Download Session is over now
THE FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP 2010 COMPETITION

The Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States and Nepal (also known as USEF/Nepal or the Fulbright Commission) announces the 2010 competition for the Fulbright scholarship. Those selected would begin their studies in the US beginning August-September 2011. The scholarships are divided into two categories:

  • Fulbright Student Scholarship :  It provides all expenses (including travel) for a master’s degree program of up to two years at selected U.S. universities, in any field except medicine, engineering or computer science.

  • Fulbright Science and Technology Ph.D. Scholarship :   A worldwide program, designed to be among the most prestigious international scholarships in science and technology. Grantees will be enrolled for PhD study at top U.S. universities in the fields of science, technology, or engineering. Eligible fields include: Aeronautics and Astronomics/Aeronautical Engineering, Agriculture (theoretical or research-based focus only), Astronomy/Planetary Sciences, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Sciences/Engineering, Energy, Engineering (electrical, chemical, civil, mechanical, ocean, and petroleum), Environmental Science/Engineering, Geology/Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Information Sciences and Systems (engineering focus only), Materials Science/Engineering, Mathematics, Neurosciences, Oceanography, Public Health (theoretical research focus only) and Physics. Agriculture has been included as a new field and while agriculture tends to be a fairly applied field of study, those wishing to pursue theoretical and research-based study in such areas as entomology, plant biology, plant pathology, and soil science are eligible for this Award.
            All Fulbright Science and Technology Ph.D. Scholarship grantees receive tuition, a monthly stipend for up to 36 months, health and accident coverage, a book and equipment allowance, travel support, specially tailored enrichment activities, and are eligible to apply for additional research funding and professional conference allowances. After three years, U.S. universities have agreed to fund the remaining expenses toward completion of a Ph.D.
            The selected candidates, depending upon their university placement, could also earn an M.S. en route to the Ph.D.

Applicants for both programs may be employees in any government, private business, NGO or INGO. Students in humanities and social sciences and those who completed their S.L.C. or its equivalent degree from rural, underrepresented areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Forms & Deadlines

Application forms and detailed information regarding the competition are also available from: the USEF/Nepal office in Gyaneshwor (between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday - Friday); the Ministry of Education; the National Planning Commission; Tribhuvan University Rector’s Office; Kathmandu University Rector’s Office; Samudaik Sambandha Kendras in Bhairahawa (Siddharth Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Kalikapath), Birgunj (Birgunj Jaycees Bhawan, Ward No. 8), Pokhara (Pokhara Public Library, Mahendrapul), and Biratnagar (Chamber of Industries, Sahid Marg); and with Campus Chiefs at out of the Valley degree campuses.

Interested persons are encouraged to access and download the application and information from the Commission’s website www.fulbrightnepal.org.np since the application form needs to be completed using a computer or a typewriter.

If you have any questions, come to one of the Question & Answer sessions on Thursday, February 25, at 4:00 p.m. or on Wednesday, March 3 at 4:00 p.m. at the USEF/Nepal office in Gyaneshwor.

Duplicate, hardcopy, completed applications must reach the Fulbright Commission (USEF/Nepal) no later than 4:00 p.m. Monday, March 15, 2010. Incomplete applications or applications received after this deadline will not be considered.

