Fellowship Program

The goal of the program is to promote international exchange and cooperation between the United States and Vietnam, though educational exchange. VEF provides funding for fellowships to Vietnamese nationals to pursue Master's and doctoral degrees in the STEMM fields at U.S. universities.

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.

Grants are solely intended for Vietnamese Masters and doctoral students for use in their STEMM- based study at a U.S. university.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Applications are available on the VEF website at: www.vef.gov

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

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.

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.