Summer Institute for Outstanding European Students (Education Studies)

The US-UK Fulbright Commission is now accepting applications for this Award.

2008 Summer Institute for Future Educators

The Summer Institute for Outstanding European Students is a five-week programme held at Eastern Washington University for university students who are focusing their studies in Education. UK participants will be joined by fellow participants from France, Germany and Spain.  This Summer Institute offers the opportunity to learn about the US systems of primary, secondary and higher education and engage in cross-cultural exchange through coursework, educational travel, and group community service activities. Institute participants will have the opportunity to visit local primary and secondary schools to observe the US classroom in action and to interact with students and teachers. The programme will conclude in Washington DC with evaluation and de-briefing sessions and a small farewell reception.

This year's institute will take place from 25 July - 28 August 2010.

 

Award Benefits

The Summer Institute will cover all participant costs. This includes round-trip airfare from the UK to the US (on a US airline), tuition and fees at the host university, accommodation and meals, a small daily allowance, health and accident insurance, a small book allowance and visa processing and participation in a number of Fulbright Scholar events. Participants will be housed in their host university’s residence halls and with an American host family during a portion of the programme. In addition, participants will visit cultural and historical sites, civic organisations, local institutions and other places of interest to learn more about their host city and its history. These visits will complement academic activities and showcase the roles that various organisations and institutions play in the community. Group travel outside of the university area to other cities and regions will show participants the diversity of American life and culture.

Special Programmes do not preclude participants from applying for a Fulbright Award later in their academic career.

Selection Criteria

To meet the minimum eligibility for this award category you need to:

Students who are currently completing their PGCE or PGDE are also eligible to apply for this programme.

Non-UK citizens are required to apply through the Commission or US Embassy in their country of citizenship. Dual UK-EU citizens must apply in the country in which they currently reside; if not resident in either country then applications must be made through the Commission in the country in which they have resided for the longest period of time. US nationals, those with dual US-UK citizenship, persons holding permanent residency ‘green cards’ and those resident in the US may not apply.
 
In making these awards the Commission is looking not only for academic excellence but a focused application, a range of extracurricular and community activities, an indication of ambassadorial skills, a desire to further the Fulbright Programme and a plan to give back to your home country upon returning.

Individuals from a broad range of ethnic, religious, geographic, and socio-economic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Applying

All applications are due Wednesday 31 March 2010 by 5pm

Each candidate will be required to submit:
     (a) Application Form (word) or (pdf)
     (b) Two Personal Statements
     (c) Transcript/Confirmation of Grades
     (d) Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (word) or (pdf)  
     (e) Two References in signed and sealed envelopes (word) or (pdf)          

Important note: Your application will not be considered complete until the US-UK Fulbright Commision has received all of the required documents.

Applicants must send their completed application form by post, to the following address:

Summer Institute for Outstanding European Students in Education
Fulbright Awards Programme
The US-UK Fulbright Commission
Fulbright House
62 Doughty St
LONDON
WC1N 2JZ

Please note: Applications which arrive by email, by fax or late will not be considered. Please ensure that you attach sufficient postage when sending forms/letters to the US-UK Fulbright Commission in London. We will not accept excess charges for items of mail which have been underpaid -- they will be returned unopened.

If you would like confirmation that your application has been received by the Fulbright Commission, you must send your application via Recorded Delivery.
Commission staff will not confirm receipt of applications by email or phone.

Interviews

Applications will be short-listed and successful applicants will be invited to interview on either 27 or 28 April 2010. Interviews will only be held on these two days and may not be rescheduled. All interviews must be in-person, without exception; the Fulbright Commission will not conduct telephone interviews for this award category.

If you are making an application, please save these dates as an invitation to interview may come within a few days of the interview date.

The selection committee will be comprised of Fulbright Commission staff and on occasion representatives from a relevant field, academics, US Embassy and/or Consulate representatives and Fulbright alumni.

Candidates will be considered without respect to race, colour, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual preference or gender (including gender reassignment). Individuals from a broad range of ethnic, religious, geographic, and socio-economic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Important note: The US-UK Fulbright Commission is unable to comment on individual applications or the reason for their refusal.

Timeline

2008 Summer Institute for Educators Participants

22 December - Competition opens
31 March - Application deadline
mid April - Short-listed candidates invited to interview
27/28 April- Interviews
late May - Notification
June - J1 visa paperwork preparation
mid July - Pre-departure Orientation in London
23 July - Group departure
29 August - Group return
September - Reception in London and evaluation meeting