Educational Exchange

The Fulbright Program was established after the end of World War II to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. Under the oversight of the Presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State administers the world-renowned program, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1996. Fulbright grants are awarded worldwide to Americans and citizens of participating countries to study, teach, lecture or conduct research. The Fulbright Program's primary source of funding is an annual appropriation made by the United States Congress to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions also contribute financial support through direct cost sharing, as well as through tuitions waivers, university housing, and other benefits.

The Fulbright Junior Staff Development Program

The Fulbright Junior Staff Development (JSD) Program is the largest Fulbright program with Africa and provides financial assistance for a maximum of two years of study toward a graduate degree in a U.S. university or for participation in a non-degree research or nonacademic professional program. It is designed primarily to strengthen African universities through higher degree training for faculty members. Applications are also accepted from prospective candidates in public and private educational and cultural institutions, independent research institutes, and professional institutions.

In Botswana, the Fulbright Junior Staff Development Program is administered by the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section, which nominates five candidates to the Fulbright Scholarship Board in Washington, DC. The Fulbright Scholarship Board makes the final selection of candidates.

Awards are granted for study toward one degree only, for a maximum of two years, or for participation in a non-degree research or professional program for up to one academic year only.

Grant awards guarantee full funding in a specific year: round-trip travel, insurance coverage, tuition and fees, maintenance allowance, books and supplies, and course-required field trips. Depending on availability of Fulbright funds, grant awards may also include a pre-academic orientation in the first year.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Applicants must be citizens of Botswana or permanent residents qualified to hold a valid passport issued by Botswana.
   
2. Applicants must be undergraduate degree holders or above, and should have a record of outstanding academic achievement and preparation in their chosen filed of study. They must show high motivation and serious commitment to completing the program and to returning home.
   
3. Applicants should either be candidates for an advanced degree in their current field or for a specialized non-degree program in a field for which they are well prepared. Applicants who wish to pursue study in a field other than their current field of study must demonstrate adequate background in that field.
   
4. Applicants must be affiliated with or committed to working at an academic institution or a public or private or institution upon returning home and should have the endorsement of their home institution.
   
5. Applicants must have a sufficiently high level of English proficiency to enable them to complete a full-time program of graduate study in the United States.
   
6. The age of applicants must be between 25 and 50 years.
   
7. Preference will be given to candidates who have not studied overseas at all and in the last 5 years.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a completed Fulbright application form along with supporting documents, including transcripts of previous study with degree certificates and at least four professional references.

U.S. universities require that applicants take certain standardized tests for admission: The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), required of all non-US. applicants even if they are from an English-speaking country; the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), required for admission to graduate study; and the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test), which is required for admission to graduate business and management programs.

Online applications are available at www.iie.org/fulbright/apps and http://gaborone.usembassy.gov/

More general information about the Fulbright Program is available on the Fulbright Commission's homepage.

If you cannot access the online application form please contact the Cultural Affairs Specialist, Ms. Naomi Kelesitse at 3953982 ext. 5422 or e-mail her at KelesitseN@state.gov to prepare application packets, which must be submitted typed. Please call the secretary at ext 5415 ahead of time to check if packets are available for collection. The deadline for submission is September 2, 2003.

Instructions for Completing the Fulbright Student Program Application