KAEF Graduate Fellowship Program
The Kosovo American Education Fund (KAEF) Graduate Fellowship Program offers graduate fellowships at American universities to talented Kosovars who demonstrate a strong commitment to the economic development of their country.
KAEF Fellows study in master’s level programs for one or two years, obtain a degree, and participate in professional internships. KAEF Graduate Fellowships are available to talented Kosovars who demonstrate a strong commitment to the economic development of Kosovo in fields which include, but are not limited to: Agriculture, Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Environmental Management and Policy, Journalism and Mass Communications, Law, Public Administration/Policy, and Renewable Energy.
Applications will be accepted for any academic field. The applicant must demonstrate convincingly, however, that their study in their field of choice will have a direct and beneficial impact on the economic development of Kosovo.
To be eligible, applicants must be citizens of Kosovo, proficient in written and spoken English, and committed to returning to Kosovo after completion of the program (please see the eligibility requirements for more detail).
KAEF provides 8-10 fellowships every year.
How To Apply
2010 KAEF Graduate Fellowship Program Online Application
The online application for the program will be available until September 27th, 2009.
Click Here to start an Online Application.
Already started an application? Enter your account information at the top of the page then click the login button on the right or click here to login.
What Is The Application Process?
The KAEF program does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, age, race, color, gender, religion, or disability. Competition for the KAEF program is merit-based and open to anyone.
Selection of KAEF Fellows is a three-step process. First, all applications are reviewed by U.S. admissions experts. Second, highly ranked candidates are interviewed and tested in Kosovo. Finally, the applications, test scores, and interview results of highly ranked candidates are reviewed by U.S. admissions experts and fellowship awardees are selected. Results are announced in early summer.
| September 27th, 2009 | Application deadline |
| October 2009 | Tier 1 semi-finalist candidates identified |
| October, 2009 | Official TOEFL exams administered to the tier 1 semi-finalist candidates |
| October 2009 | All tier 1 semi-finalists interviewed by university admission specialists and American Councils staff in Pristina and official copies of supporting documents are to be submitted |
| November 2009 | Tier 2 semi-finalists identified |
| November - December 2009 | GRE or GMAT exams administered to tier 2 semi-finalists |
| February 2010 | KAEF finalists identified |
Am I Eligible For The KAEF Program?
Eligibility Requirements
The KAEF Program does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, age, race, color, gender, religion or disability. Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Competition for the KAEF Program is merit-based and open to anyone who meets the following requirements:
- In possession of a passport from Kosovo by October 2009.
- An habitual resident in Kosovo and residing in Kosovo at the time of application and during the selection process.
- Able to convincingly demonstrate existing and durable ties to Kosovo, and a firm commitment to return to Kosovo for at least two years after the completion of the program
- The recipient of an undergraduate degree by the time of study in the U.S. (degree must be in law in order to apply to the KAEF Program in the field of law).
- Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application.
- Able to demonstrate professional aptitude and leadership potential in the selected field of specialization.
- Able to begin the program of study in the United States in the summer of 2010.
- Able to receive and maintain a U.S. J-1 exchange visitor visa.
Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the KAEF Program:
- Individuals currently participating in academic, training or research programs outside Kosovo.
- Individuals currently residing or working outside Kosovo.
- Individuals who have participated in a program sponsored or funded by the U.S. government (e.g. PAS or other U.S. government agency) for a period of more than six weeks and who have not yet fulfilled their two-year home residency requirement by the time of application.
- Employees of American Councils for International Education and their immediate families.
Prospective applicants with dual-citizenship should contact info@kaef-online.org for clarification on your eligibility status prior to starting an application. All applicants must demonstrate residency in Kosovo before being considered eligible. American Councils reserves the right to verify all of the information indicated in this application. In the event that there is a discrepancy, or information is found to be false, the application will be declared invalid and the application ineligible.
What Does The Program Cover?
KAEF provides funds for all aspects of applicants and Fellows’ participation in the program. Applying to the program is free. KAEF Fellows receive:
- 100 percent tuition and fees support
- Textbook allowance
- Round-trip travel
- Monthly stipend
- Medical insurance
- Professional development funds
- Alumni support
With KAEF, you don’t have to be wealthy to take advantage of the very best the American educational system has to offer.
The Academic Program
To date, 22 universities have hosted KAEF Fellows, including Columbia, Duke, George Washington, Johns Hopkins, Tufts, and Yale Universities. Aside from providing KAEF Fellows a top-notch education, our university partners also provide tuition cost-sharing. Through the first three years of the program, universities have reduced their tuition costs for KAEF Fellows by approximately 50 percent.
Without exception, KAEF Fellows have performed at a high academic level. In addition, KAEF Fellows receive an opportunity for valuable practical experience, including:
- Summer internships – KAEF Fellows are required to intern with a business or organization working in their field of expertise during the summer months.
- Practical training – KAEF Fellows are given the option of staying in the U.S. for up to six months after completing their degree in order to participate in a practical training internship.
KAEF Fellows have served with, among other organizations, Dell Computers, the World Bank, Voice of America, the International Finance Corporation, the Duke Center for International Development, and the Xerox Corporation.
After The Fellowship
KAEF Fellows return to Kosovo after their studies, and apply their skills to the economic development of the country.
KAEF carefully screens applicants to ensure they have a real, lasting commitment to Kosovo. As part of the fellowship agreement, KAEF requires its participants to return to Kosovo. Fellows receive a J visa, under the terms of which they are required to return to their country for at least two years. These and other measures ensure that the investment made in a KAEF Fellow is an investment for the good of Kosovo and its people.
Resources For Applicants
Resources for Semi-Finalists
TOEFL Resources:
esl.about.com/cs/toefl/a/a_toefl.htm
www.learn4good.com/languages/spec_english_toefl.htm
www.gettoefl.com/practice.htm
GRE Resources:
www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/
gradschool.about.com/cs/aboutthegre/l/blgre.htm
www.collegejournal.com/exams/gre_about.html
GMAT Resources:
www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT
www.collegejournal.com/exams/gmat_about.html
businessmajors.about.com/od/gmatinfo/a/GMAT_Test.htm
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Frequently Asked Questions
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, send us an e-mail, or visit the KAEF Blog.