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Academy for Educational Development
1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20009-1202
E-mail for information requests:
Web site: http://www.aed.org/nsep/
No faxed or e-mailed submissions will be accepted.
The National Security Education Program (NSEP) Graduate International Fellowships enable outstanding U.S. graduate students to pursue specialization in area and language study or to add an important international dimension to their education. NSEP Fellowships support students pursuing the study of languages, cultures, and, world regions which are critical to U.S. national security, but which are less frequently studied by U.S. graduate students, i.e., areas of the world other than Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is hoped that recipients of NSEP Fellowships will comprise an ever-growing cadre of experts whose enriched educational and professional experiences will enable them to provide leadership and direction in our national commitment to economic growth, international peace and security, and promotion of democracy abroad. The Academy for Educational Development considers it a distinct pleasure to serve as the administrative agent for this important program.
NSEP AREAS OF EMPHASIS
NSEP publishes annually a list of more than 60 countries and 30 languages identified as critical to U.S. national security. In addition, it emphasizes a diverse list of fields of study, including business, political science, applied sciences, international affairs, engineering, health, law, economics, history, and other social sciences. Applicants for NSEP Graduate International Fellowships are strongly encouraged to focus their studies on one of these countries, languages, and/or fields of study. NSEP remains interested in encouraging applications for study in other countries and world regions where a compelling argument can be made that an increased understanding and appreciation represents an important contribution to U.S. national security.
Study in countries where there is no U.S. diplomatic presence is not permitted using NSEP funds. The lists of NSEP "areas of emphasis" include countries where study abroad opportunities are likely to be extremely limited. Applications are encouraged for study of areas identified for primary or secondary emphasis where access may be limited; these applications will not be penalized for exclusion of a study abroad component.
ELIGIBILITY
NSEP welcomes applications from U.S. citizens enrolled in or applying to a graduate degree program in an accredited U.S. college or university. NSEP fellowship recipients must provide evidence of admission to a U.S. graduate school and intent to enroll in that program before an award can be made, and must be willing to enter into a service agreement.
APPLICATION
Applicants design their own programs and are encouraged to combine domestic language and cultural study with overseas study. All fellowships must include formal study of a modern language other than English and the study of an area and culture. (Note: NSEP fellowship support may not be used for study of French or Spanish unless such language instruction is at an advanced level or combined with study of applied sciences or engineering.) The deadline for the 1998 competition is January 15, 1998.
SELECTION
NSEP fellowship award recipients are selected on the basis of merit in a two-stage national merit review process. The selection process includes consideration of the relationship between the applicant's proposed study to U.S. national security and how the applicant proposes to use knowledge and expertise gained from NSEP support to contribute to U.S. national security, among other selection criteria.
AWARD PERIOD AND LEVEL OF SUPPORT
NSEP fellowship awards are made for a minimum of one academic semester and a maximum of 24 months. The basic grant for domestic language or area study is $2,000 per semester. The maximum award is $10,000 per semester for overseas study for up to two semesters ($20,000).
THE NSEP SERVICE OBLIGATION
All NSEP fellowship recipients incur an obligation to enter into an agreement to work for an agency of the federal government with national security responsibilities or to work in the field of higher education, in that order of precedence. Eligible federal agencies include, among others, the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, Justice, and State and the Intelligence Community, as well as more than 25 committees and subcommittees of the U.S. Congress. For more information about the agreement, please visit the NSEP service obligation page.
LANGUAGE TESTING
All NSEP fellowship recipients must agree to a language proficiency test prior to and after the NSEP-supported language study. The results of the proficiency testing will be used to assess the program; they will not be used to evaluate individual student performance. The pre-test requirement will be waived in cases where a fellowship recipient has no previous language training in the language to be studied under the NSEP fellowship.
Applications must be POSTMARKED no later than JANUARY 15, 1998 to the address provided above.
The URL for this page is: http://www.friends-partners.org/~ccsi/announce/nsepfllw.htm
Last updated: November 13, 1997
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