Fulbright Grants Information for Applicants, 2000-2001
Program Summary | Selection Criteria Important Dates | Fulbright
Programs in Asia
 |
| Holly Donahue, '00 won a Fulbright to study in India |
Supports graduate study (and some independent research) abroad. Opportunities vary greatly with the country or region.
a) Academic or Professional Qualifications
Scholastic achievement, especially in applicant's major field, is of primary importance. (Grades in major are more
important than overall major.) In countries that don't express a degree preference, candidates will only be compared
to their peers, thus B.A. candidates are not judged on the same basis as those preparing for Ph.D.
b) Validity and Feasibility of Project
Candidates are asked to outline study plans/ projects in their major field which may be accomplished in one country
in no more than one academic year abroad. (Candidates may propose an intra-regional, multi-country proposal, provided
excellent justification is given.)
c) Foreign Language Proficiency
Candidates are expected to have language proficiency sufficient to carry out the proposed study and to communicate
with the people of the host country. Unless otherwise stated in the brochure, persons applying to a country where
knowledge of a foreign language is required, must have a minimum of two years of college-level language study (or
the equivalent), before applying. Regardless of the source of the student's knowledge of the language, the Language
Evaluation form must be completed.
d) Foreign Experience
In general, candidates who have not had previous extended foreign study or residence are given preference. However,
vacations or undergraduate university programs abroad are generally not sufficient experience abroad to justify
a disadvantage.
September 18, 4:00 p.m., Application due in Academic Advising Office
Week of September 28: Campus interviews
October 22: Application due to Fulbright.
Fulbright Programs in Asia
(please consult the printed listing in the Office of International Education for full information):
Hong Kong
A minimum of one year of Mandarin or Cantonese is recommended. The academic year runs September through April/ May, or October through June, depending on the institution. Sciences, social services, and Western medicine are not recommended fields of study. Applications for research related to master's theses or Ph.D. dissertations are preferred.
India
13 Fulbright Full Grants. Knowledge of Hindi is especially useful. Classical or modern Indian languages, or oral use of a regional language, may be needed for specific research projects. The preparation of candidates, including the language skills necessary to carry out projects in India, will be an important factor in selection. Academic year is July through April. Grantees should plan to arrive in India during the second half of September for an orientation conference held in Delhi. There are up to 8 grants in all fields of study, but candidates are encouraged to apply in business or public administration, environment, physical sciences, astronomy and astrophysics, humanities and social sciences, and the creative and performing arts. Up to 4 grants for graduate students who are registered for their doctoral programs, with particular emphasis on Indian economy.
Indonesia
9 Fulbright Full Grants. Sufficient proficiency in Indonesian to carry out the proposed study or research is required. Special consideration is given to proposals in the fields of Islamic studies; economics; international trade; ethnic studies (not Javanese or Balinese); the environment; journalism; international law; women's studies. Well-qualified M.A. and Ph.D. candidates currently enrolled in U.S. institutions, who want to conduct degree or nondegree study at Indonesian institutions and independent graduate-level research, are eligible for these awards. A local sponsoring institution is required to conduct independent research. The American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) assists grantees in obtaining affiliation. There are also research clearance and visa requirements, so candidates should allow sufficient lead time.
Japan
10 Fulbright Full Grants for Graduate Students. The necessary language skills, and study about Japan, are required before arriving. The Academic year runs April through March, with summer vacation from mid-July through September. Grants are awarded for 1 year, and may begin at any date from July 1999 through January 2000. Awards are renewable for a maximum of 9 months for Ph.D. dissertation grantees only, subject to satisfactory justification and progress. Applications are accepted only in social sciences and humanities, and only in the following project areas: Japan (modern Japanese studies preferred), Pacific Rim relations, Problems of contemporary society, and Education. Applications from graduate students in the creative and performing arts will not be considered under any circumstances.
15 Fulbright Fellowships for Graduating Seniors. Academic year same as above. Grants awarded for 1 year. Grantees must arrive in Japan in time to participate in the orientation program in September. They must also participate in a mid-year conference. For graduating seniors, applications will be accepted in all fields.
