Fulbright Program Information and Updates on COVID-19

FULBRIGHT FOREIGN STUDENT PROGRAM FOR IRAQ

Enrich Educations

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APPLICATIONS ARE NOW Open!

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international educational and cultural exchange program, creating connections in a complex and changing world. Led by the U.S. government in partnership with 160 countries worldwide, Fulbright builds lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world, building mutual understanding between nations, advancing knowledge across communities, and improving lives around the world. The Fulbright Program enables Iraqi students to pursue master’s-level study in the United States.

BENEFITS

Tuition, living stipend, and travel and academic allowances.
Opportunity to experience life in the United States and share your culture with Americans.
Pre-academic training and enrichment seminars.
Induction into the global Fulbright alumni network.
Earn a graduate degree in a field of your choice from an American university.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

This program is for graduates, artists, and professionals from diverse social, economic, academic, and professional backgrounds. A competitive applicant should have an excellent academic record, strong English language skills, and the commitment to return to Iraq upon completion of the program. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously studied or lived in the United States. Fulbright Program opportunities are available to qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, or gender identity.

Upon competition of their Fulbright-funded graduate studies, all Iraqi Fulbright students must return to Iraq for a minimum of two years.

APPLICANTS INTERESTED IN PURSUING A MASTER’S DEGREE MUST

Be an Iraqi citizen and physically reside in Iraq throughout the application, selection and placement process.
Have at least two years of professional work experience (after graduation).
Have a strong academic background.
Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Be proficient in English and/or able to attend a Long-Term English (LTE) program prior to the start of the study program.
Applicants should be responsible citizens who demonstrate cross-cultural sensitivity and flexibility needed to adjust effectively to life in the United States and advance mutual understanding.

U.S. citizens or green card holders and/or those applying for permanent residency or the diversity visa lottery are ineligible to apply.

** A candidate who has resided in the United States for five or more consecutive years in the six-year period preceding the date of application is ineligible for a grant.

*** Amideast staff members and consultants and the employees of U.S. missions who work for the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development are not eligible to apply, nor are their immediate family members, during the period of their employment and until one year following the termination of employment.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Applications will be accepted in most fields of study, including, but not limited to humanities, TEFL, social sciences, sciences, and engineering. Graduate programs requiring clinical studies, such as medicine and nursing, are not permitted. Medical professionals may, however, apply for related academic degrees such as nursing administration, nutrition sciences, and public health.

Applications and materials must be submitted through the online system. You can apply at https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2024/

Applicants must submit:

Official academic transcripts and diploma certificates in English.
An up-to-date CV detailing all prior education and work experience.
Three letters of reference in English; these should be from past or current employers, as well as professors or academic advisors.
A personal statement in English up to 600 words in length.
A study or research objectives statement, in English.
Copy of passport (if available).

*English language proficiency assessment is optional/ not required at the time of the application. However, if you have taken the TOEFL (IBT, ITP), IELTS, or Duolingo in the last two years, please include a copy of your results.

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism, or the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own, is not acceptable in the Fulbright Program. Applicants who plagiarize any part of their application will be immediately disqualified.

For example, imagine that you read the following passage in the course of your research (from Michael Agar’s book Language Shock): "Everyone uses the word language and everybody these days talks about culture. . . .“Languaculture” is a reminder, I hope, of the necessary connection between its two parts…”

If you wrote the following sentence, it would constitute plagiarism: “At the intersection of language and culture lies a concept that we might call ‘languaculture.’” This sentence borrows a word from Agar’s work without giving credit for it. Placing the term in quotation marks is insufficient. If you use the term, you must give credit to its source: This is OK: “At the intersection of language and culture lies a concept that Michael Agar has called ‘languaculture.’” (“Language Shock,” Michael Agar).

To learn more about plagiarism, you can review more information here or download our presentation on plagiarism and writing your application. You can also find a free plagiarism check here.

Selected candidates should be available for interviews in July 2023.

POLICIES OF IRAQ FULBRIGHT PROGRAM:

Two-year home residency requirement: The J-1 visa is an exchange visa which requires all Fulbright exchange recipients to return to their home country for at least two years upon successful completion of the program.
Intention to return to Iraq: Your eligibility for this program is based, in part, on your intention to return to Iraq immediately following your program. If you show intent other than to remain in the U.S. for a temporary, specific, limited period (such as applying for an immigrant visa to the U.S., asylum in the U.S., or residency in a country other than Iraq) you will be ineligible to receive the Fulbright award. Please carefully review the J visa policies for further information.
No dependents: J visa sponsorship is offered only to the Iraqi Fulbright award recipient. J-2 visa dependents (spouses and children under the age of 21) cannot accompany the Iraqi exchange recipient on his/her study program.