Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State through IREX is currently seeking applications from eligible candidates in the CIS countries for the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program 2012 to pursue one-year non-degree, one-year degree, or two-year degree study in the United States.
IREX is an international nonprofit organization providing thought leadership and innovative programs to promote positive lasting change globally. IREX was established in 1968 as the International Research & Exchanges Board by leading US universities to administer exchanges with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
Eligibility
The Muskie Program is open to graduate students and professionals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan for one-year non-degree, one-year degree, or two-year degree study in the United States. In order to be eligible for the 2012 Muskie Program, applicants must currently reside in their country of citizenship.
Fields of Study
Eligible fields of study for the Muskie Program are: business administration, economics, education, environmental management, international affairs, journalism and mass communication, law, library and information science, public administration, public health, and public policy.
Selection Process
The Muskie Program is conducted as a merit-based open competition. After the deadline, all eligible applications will be reviewed by a bi-national panel of academics, regional experts, and alumni. Chosen semi-finalists will be interviewed in their home country by a binational committee of US academic specialists, program alumni, and US embassy representatives. Selected semi-finalists will take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), as well as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), if applicable, in early 2012. Program finalists and alternates will be chosen based on results of the initial application review, interview committee, and test scores.
IREX staff provides administrative support only and does not vote in the final selections.
Selection Criteria
- Academic excellence
- Flexibility and suitability as a graduate exchange student
- Relevant work experience
- Demonstrated leadership potential
- Proficiency in written and spoken English
- Commitment to returning to their home country in Eurasia after program completion and to sharing the benefit of the program with their community
- Preference will be given to those applicants from outside capital cities
- Preference will be given to applicants who have not had prior US study abroad experience.
Provisions and Expenses Covered
The Muskie program provides for the following: J-1 visa support; roundtrip travel from the fellow’s home city to their host institution in the United States; tuition and mandatory university fees; health benefits plan; monthly allowance for living expenses; limited allowance for textbooks; a welcome workshop; and alumni networking opportunities.
Last date for submission of applications is November 2, 2011
For more information, visit this link.