General Requirements for Entering the Competition
All applicants must:
  1. Possess Nepali citizenship.
  2. Demonstrate in post-intermediate degrees a minimum aggregate mark of: 54% for students in non-technical fields (humanities and social sciences), and 62% for students in science and technical fields. (The minimum requirements for students under the semester system are: 65% in non-technical fields; 75% in technical fields; or a Cumulative GPA of 3.50/4.00 in either field.)
    If the grading systems, fields of study or educational systems for the bachelor’s and master’s level are different (percentage and GPA grades, non-technical and science/ technical fields, yearly and semester systems, etc.), the applicant needs to meet the minimum score requirements separately, not in the aggregate.
  3. Have a high level of competence in speaking, reading and writing English. (Applicants who pass the first screening will be required to sit for an English test during the application process. The English language test requirement during the selection process may be waived for those who pass the initial screening and have either: 1) a valid CBT TOEFL score of 230 (or iBT TOEFL score of 88, or PBT TOEFL score of 570) or higher for the Fulbright Student Scholarship applicants and a valid CBT TOEFL score of 237 (or iBT TOEFL score of 92, or PBT TOEFL score of 580) or higher for the Fulbright Science and Technology Ph.D. Scholarship applicants; or 2) have passed the English language test administered by USEF/Nepal in April 2009.)
  4. Be under 40 years of age for those applying for the master’s degree under the Fulbright Student Scholarship or for Ph.D. degree under the Fulbright Science and Technology Ph.D. Scholarship as of the application submission deadline (March 15, 2010).
    1. Applicants for the master’s degree under the Fulbright Student Scholarship program: possess either a four-year bachelor’s degree; or, if the bachelor’s degree was of fewer than four years duration, then a master’s degree is also required, such that the total number of years of formal education equals at least 16. Students with a threeyear bachelor’s degree who have completed only the first year of a two-year master’s degree program, and master’s degree students who have cleared all exams but still need to fulfill other university-mandated degree requirements are ineligible to apply. Similarly, students who have two or more two-year/three-year bachelor’s degree but no master’s degree are ineligible to apply for the Fulbright program.
    2. Applicants for the Ph.D. degree under the Fulbright Science and Technology Ph.D. Scholarship program: Candidates who meet the above (a) criteria are eligible to apply under this program. In addition, applicants who possess a master’s degree that is equivalent to the US master’s degree, that is, a master’s degree that required at least 18 years of continuous study, are also eligible to apply for this scholarship. After nomination by the Commission, the nominee is expected to achieve a PBT TOEFL score (or equivalent) of at least 580 and take the GRE General Exam. A GRE Subject Exam score report will also be needed for all selected candidates in the following fields of study: biology; biochemistry, cell, and molecular biology; chemistry; computer science; mathematics; and physics. Test vouchers for standardized tests will be provided for all nominees. Nominees will be required to take the tests soon after the nomination in order to ensure that test scores can be sent to the US by August 20, 2010.
  6. Work requirement: For the Fulbright Student Scholarship program, applicants must have at least three years (for men) or one year (for women) of post-bachelor’s degree, full-time, professional work experience in an area directly relevant to the applicant’s chosen field of study as of the application filing deadline date (March 15, 2010). This experience must be documented by letters (or attested copies) from employer(s) that verify applicant’s position(s) and years of employment. Even if you worked at several organizations, you are eligible to apply as long as your work experience at those organizations adds up to the minimum work-duration requirement. There are no work requirements for the Fulbright Science and Technology Ph.D. Scholarship.
  7. Be in excellent health, as evidenced by a letter from a medical doctor.
  8. Be eligible for a non-immigrant J-1 U.S. visa, and not already in possession or in the process of obtaining a U.S. immigrant visa (“green card”).
Note: Individuals holding master’s degrees equivalent to a U.S. master’s degree are ineligible to apply for the Fulbright Student Scholarship, but are eligible to apply for the Fulbright Science and Technology Ph.D. Scholarship. Individuals who have previously resided in the United States for six months or more during the preceding five years prior to the application submission deadline are ineligible to apply for both the Fulbright Student Scholarship and the Fulbright Science and Technology Ph.D. Scholarship. In addition, this competition is not open to: individuals with, or in the process of obtaining, U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status; employees of USEF/Nepal and local employees of U.S. Mission in Nepal who work for the US Department of State, and their spouses and dependent children (who are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment).
(All applicants must submit documentary evidence for items No. 1, 2, 5, and 7. The Fulbright Student Scholarship applicants must also submit documentary evidence for item No. 6.))