Deadline: January 20, 2014
NESA program is a one year undergraduate exchange program sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. This is an intensive academic program whose purpose is to provide undergraduate student leaders with in-depth exposure to U.S. society, culture and academic institutions by engaging in substantive academic exchanges at colleges and universities across the country.
This program will provide full scholarships to outstanding students from non-elite, under-represented sectors in Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia countries for one academic year of non-degree undergraduate study at accredited U.S. two- and four-year institutions for the academic year 2014-2015. Scholarships will be awarded for one academic year (approximately 10 months) depending upon the applicant’s interests and availability, as well as placement options and availability of funds.
Benefits and Requirements
- Participation in community service activities for all students is mandatory.
- Additionally, an internship component will be offered for all participants during the academic component of the program.
- Internships will be related to the participant’s field of study and/or career plans.
Scholarships will be granted primarily to students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in their home country. However, individuals who are about to begin their undergraduate studies will also be eligible to apply for this program.
Eligibility
- NESA UGRAD is a merit-based competition.
- Applicants must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident qualified to hold a valid passport issued by the country from which the applicant is applying.
- Applicants must be able to receive and maintain a J-1 visa.
- Applicants must be full-time students and in good academic standing.
- Students must be committed to returning to their home country after completion of the program.
- Students from diverse backgrounds and/or underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Applicants should have a desire to engage with U.S. communities and to participate in community service activities.
- Applicants should be between 18-25 years of age during participation in the NESA UGRAD program.
The program is open to students from Near East and South Asia: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
Deadlines
January 16, 2014 (Egypt)
January 20, 2014 (Bangladesh)
January 26, 2014 (Morocco)
January 28, 2014 (Yemen)
January 30, 2014 (Jordan)
January 31, 2014 [Palestine (West Bank and Jerusalem)]
February 1, 2014 (Tunisia, Qatar)
February 3, 2014 (Lebanon at 12 PM noon)
February 6, 2014 (Algeria at 5 PM)
February 10, 2014 (Saudi Arabia)
(Bahrain, Libya, Oman unknown deadline; please contact your local US embassy)
Application
To learn more and apply, go to your countries’ US Embassy page. Here are just a few:
Yemen, Western Asia – http://yemen.usembassy.gov/nesaue.html
Nepal, South Asia – http://usefnepal.org/grant-news-67.html
Lebanon – http://lebanon.usembassy.gov/scholarships/nesa.html
Palestine (West Bank and Jerusalem) – http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/nesa_program2013.html
Bangladesh – http://photos.state.gov/libraries/bangladesh/5/ece/NESA_UGRAD.pdf
