Fellowship Program
VEF provides funding for fellowships to Vietnamese nationals to pursue Master"s and doctoral degrees in the STEMM fields at U.S.
universities.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
A grant of $27,000 is provided to the U. S. educational institution during each of the first two years of study toward a Master"s or doctoral degree.
The U. S. graduate institution is responsible for providing any additional funds needed to cover all required tuition, fees, books, insurance, and a monthly living stipend to the student.
Fellows also receives a $1,000 Professional Development Grant that may be used for their professional development, and may cover attendance at professional conferences, books, editing of papers for publishing, and other expenses that directly relate to the program of study.
Funding can only be granted to Vietnamese citizens who gain acceptance to a U. S. university.
Awards must be be used for the associated tuition, fees, living expenses, and professional development costs for that Fellow.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Grants are solely intended for Vietnamese students who enroll in Master"s and doctoral degree programs in STEMM fields at an accredited U.S.
university.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Grants are solely intended for Vietnamese Masters and doctoral students for use in their STEMM- based study at a U.S. university.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must be Vietnamese nationals, who are capable of being admitted to a Master"s or doctoral program at a U.S. university for a program in the STEMM fields. Furthermore, applicants must complete an on-line application in the VEF Online Management System, which will be reviewed by agency staff and by professors selected to assist with interviews to be held in Vietnam. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Applicants must achieve a minimum score of 7 out of 10 in the Vietnamese grading system and must provide transcripts from all higher education institutions attended.
Furthermore, all applicants must take the GRE and receive at least 500 on the Paper-Based Test (PBT) (either the International or Institutional exam is acceptable), which is equivalent to 173 on the Computer-Based Test (CBT) and 61 on the Internet-Based Test (iBT).
IELTS score may also substitute for the TOEFL.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Applications are available on the VEF website at: www.vef.gov
Award Procedures
Applications are screened to ensure that they meet the minimum eligibility requirements. Eligible applications then undergo a technical review and finalists are interviewed in person in Vietnam by selected U.S. professors to assess their ability to succeed in graduate study at a U.S. university.
Deadlines
Dec 10, 2013 to Apr 10, 2014: Online application submission deadline.
Authorization
Vietnam Education Foundation Act of 2000, Title 2, Public Law 106-554.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 120 to 180 days.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Fellows must make progress in their graduate studies demonstrating by semester reports and submitted transcripts and must adhere to the regulations imposed by a J-1 visa.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements. The matching requirement is variable. After receiving $27,000 each of the first 2 years of the student"s programs, the U.S. universities must provide complete funding for the Fellow.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Assistance for the 2015 cohort of VEF Fellows will be paid to universities at the beginning of the first two years of the Fellow"s program. Professional Development Grants will be provided for the duration of the Fellow"s program. The monies provided are available until expended, but any unused funds must be returned to VEF upon the completion of the Fellow"s course of study. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: A grant of $27,000 is issued at the beginning of the first year and the beginning of the second year of study. A $1,000 Professional Development Grant is issued at the beginning of each year for as long as the Fellow is enrolled in the VEF program.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No program reports are required.
No cash reports are required.
Students must submit transcripts at the end of each semester to demonstrate that they have made progress in their programs.
The Fellow is expected to maintain documentation and report purchases made using the $1,000 Professional Development Grant funds.
Universities are required to produce documentation detailing the manner in which the $27,000 grants were utilized upon request of VEF staff.
No performance monitoring is required.
Audits
No audits are required for this program.
Records
No Data Available.
Financial Information
Account Identification
51-9009-5-5-365 - Budget Account Code.
Obigations
(Project Grants (Fellowships)) FY 12 $28,000; FY 13 est $28,000; and FY 14 est $28,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
In FY14, approximately 40 grants of up to $28,000 may be awarded.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Not Applicable.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices.
Headquarters Office
Margaret Petrochenkov 2111 Wilson Blvd, Suite 700, Arlington, Virginia 22201 Email: margaretpetrochenkov@vef.gov Phone: 703-351-5053 Fax: 703-351-1423
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
1. Superior academic achievement, demonstrated through GPA, awards, theses, and publications
2. GRE scores and TOEFL/IELTS Scores that are promising for graduate admission (after the review, applicants will still have time to meet the minimum scores required for admission to their chosen universities)
3. Excellence of the Academic Statement
4. Excellence of the Personal Statement
5. Demonstrated communication skills in English sufficient to allow the applicant to succeed at a U.S. graduate institution
6. Demonstrated leadership and potential to contribute to science and technology in Vietnam and potential to contribute to better relations between Vietnam and the United States.
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