Presented by Mareka Chabedi U.S. Embassy in Pretoria at the NRF PhD Fair in Bloemfontein on Monday 24 March 2014.

1. Fulbright Outreach 2014
Presented by
Mareka Chabedi
U.S. Embassy in Pretoria

2. Objectives
To provide you, as a prospective graduate student, with:
• Information regarding the Fulbright
Program
• Clear directions on how to submit a
Fulbright application

3. What
is the Fulbright Program?
• Flagship educational exchange program to increase mutual
understanding between people of the USA & other countries
through educational, cultural and professional exchanges
• Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by Senator J.
William Fulbright (Arkansas); sponsored by U.S. Department
of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA);
operates in over 155 countries
• Active in South Africa since 1953; over 1,500 South Africans
have pursued graduate studies in the U.S. under the auspices
of the Fulbright Program

4. What
is the Fulbright Program? (continued)
Range of Programs
• Fulbright Foreign Student Program - FOR YOU
• Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program
• Fulbright U.S. Specialist Program

5. What
is the Fulbright Foreign Student Program?
• Accepts applications from qualified students who want to
pursue a Master’s or PhD degree in the U.S.
• Students registered for doctoral degrees in South Africa can
apply to pursue one year of graduate study in the U.S. for
non-degree purposes
• Provides funding for up to 2 years of study

6. Who
should apply?
• 4-Year Degree / Honors / BTech
required to apply for Master’s
• Master’s required to apply for PhD
• Can apply if currently enrolled in your
final year
• PhD requires great commitment
• Terminal Master’s are often more
practical and professionally oriented
• All fields welcome, except MBA and
medical studies

7. Who
gets selected?
• Fulbright provides full funding, but only for a selected few
• Remember that only 20 - 30 candidates are selected for
Fulbright each year in South Africa
• Prospective graduate students can choose to apply directly to
graduate programs in the U.S. [EducationUSA advising
services]
• Fulbright applicants should consider this option only if they
are unsuccessful

8. Who
gets selected? (continued)
• Fulbright South Africa Partner Opportunities
– Fulbright South Africa has partnered with the National
Research Foundation to co-fund a limited number of PhD
programs in the sciences and engineering. To be
considered for this opportunity, candidates must first be
successful in the normal selection process and compete
equally with all other applicants. If selected, the PhD
studies will be in the U.S. at U.S. universities.

9. When
do I apply?
• Online applications for 2015-2016
cycle are now being accepted
• Deadline is 20 April 2014!
• Late/incomplete applications will
not be accepted
• US Academic year runs from
August/September to May/June
• If successful, you would commence
studies in August 2015

10. How
do I apply?
• Only online applications are accepted
• Application instructions and the link to the application form
are at:
• http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/postgraduate.html
• Read the instructions first
• Print them out and use them as you go through the online
application

11. Online Application
Components
• Personal information
– Financial information optional
• Degree objective
– field of study, specialization
• Academic history
• Essays
– Study/Research Objectives
– Personal Statement
• Resume/CV (optional)
• Transcripts (required)
• U.S. university preferences
• Writing sample (optional)
• Test scores
• Letters of reference (required)
• Interview location page

12. • Save your username and password somewhere safe
• Don’t use all CAPS, use upper and lower case; e.g. John Doe
• You can copy and paste into text boxes
• Adhere to space provided
• Save your application frequently
• Essays and resumes/CVs should be concise and short
• Follow formatting guidelines and preview your essays before
submitting
• Do your research
• Do not forget to upload your Interview Location page
Online Application
General tips

13. Application Essays
Study/Research Objective
• A clear and detailed description of study objectives – in one
page
• Field of study and area of focus/specialization within that
field
• Program type that fits your training and goals/career plans
• Do not mention specific universities or institutions

14. Application Essays
Personal Statement
What is the purpose of this statement?
• To convey your character, your passions, your way of thinking
• To give a further assessment of you and your skills beyond the
transcripts and degrees
• Determine your likelihood of success as a grad student and a
professional
• To give you a chance to spotlight your potential, your drive to
achieve
• To indicate what you will do with your experience and degree
when you return to South Africa

15. U.S. University Preferences
Where to study?

16. U.S. University Preferences
Where to study? (continued)
Provide short, clear justifications for your choices

17. Letters of Reference
• Three letters of reference/recommendation are required
• Register your recommenders on the online system
• Choose those who will write these early and cultivate them
carefully
• Meet with them before requesting a recommendation, give
them your transcript and statement of purpose to guide
them

18. Timeline
• 20 April 2014: Deadline for applications
• By 30 May 2014: Invitation for interviews sent out
• June 2014: Fulbright National Selection Committee selects
finalists
• July 2014: Applicants receive notification of status
• National finalists submitted to J. William Fulbright Scholarship
Board in Washington D.C.
• Applicants remain in applicant status until acceptance and
placement at a U.S. university has been confirmed by U.S.
Embassy

19. Application Process
Your city
Pretoria - National Committee
IIE
Universities Departments

20. Interviews
Short-listed candidates will be interviewed:
• Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape candidates)
• Cape Town (Western Cape candidates)
• Durban (KwaZulu-Natal candidates)
• Pretoria (Gauteng ,Limpopo, North West Province,
Free State, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape candidates)
You’re responsible for travel and other related expenses

21. After being selected
What comes next?
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
•Verbal, quantitative and
analytical writing assessment
•Prepare and study well in
advance
•Computer-based
•Study guides available in
advising centers and can be
ordered online
Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL)
•Tests speaking, reading,
listening and writing
•Internet based
•For both, cost is covered by
Fulbright
•Scores can have a big impact
on your placement
www.ets.org

22. Alternatives
http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/educational-advising.html

23. QUESTIONS ?
Thank you