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Fulbright Foreign Student Program: Application in West Bank/Gaza

Guidelines for Potential Palestinian Fulbright Applicants

You are invited to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship sponsored by the United States Department of State and administered by AMIDEAST for the 2009–2010 academic year. Interested persons may apply for a maximum of two years' funding for either a Master's or a Doctoral program.

The scholarship covers expenses incurred for travel to and from the United States, tuition, books, health insurance, and room and board. Funding is NOT available to meet expenses related to Fulbright grantees’ dependents (spouses or children). 

The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB) regulations prohibit medical degrees, and this has been interpreted as degrees for medical doctors, dentists, nursing, and specializations in the medical and dental fields. Per the Fulbright regulations, doctors and nurses can pursue academic degrees, such as a Master’s of Public Health, and nurses can pursue degrees in Nursing Administration or Nursing Education.

A. REQUIREMENTS:

• Fluency in spoken and written English as demonstrated by a minimum score (197 CBT/530 PBT for master’s programs, 243 CBT/590 PBT for doctoral programs) on the international Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Institutional Testing Program (ITP); 
• GRE or GMAT test scores – test scores or test registration confirmations, as applicable, must be submitted.
• West Bank - applicants must submit test registration confirmation or test scores.  Test registration confirmation date must be before August 1, 2008.
• Gaza - not required with application, however, candidates who are provisionally selected for the Fulbright scholarship must take either the GRE or the GMAT, as appropriate, and obtain a satisfactory score before they can be placed with a university.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university for master’s program candidates, or both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from accredited universities for doctoral candidates;
• Minimum 1-year work experience;
• Grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B or 80% equivalent) or above;
• Current legal resident of the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) or Gaza Strip; must be a resident throughout the entire candidacy process to be eligible;
• Eligibility for a J-1 visa;
• Green card holders or American citizens are not eligible;
• Completed applications must be submitted on-line and additional documentation delivered by hand by Sunday, July 13, 2008.

B. PROVISIONS:

• Incomplete applications will NOT be accepted under any circumstances.
• Preference shall be given to those applicants who have NOT studied in the United States previously.
• ALL recipients of a Fulbright scholarship MUST return to their home country for at least two years upon termination of scholarship.

C. INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION:

• All applications must be completed on-line.
• Additional documents must be delivered by hand or mail to the AMIDEAST Ramallah or Gaza offices.
• Please answer ALL questions as accurately and completely as possible.
• Please include the following additional documents, as applicable, with your application. 
1. Undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree certificate in English*
2. Undergraduate (Bachelor’s) final transcript in English*
3. Graduate (Master’s) degree certificate in English*
4. Graduate (Master’s) final transcript in English*
5. Three letters of recommendation from university professors
6. Summary of work experience (CV)
7. One recent photo
8. Copy of identification (“hawiyya”)
9. TOEFL/ITP and GRE or GMAT test scores – test scores or test registration confirmations, as applicable, must be submitted.
• TOEFL/ITP score
  If ITP score is submitted, applicants must also include TOEFL test registration confirmation. TOEFL test registration confirmation date must be before August 1, 2008.
• GRE or GMAT test registration confirmation
  West Bank - applicants must submit test registration confirmation or test scores.  Test registration confirmation date must be before August 1, 2008.
  Gaza - not required with application, however, candidates who are provisionally selected for the Fulbright scholarship must take either the GRE or the GMAT, as appropriate, and obtain a satisfactory score before they can be placed with a university.

D.  INSTRUCTIONS FOR ESSAYS:

Write a statement of purpose between 200 and 500 words in length concerning your previous academic work as it relates to your proposed field of study for the Fulbright scholarship. The statement should provide the scholarship review panel with insight as to your general past academic experiences, why you chose this particular field for graduate study, and how your study will impact your home community.

In addition to the statement of purpose essay, write an essay explaining your aspirations for your future career.

E. TEST REGISTRATION INFORMATION

In the West Bank, the TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT examinations are all administered via computer. For candidates in the West Bank (including Jerusalem), a testing site is located at the AMIDEAST/El-Bireh office. For registration information or applications, please contact AMIDEAST/El-Bireh at 02-240-8023 ext 102 or 103 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. AMIDEAST can also be reached by e-mail at westbank-gaza@amideast.org.

In Gaza, the TOEFL exam is administered via computer, the GRE and GMAT examinations are paper-based tests. Please contact the AMIDEAST Gaza office for information on upcoming test dates for the TOEFL, GRE and GMAT exams. For registration information, please contact AMIDEAST/Gaza at 08-282-4635 ext 120 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. AMIDEAST can also be reached by e-mail at westbank-gaza@amideast.org.

The deadline for submission of all Fulbright applications and supporting documents is Sunday, July 13, 2008. On-line applications and additional supporting documents should be submitted by the deadline date.  For additional information, please contact your nearest AMIDEAST office.

Interested persons may access the instructions and complete the on-line application from the AMIDEAST website at:
http://www.amideast.org/forms/fulbright/FulbrightFindOut.aspx

Recommendation letter form

AMIDEAST wishes you success in your future academic endeavors.