Korea
8 Fulbright Full Grants. Candidates with some knowledge of Korean are given preference. Academic year is March through December, with summer break in July and August and winter break in January. The grant is for 10 months. Arrival in late August or early September is required. Applicants who have clearly defined proposals, are emotionally mature, can work with minimal supervision and have no dependents are preferred. Applicants must be well-qualified in the following categories: (1) recent college graduates, for Korean language study and/or independent study/research related to career objectives; (2) young professionals and/or graduate students currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from, a master's level program (including those offered by professional schools), for study/research/internships related to their programs; and (3) Ph.D. candidates, especially those intending to pursue a career in Korean studies, who have completed a minimum of 1 year of course work, and who propose to conduct preliminary research on proposed dissertation topics or carry out approved dissertation research. Affiliation with an appropriate institution will be requested before, or shortly after, arrival in Korea. There are certain provisions for dependents.
2 Fulbright Travel Grants. Travel grants supplement an award from a non-IIE source that does not cover travel expenses, or may be used to supplement personal funds for an academic year of study. The same criteria that apply to full grants apply to travel grants. Before the grant is awarded, candidates may be required to confirm their ability to support themselves abroad.
30 English Teaching Assistantships. These are for 1 year. Renewals for up to 2 additional years are available, subject to certification of satisfactory cultural adjustment and performance. Relocation to another school may also be available upon renewal. The program includes intensive Korean language study, training in ESL techniques, cultural orientation, and in-service workshops. All class teaching is in English. Stipend is approximately US$1,000 per month maintenance, provided by the Korean Ministry of Education through the secondary school assignment. The Fulbright award covers international round-trip travel, health and accident insurance, and orientation costs. Well-rounded articulate individuals, unmarried and under 30 years of age, with the initiative to teach conversational English to middle and high school students are eligible. Undergraduate degrees in humanities and social sciences are preferred. 20 hours per week are required; approximately 16 hours of teaching and 4 hours related activity. A homestay is mandatory.
Malaysia
2 Fulbright Full Grants. English is the language of instruction for graduate level studies in Malaysian universities and is widely spoken within the academic context. Nevertheless, the language of undergraduate instruction at all major Malaysian universities is Malay (Bahasa Malaysia). Additionally, applicants whose projects will involve work in the field, in remote areas, or which will require regular contact with Malaysians will find some knowledge of Bahasa Malaysia to be essential. The academic year runs from early May to June; grant duration is 10 months. Ph.D. candidates pursuing dissertation projects and those currently enrolled in master's degree or other graduate level programs are given preference in selection. Applicants should be able to work independently with a minimum of supervision. All Fulbright Fellows are responsible for arranging their own institutional affiliations prior to their arrival in Malaysia. Specifically, all foreign researchers in Malaysia are required to establish both local individual and institutional collaboration before a research permit will be issued. This process takes approximately 6 months and should be initiated by the applicant as early as possible. Preference is normally accorded to those projects which are broadly defined as involving "Malaysian studies."
Philippines
10 Fulbright Full Grants. Although not required, knowledge of Tagalog is useful for research in most parts of Luzon, including metro-Maila, and Cebuano language in the Visayas and Mindanao. Academic year is June through March. Fulbright Fellows may begin at any time during the calendar year. However, if scholars wish to enroll in or audit classes, they should begin either in June (the start of the first academic semester) or November (for the second semester). Fields of study: Philippine studies, including language and literature; history; government; culture; arts and humanities; education. Doctoral candidates undertaking dissertation research are preferred. Other suitable applicants include students pursuing master's degree projects, and graduating seniors. All Fulbright Fellows will have opportunities to travel in-country when conducting their research; they can work with colleagues from academic and professional organizations. Fellows may take courses relevant to their research projects as well as courses in Philippine history and culture in some Philippine schools. The Foundation welcomes applicants with strong academic records, good recommendations, focused research plans, and evidence of commitment to Philippine studies as a career.
