The Government of the United States of America is pleased to announce the Edmund S. Muskie Ph.D. Fellowship Program, established to encourage economic and democratic growth in Georgia, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine.

The Muskie Ph.D. Fellowship Program will place citizens from the countries listed above in doctoral level programs in business administration, economics, public administration, and public policy. Academic programs will begin in the fall of 2001. Applicants must posses a Master degree from a U.S. institution in the field for which they are applying, or recognized equivalent, prior to application. Funding from the U.S. government will cover a period of four years, or through the award of the U.S. Ph.D. degree, whichever period is shorter.

The Muskie Ph.D. Program is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State, and is administered by the American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS. Muskie Ph.D. fellows will be matched with U.S. academic institutions according to their academic achievements and professional goals. Subject to the availability of funding, ECA anticipates awarding the following number of fellowships by country: Georgia (4), the Russian Federation (10), and Ukraine (6).

During their term of study, Muskie Ph.D. fellows must meet the academic standards and requirements of their U.S. host universities in order to be eligible for continued funding. A minimum of two years in residence at the U.S. host institution is required. Fellows selected for the program will be required to maintain a connection to a cooperating institution in their home countries, and are strongly encouraged to conduct the dissertation research phase of their programs, in whole or in part, in their home countries.

U.S. host institutions are actively encouraged to include professors from home country cooperating universities in the candidate dissertation review committees. Travel funds will be made available for this purpose. The highest priority on allocating travel funds will be given to home country institutions with strong commitment to the candidates, for example those that place Muskie Ph.D. fellows on a track to achieve the Kandidatskaya degree with a minimum of additional work after the U.S. Ph.D. degree is attained.

Muskie Ph.D. fellows will come to the U.S. on a J-1 visa. Candidates who have participated in any previous program on a J-1 visa must have completed the two-year home residency requirement before the anticipated start of the Ph.D. program. The Muskie Ph.D. program requires that upon completion of their degrees, fellows will return home for a period of service equal to the period of fellowship funding. The J-1 visa requirement for two years home residency is included in this service requirement. NO requests for visa extensions, waivers, or transfers will be granted under any circumstances.

  Eligibility Requirements

The Muskie Ph.D. Program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national and ethnic origin, or disability. Competition for the Muskie Ph.D. Program is merit-based and open to anyone who is:

• A citizen of Georgia, the Russian Federation, or Ukraine.
  

• Under the age of forty-nine (49) at the time of application.
  

• The recipient of a Master's Degree in the field of application from a recognized U.S. institution, or equivalent credentials.
  

• Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application.
  

• Able to demonstrate professional aptitude and leadership potential
  in the field of specialization.
  

• Able to begin the academic exchange program in the United States in the fall of 2001.
  

• Able to receive and maintain a U.S. J-1 visa.
  

• Committed to returning to the home country after completion of the program and to performing one year of service for each year his/her study is supported by this program.
  

• Committed to conducting dissertation research on a topic directly related to his/her home country and/or region.
  

• Receiving active professional guidance from a cooperating institution in his/her home country.

Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the Muskie Ph.D. Program:

• U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States, or citizens and permanent residents of countries other than the three participating countries.
  

• Spouses of U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States, or spouses of citizens of countries other than the three participating countries.
  

• Individuals currently working outside the three participating countries.
  

• Individuals who have participated in a program under a J-1 visa subject to the two year home residency requirement since August, 1999.
  

• Individuals who have applied for an immigrant visa to any country or who have requested political asylum in any country. This includes individuals who hold or have applied for a U.S. "green card," or who have applied to the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery.
  

• Employees of the American Councils for International Education:
  ACTR/ACCELS, their spouses, children and grandchildren.

  Application to the Program

It is important for applicants to understand that within the United States, a wide variety of doctoral programs are offered in each of the fields in this program. The curricula, course requirements, and the length of degree programs vary among U.S. universities. It is critical that each applicant understands his/her field of study and specialization as it is practiced in the U.S. Applicants must include a dissertation topic as a part of the application. The selection committee will make decisions based on information provided by the applicant, therefore it is in the applicant's best interest to research that field if needed and to write a proposal which accurately reflects his/her understanding of, and interest in the field.

Applicants should understand that the purpose of the program is to prepare fellows for careers of academic leadership in their home countries. Criteria for selection of fellows include relevance of the proposed dissertation research to home country needs and conditions, and the strength of the applicants connection with home country cooperating institutions for the proposed research and eventual placement on the faculty.

In addition to an application form and two letters of nomination, applicants must submit proof of academic credentials. Acceptable credentials include:

1. A Master's degree in the field of application from an accredited U.S. institution, or an affiliated program, such as the Master's degree from the Central European University
   

2. A Master's degree from a recognized Western European institution
   

3. The degree of Kandidatskaya, Kandidatska, or magistr, provided that it is in the same field of study as the application, and the candidate possesses advanced proficiency in English, as demonstrated by performance of the Test of English as a Second Language. (Please note that applicants holding only the diplom or bakalavr are not eligible to apply).
   

4. If the candidate has studied in the U.S. on a J-1 student visa, completion of the 2-year home residency requirement will be required.

  Selection Process

Competition for the Muskie Ph.D. Program is merit-based and selection will be made on the basis of academic excellence, professional aptitude, leadership potential in the field of specialization, and knowledge of English.

Completed applications for candidates meeting the eligibility requirements will be reviewed by teams of U.S. and home country academic specialists and admissions officials in each of the fields of study. Semifinalists will be tested and interviewed in their home countries as part of the selection process. Assistance is available from the Muskie Ph.D. Program to help cover the cost of transportation to and from the testing and interviewing sites for semifinalists with financial need. All semifinalists will be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or present the valid results of an official TOEFL taken within the last two years.

In addition to taking the TOEFL, semifinalists in Business Administration will be required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or present an official score of the GMAT taken within the past five years. Semifinalists in Economics must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), or present the official results of the GRE taken within the past five years. The costs of the TOEFL, GMAT, and GRE for semifinalists will be covered by the Muskie Ph.D. Program.

The results of all examinations and interviews will be forwarded to the U.S. selection committee for consideration. The U.S. committee is made up of representatives from universities participating in the Muskie Ph.D. Program. Candidates will be notified of final decisions in late July, 2001.

  Financial Terms of the Fellowship

Funding will be applied towards the cost of tuition, room, board, stipend, textbooks, international transportation, professional enrichment activities, and accident and sickness insurance. The amount of funding provided by the Muskie Ph.D. Program will be adjusted according to the terms of financial assistance awarded by U.S. institutions (tuition remission, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and other forms of support.) The Muskie Ph.D. Program provides no financial support for dependents.

  Participant Responsibility

Finalists must attend a mandatory predeparture orientation in their home countries. Muskie Ph.D. fellows must uphold the academic standards of the host institution and undertake a full-time program of study and research for the duration of the program. Applicants should be aware that Ph.D. candidates in the four areas of specialization must adhere to the established curriculum of the U.S. host university. Fellows will not be permitted to change their assigned host institution or field of study once they have accepted the Muskie Ph.D. Fellowship. Failure to maintain academic and professional standards will result in dismissal from the Muskie Ph.D. Program.

Funding for the Muskie Ph.D. Program is limited and the program is highly competitive; not all qualified applicants will receive awards.

Program deadline is April 26, 2001