The Embassy of the United States of America and the Fulbright Commission are pleased to announce a new exchange program for undergraduate studies, the FY 2008 Global Undergraduate (Global UGRAD) Exchange Program.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Global UGRAD Program will provide five one-semester and three one academic-year scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students for non-degree undergraduate study at accredited U.S. two- and four-year institutions.

• The goal of the program is to provide a diverse group of emerging student leaders, with a substantive exchange experience at a U. S. college or university.
• Candidates will be nominated from among the following countries in the western hemisphere: Costa Rica; the Dominican Republic; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua; Panama; Uruguay; and Venezuela.
• Scholarships will be available in all academic fields of study.
• Global UGRAD Program participants must return to their home countries upon completion of the program
• The length and start date of the scholarship award will depend upon the student applicant’s interests and availability, as well as placement options. Students will not be able to choose their host institution.
• This is a non-degree program and it will be the student’s responsibility to check with their home institutions whether credits accumulated during the exchange can be transferred.

All Global UGRAD Program participants will be enrolled full-time in undergraduate course work chosen from the host institution’s existing curriculum to allow students ample opportunity for substantive interaction with U.S. faculty and student peers, and for exposure to U.S. academic and classroom culture. To ensure that students succeed in their new academic environments, host institutions will offer tailored instruction on topics including academic research and writing, critical thinking, time management, note-taking, and studying for and taking tests. Participants will live on-campus with American peers.

Students will be provided with opportunities to participate in up to ten hours of community service activities per semester. Additionally, an internship component will be offered for all academic-year participants during the academic component of the program. Internships will be related to each participant’s field of study and/or career plans.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State has designated funding to provide up to three students with 3-6 months of intensive English language training in the United States prior to the start of the academic residency portion of the program, for those excellent candidates with not-sufficient English language proficiency.

ELIGIBILITY

• Scholarships will be granted to students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in their home country, and who have completed their first, second, or third year of undergraduate study at the time of travel.
• Candidates should be highly motivated undergraduate students from colleges, universities and other institutions of higher education who demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities.
• All nominations must include evidence of English fluency – minimum level equivalent to TOEFL test score 500. Need to include certificates.
• Candidates must also meet all other requirements of the institution where admission is being sought.
• Preference will be given to participants who have little or no prior experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of their home countries.

NOMINATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection procedure – initial screening, interviews and final selection of candidates - will be conducted by the U.S. Embassy and the Fulbright Commission, although the exchange is not a Fulbright program. Selection will be based on the candidate’s motivation and leadership as demonstrated through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Candidates should submit their application forms and all required information to the following address:

EMBAJADA DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA
DEPARTAMENTO CULTURAL
GLOBAL UGRAD PROGRAM
LAURO MULLER 1776
MONTEVIDEO

Deadline for receiving applications at the U.S. Embassy: December 5, 2007 at 5:00 PM.This application package will include:

1. Two hard-copies of completed application form (Pdf, 304 KB)
2. Two copies of your personal statement in English
3. Two copies of your ID or Passport
4. Two copies of the academic transcripts
5. Two copies of the letters of reference
6. Two copies of certification of English language proficiency
7. Two copies of written certification of community involvement and/or extracurricular activities
8. One passport-size photo

Selected participants will also be asked to provide:

9. A complete medical history and examination form
10. A photocopy of a valid passport with an expiration date of no earlier than December 31, 2010.

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THEIR AWARDS BY MARCH/APRIL 2008.

 
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