Singapore
Fulbright Full Grants. A regional or local language may be needed for a specific project. Academic year is two semesters: mid-July to mid-November; January to the end of April. Applicants who wish to attend the National University of Singapore (NUS) or Nanyang Technological University (NTU) should apply directly to their registrars. The institutions offer 2 programs: Postgraduate degrees by course work or research in the arts and social sciences only. The postgraduate degree by course work begins at the end of July of each academic year. This normally takes over 2 semesters to complete. The postgraduate degree by research may begin at any time, and normally requires at minimum a period of 18 months to complete. Candidates who are non-graduating students must meet the entry requirements and be academically suitable to pursue undergraduate modules/ courses. Admission is for 1 academic year (course work) or on a 17-week basis (research).
Taiwan
11 Fulbright Full Grants. Language requirements vary depending upon the purpose of the applicants' study. The language of instruction in all universities in Taiwan is Chinese; therefore, an advanced knowledge of Chinese is required if students want to be admitted as matriculated students, or receive credit from local universities. Applicants in traditional Chinese studies are expected to have the level of language skills required by their research, especially if they plan to conduct dissertation research. Students who want to pursue Chinese language study must have completed at least one year of basic Chinese before applying for a Fulbright award. Several programs are available in Taipei for candidates who want to study Chinese language intensively and have had the required one year of basic Chinese. Academic year runs early September through late June, with a 3-week break in January/ February. Academic terms vary at local language institutes. Grants are for up to 10 months and are not renewable. Preference will be given to students who possess at least a master's degree and to Ph.D. students doing dissertation research or who have a well-defined research or study project. A limited number of grants may be available to graduating seniors. Applicants who are interested in formal enrollment at a university or college in Taiwan are advised to apply formally to the university concerned before April 1. Entrance to the Chinese language program at the Mandarin Training Center of National Taiwan Normal University also requires application 4 months before the beginning of the term. Students interested in carrying out research projects should begin early to make contacts with the appropriate research institutes and scholars, although formal affiliation may not occur until after arrival in Taiwan.
5 Fulbright Internships. Applicants must be articulate native English speakers with superior writing ability. Duration of award is up to 10 months. The award is offered to those who have a bachelor's degree and are interested in (1) the arts; (2) media, with emphasis on arts and cultural reporting; (3) international education, cross-cultural counseling or TESL. The positions combine up to 20 hours per week in of work at a nonprofit or governmental organization and another 20 hours per week devoted to language study or an independent study/ research project. applicants should describe fully their study or career interests and also include well-thought-out plans for their projects so the Foundation can make the appropriate placements. Interns are not permitted to take any other employment in Taiwan.
Thailand
5 Fulbright Full Grants. Some Thai language is desirable for life in Thailand. For independent research projects, study projects, and internships, proficiency in Thai may or may be required, depending on the nature of the research or study proposal. Universities and institutes offer many graduate-level programs in English. Academic year is mid-June to the end of March. Research grants are for 10 months. Study grants are for 12 months. All fields are considered; of particular interest are projects which deal with contemporary issues that have implications for cross-cultural understanding. Fields of study not recommended include topics dealing with religious attitudes (particularly as related to Islam); hill tribe issues; and refugees along the borders. Applications will be considered from graduating seniors; well-qualified M.A. and Ph.D. candidates for degree or nondegree study at Thai institutions, and/or independent graduate-level research in all fields of study. Professional internships can also be arranged. All grantees must affiliate with a host institution or organization which will act as the direct host. Applicants should indicate institutions of affiliation and attach a letter of invitation, whenever possible.
Vietnam
Fulbright Full Grants. A working knowledge of Vietnamese is required at the time of application. Academic year runs late August through late May. Students may commence their grants between September 1, 1999 and March 15, 2000. The start date is subject to agreement by the university or institution concerned in Hanoi. All fields are considered; applications are encouraged in transitional economics; environmental law and management; legal reform; educational reform. Grants are primarily intended for U.S. graduate students who require up to 1 year of supervised field work or who need to use Vietnamese research facilities to earn credit toward their U.S. master's or doctoral degrees. Where possible, applicants should determine their acceptability to a Vietnamese university or institution for the proposed research project in advance.
Comments to: Rita S. Kipp
Last Edited: 11/23/98
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