2023-2024 Fulbright foreign student program   Seychellois encouraged to apply for Master’s, PhD or one year graduate study   |06 April 2022

The embassy of the United States of America to Mauritius and Seychelles are accepting applications from qualified Mauritian and Seychellois citizens only for the 2023-2024 Fulbright Foreign Student Program. Grantees will be funded for up to two years of degree study.

Students accepted to degree programmes less than two years are only eligible to receive funding through the designated period of degree completion – as stipulated by the host institution. Awards are contingent upon approval by the J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board (FSB), availability of funds, and successful academic placement.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is also open to persons with disabilities as special accommodations are available. The US Department of State’s Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Bureau has provided previous grantees with a screen reader and note taking software, laptops, cell phones, canes, and/or wheelchairs to assist them while on their grant in the U.S.

Nominees must be citizens of the Republic of Mauritius/Republic of Seychelles.

Nominees must have at least the equivalent of four (4) years of university study and the equivalent of a USbachelor’s degree. Nominees who have three (3) years of tertiary study should have the equivalent of thirteen (13) years of primary and secondary school and their undergraduate degree should allow them to be eligible to pursue higher education in their home country. Please note that final equivalency decisions will be determined by each US university and not all institutions will accept a three-year undergraduate degree.

Nominees should have a sufficient level of English proficiency to enable them to engage in full-time graduate level study in the US.

Nominees must meet the minimum scores on required standardised tests.Nominees should have a high motivation and a serious commitment to completing the programme as scheduled and to returning home.

Nominees with no extensive or recent US experience will be given preference.No applicant may receive more than one Fulbright Student grant, including Humphrey Scholar alumni.

Interested applicants must be aware that the International Institute of Education (IIE), which manages the programme, will prioritise the selection of Fulbright Master’s candidates over PhD candidates.

Deadline is set for May 15, 2022 and applications must be completed online before or by the deadline at: https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2023/

Awards are granted as follows:Degree programme: One (1) to two (2) years of funding (depending on the degree length) towards one degree only – Master’s or PhD. (Eligible grantees may apply forone renewal grant); or

Non-degree research (Visiting Researcher): Participation in an academic year (9-10 months) non-degree research program. (Grants are not renewable).FUNDING

ECA provides a maximum of two years of funding for a master’s degree or doctoral programme. Students accepted to degree programmes less than two years are eligible to receive funding through the designated period of degree completion – as stipulated by the host institution. Master’s applicants are given placement priority. PhD candidates who secure funding from outside sources will remain under Fulbright visa sponsorship rather than have sponsorship transferred to the host institution. PhD candidates unable to secure funding for the additional years will return home without completing their degree.

Only shortlisted candidates will be called for interview at which time, the originals of all documents must be produced. Incomplete applications or applications submitted past the deadline will not be considered.

Please note in the application for the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Seychelles is not available in the options for ‘country of application’. Applicants should then put ‘Mauritius’. This has been confusing in the past and citizens in Seychelles thought they could not apply.

For any query, please send an email to portlouis_pas@state.gov with subject line “Query: 2023-24 Fulbright Foreign Student Program”.

Compiled by Vidya Gappy