Overview
The State Department of the United States of America and the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic are pleased to announce that the 2024-2025 Fulbright Foreign Student Program competition is now open.
Through the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Kyrgyzstani university graduates in the arts, engineering, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences can apply to earn a master’s degree in the United States. Medicine is not an eligible discipline, but medical graduates can apply for Public Health or Hospital Administration degree programs.
Selection is merit-based, and the Embassy selects finalists based on their leadership potential, academic excellence, maturity, ability to adjust successfully to life in the U.S., strong interest in engaging Americans, and potential to promote mutual understanding between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic.
Program Requirements
- Applicants must be citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic or permanent residents qualified to hold a valid passport issued by the Kyrgyz Republic.
- Applicants must hold a diploma of a degree equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor’s degree.
- Applicants should have a sufficient level of English to enable them to successfully complete full-time graduate study in the U.S.
- Strong preference is given to applicants who have not had extensive (six months or more) and recent experience in the United States. Alumni of U.S. Government funded long-term exchange programs (FLEX, Global UGRAD, Muskie, Fulbright, Humphrey) will only be considered after other qualified nominees without prior U.S. Government exchange experience.
- Applicants must currently reside in the Kyrgyz Republic.
- An applicant’s financial need or status is not a factor in the selection process.
Ineligible applicants: The following persons are ineligible for grants during and for a period ending one year following the termination of such employment, association, or service:
- Employees of U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development. This provision includes all employees, paid or unpaid (including part-time or temporary employees, consultants, externs, fellows, and contract employees). This provision does not apply to interns.
- Officers of an organization, in the United States or abroad, including members of boards of trustees or similar governing bodies, and individuals otherwise associated with the organization, wherein the organization and the individuals are responsible for nominating or selecting individuals for participation in any exchange program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
- Applicants holding a master’s degree from a U.S. university are not eligible to apply for this program.
- An applicant who is currently in the U.S. or in any country other than the Kyrgyz Republic is ineligible to apply
Important: All grantees are expected to return to their home countries for at least two years at the conclusion of their grant in compliance with the J-visa requirements.
Program Provisions: All grantees receive full tuition, a monthly stipend for up to 24 months, supplemental health and accident benefits, a book and equipment allowance, travel support, and the opportunity to attend Fulbright enrichment activities.
How to Apply
Complete the online application here: https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2024.
Before you start, we highly recommend you to carefully review the Instructions for Completing the Fulbright Foreign Student Program Application in its entirety so that you understand the requirements.
The application deadline is April 14, 2023, 15:00 Bishkek time
Please note that ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE NOTIFIED AND INVITED FOR INTERVIEWS!
Selection Process:
After the application deadline, all submitted online applications undergo a technical review. Applications that pass the technical review will then be reviewed by an independent reading panel that will evaluate and score each application based on a set of standard criteria. Applicants with the highest scores will then be invited to an interview conducted by the Embassy. The nominating committee will select the Embassy’s nominees after the interviews. All nominated candidates must register for TOEFL and GRE/GMAT. Nominated candidates are entitled to an exemption from the test fees by vouchers. Vouchers will be distributed by the Embassy. Final grantee selection is contingent upon the J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board’s (FSB) approval, available funding, and successful academic placement. The selected grantees are expected to travel to their host universities in the United States in Spring-Fall 2024.
What do we look for in our Fulbright applicants?
- Sufficiently high level of English to undertake full-time graduate level study in the United States
- Evidence of ambition, high motivation, serious commitment, and leadership potential.
- Strong academic records.
- Demonstrable ambassadorial skills with evidence of cultural sensitivity and a genuine desire to learn more about the United States and share with American citizens aspects of Kyrgyz culture.
- Experience and interest in extracurricular and community activities.
- Desire to further the Fulbright Program and give back to your home country after returning.
Important:
- Incomplete or late applications will NOT be considered.
- All grantees are expected to return to their home countries for at least two years at the conclusion of their grant in compliance with the J-visa requirements to promote mutual understanding.
- Plagiarism detected in any part of the application will result in ineligibility.
- Fulbright Program reserves the right to check any information given in the application documents. In case of any discrepancy, the applicant’s participation in the Fulbright competition will be suspended.
- Nominated candidates do not participate in university placement process; they are only informed of the final choice.
The application form will be considered incomplete if any of the following is not submitted:
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resume/CV in PDF format that does not exceed four (4) pages
- Scanned copy of your diploma AND its accurate translation into English
- Scanned copy of your unofficial transcript AND its accurate translation into English
- Study/research objectives (500-1000 words)
- Statement of purpose (500-1000 words)
- Copy of international passport
Please note that in case you are invited to the interview, you will be requested to submit official copies of your diploma and transcript, and their official translation.
Contact
Questions?
The list of FAQ and Application Guidelines on the Fulbright Foreign Student Program are comprehensive and should answer most of the questions on the program. If you cannot find the information you are looking for, you may direct your questions to exchangebishkek@fan.gov with 2024-25 Fulbright Foreign Student Program in the subject line.