www.mba.com/.
  • Grantees placed in intensive English language training must retake the GRE/GMAT and TOEFL during the language training period and qualify for Master’s degree placement.  Grantees unsuccessful in gaining admission to a Master’s program within the allowable period will return home with a certificate of participation in the Intensive English Program.

Placements

Academic placements are arranged by IIE, with consideration given to a candidate’s university preference; however, a candidate’s application will not be submitted to a preferred school if s/he clearly does not meet one or more admission requirements, or if the institution does not offer an appropriate program. Placements are based on the type of orientation the grantee requires, their academic program, and location. Tuition and related costs are also considered.

Dependents

If accompanied by dependents, Fulbright grantees are responsible for all associated costs of bringing and maintaining dependents in the United States. This includes airfare and other travel expenses, living expenses, school costs, medical insurance that meets visa regulations, and any uncovered medical bills. The Fulbright Program defines a dependent as a spouse, qualified same-sex domestic partner, or an unmarried child under 21 years of age.

Process and Selection Criteria 

Fulbright grants are highly competitive and several stages of review are necessary to make the final selection of participants. Applicants must fulfill the eligibility criteria outlined above to be considered. Applications are now closed. Qualified candidates will be interviewed in English by the U.S. Embassy Selection Committee in June and must be available to take the TOEFL in June or July. Those whose scores allow them to continue in the competition will be required to take the GRE or GMAT exam and submit an online application which will be sent to Washington, D.C. for final approval in late-September. Finalists will be announced by December 2023; university placements will be announced by June 2024 for degree programs beginning in August/September 2024. Finalists who require additional English training may be required to attend and successfully complete an intensive English program in January or March, before they are placed in an academic degree program.

Applicants will be evaluated on their academic and professional record, relevance of field of study, leadership potential, motivation and adaptability, and plans upon completion of study.

To Submit an Application:

Before completing and submitting an application, read carefully the Instructions for Completing the Online Application (PDF 531 KB). When entering a new application, select the correct cycle: 2024-2025  Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: 

  • To create an account, first read the instructions carefully and create a Slate user account. When beginning a new application, select the correct cycle: 2024-2025 Fulbright Foreign Student Program
  • Upload copies of transcripts for each year of undergraduate and graduate study completed, with English translation
  • Upload copies of Licenciatura Diploma and, if relevant, Master’s Degree Diploma, with English translation
  • Request three letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters should be written by people who know you well, such as teachers or employers. They should not come from friends or relatives. Letters should be written in English or be accompanied by an English translation.

Selected semi-finalists will be required to provide certified copies and translations of all documents.

Due to the anticipated volume of applications received, we will not forward explanations to applicants not selected for the program.

Applications are closed.

See more at: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/fulbright-foreign-student-program

For more information on the Fulbright Program or for announcements of upcoming information sessions: e-mail  PASLuanda@state.gov, visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/USEmbassyLuanda, or visit  http://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/.

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