USEF Nepal announced opening of Near East and South Asia Undergraduate Exchange Program Competition

The NESA UGRAD Program aims to award scholarships to outstanding students from non-elite and disadvantaged backgrounds for one-year of undergraduate, non-degree studies programs in the United States at a diverse network of accredited two- and four-year institutions. Participants will be enrolled full-time and will live on-campus with an American roommate. Participants will not select host institutions and placements will not be changed.     

1. The Fulbright Commission in Nepal will nominate up to 10 Nepali students, for a possible 5-7 student awards, to undertake one-year of undergraduate non-degree studies in the United States at a diverse network of accredited two- and four-year institutions.
2. The grants are to fund studies in the US beginning late summer 2014 for one year.
3. All applicants must: possess Nepali citizenship; have a high level of competence in speaking, reading and writing English (short-listed candidates will be called to take an English language proficiency test, which is administered free of cost by the Commission, soon after the application submission deadline); and be in excellent health (selected candidates may be required to undertake a medical test to see if they are fit to undertake further studies in the US).
4. Only those students who are completing final year of Grade 12 (I.Sc., I.Com, “10+2” etc.) or enrolled in first-, second- or third-year full-time Bachelor’s degree study at the time of application at a registered academic institution in Nepal and are in good academic standing are eligible to apply. Students taking a gap year after their high school before joining Bachelor’s degree study are also encouraged to apply.
5. Applications will be accepted in any field, and participants will take part in community service as well as part-time unpaid internship.
6. Credits for academic courses taken in Nepal by the selected candidates will not be transferred to US institutions; nor should it be expected that credits earned in US educational institutions during the grant period will be transferred to Nepali educational institutions. Neither the administrating agencies in the US nor this Commission can make credit transfer arrangements for applicants.
7. A complete application includes one original set consisting of:
8. completed online application form;
9. two essays: a fully-developed 450-550 word Personal Statement along with a 450-550 word Statement of Achievement
10. two recommendation letters;
11. a copy of the applicant’s citizenship document;
12. attested copies of all academic certificates and transcripts, SLC and beyond (attestations can be done by either the educational institutions that issued the documents, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University, Fulbright Commission, Government of Nepal or a public notary);
13. one passport-size photo;
14. a copy of valid TOEFL score report (only if the candidate has already taken the test)
8. The two letters of recommendation (mentioned above) should be written in the NESA UGRAD Confidential Reference Letter form attached with the application. The letters attesting to your scholarly ability may be attached with the application, directly mailed, handdelivered, faxed (fax no. 977-1-4410881), or emailed as scanned documents (email address: fulbcomm@fulbrightnepal.org.np) by your referees to the following address:

   Fulbright Commission/USEF-Nepal
   PO Box 380
   Gyaneshwor, Kathmandu
   Nepal

   The recommendation letters, if sent separately, must reach the Fulbright Commission by 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 22, 2014.

9. All complete application set must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 22, 2014.
10. Please check the notice board outside the Fulbright Commission (USEF/Nepal) office or the Commission website www.fulbrightnepal.org.np on Friday, January 24, 2014 to see if you have been called to take the English language proficiency test. The test will take place on Tuesday, January 28, 2014. The results of the English language test will not be published; they will be used, along with your application, to shortlist candidates for an interview by the selection committee. The list of candidates called for an interview will be posted on the Commission notice board and website on Friday, February 14, 2014. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 21, 2014; if you are called for an interview, you must be available during these times.
11. The Commission will merely nominate candidates for the grants; the final selection is done in the U.S. A formal award of the grant is also dependent upon acceptance to a U.S. institution and eligibility for a visa to the U.S. As such, initial selection in Nepal does not guarantee a final placement and an award.
12. If you have any questions, come to a Question and Answer session on Friday, January 17, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. at the Commission office in Gyaneshwor.

Please click here to go to NESA UGRAD Application Page