myUface Blog

The U.S. government sponsors a number of scholarship opportunities for individuals to study at U.S. universities.  Below are some the the most well-known examples:

• The Fulbright program “brings citizens of other countries to the United States for Master’s degree or Ph.D. study at U.S. universities or other appropriate institutions.”
• The Muskie program sponsors fellowships for students from “Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan for one-year non-degree, one-year degree or two-year degree study in the United States” in a number of fields.
• The Global Undergraduate Program sponsors students at undergraduate institutions from the same countries as those listed under the Muskie program, above.
• The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program “provides a year of professional enrichment in the United States for experienced professionals” in non-degree study.

Not all of these programs exist in every country.  On the flip side, the U.S. Embassy in your country may administer other scholarship or fellowship programs.

How do you find out about programs sponsored by the U.S.?  Simple.  Go to the homepage of the U.S. Embassy in your country.  There should be a tab entitled, “Education & Culture” (or something like that – perhaps “Culture/Education,” etc.).  Under this tab, look for a link that says “Exchange Programs.”  The resulting page should contain information about the opportunities available in your country.

Here’s an example from the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria.

A few things to know about educational opportunities sponsored by the U.S.:

1. Generally speaking, the competition for these scholarships is going to be open and merit-based.  Most of the time you’ll be asked to fill out a separate application and go through a separate application process.
2. Sometimes U.S.-sponsored programs are administered by independent, non-profit organizations such as American Councils, IREX, or IIE.  In other words, don’t simply send applications to the Embassy.  Figure out how the scholarships are administered and contact any administering organizations.
3. Many times U.S.-sponsored programs will place you at a particular university, oftentimes with minimal input from you.
4. Many U.S.-sponsored programs place students in one-year, non-degree programs in the U.S.  This is great for students who want to see the U.S. from a student’s perspective, but who aren’t necessarily tied tot he idea of getting a U.S. degree.  If you do want a degree, some of these programs may not be for you.
5. Most, if not all, U.S.-sponsored programs require you to return to your country for at least two years after the completion of the program.

What do you think?  Is a U.S.-sponsored program right for you?

Posts in this Series

1. Your Education is an Investment - 08 Jul
2. Researching Scholarship Opportunities - 07 Jul
3. How to Ask Questions About Financial Aid - 28 Jun
4. Ninth Option for Financial Aid: Loans - 27 Jun
5. The Difference Between Scholarships and Fellowships - 26 Jun
6. Eigth Option for Financial Aid: U.S. Universities - 25 Jun
7. Seventh Option for Financial Aid: Ethnic Communities in the United States - 24 Jun
8. Sixth Option for Financial Aid: Private Organizations in the U.S. - 23 Jun
9. Fifth Option for Financial Aid: U.S. Government Programs (This post)
10. Fourth Option for Financial Aid: Scholarships from International Organizations - 20 Jun
11. How to Ask for Support - 18 Jun
12. Looking for Support in Your Country: Why it Makes Sense - 17 Jun
13. Third Option for Financial Aid: Individuals in Your Country - 16 Jun
14. Second Option for Financial Aid: Private Businesses or Foundations in Your Country - 15 Jun
15. First Option for Financial Aid: Government Programs in Your Country - 14 Jun
16. The Third Step in Financial Aid: Find What's Available - 11 Jun
17. The Second Step In Financial Aid: Identify Your Assets - 10 Jun
18. The First Step In Financial Aid: Identify Your Needs - 09 Jun
19. Finding Financial Aid for your U.S. Education - 08 Jun