Undergraduate Scholarships for Afghan Students

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The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan is pleased to announce an open competition for eligible organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to provide undergraduate degrees to Afghan students, primarily women. Based on funding availability, this program will provide Afghan students with an undergraduate education at American-style, liberal arts, English language-based institutions of higher learning. PAS intends to issue an award for a period of 60 months (base period) with options for two additional 12-month periods (option periods one and two). Each option year would support a new cohort of students. The students supported in the base period should begin their studies no later than the 2020-2021 academic year. Most American-style undergraduate programs require four years of instruction for a student to achieve an undergraduate degree; this is PAS’s preferred timetable. However, PAS will also consider proposals that include scholarships for up to five years – including one year of pre-academic instruction (if needed) and four years of academic study pursuant to an undergraduate degree. The year of pre-academic study would prepare students for academic and personal success, including an assessment of academic skills, and if necessary, both remedial studies, and host country familiarization. Higher education opportunities for women remain limited in Afghanistan for a number of reasons, such as limited access to secondary and higher education, lack of financial resources for private education, cultural constraints, and security issues. PAS seeks to provide scholarship recipients with American-style higher education that fosters the development of critical thinking, leadership skills, tolerance, and diversity. PAS also seeks universities that use integrated and modern technology, texts, and teaching methods. This project seeks to provide Afghan women with an American-style, liberal arts, English language-based undergraduate education in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Indian sub-continent, or the East Asia-Pacific region. This educational opportunity will enable Afghan scholars to actively participate in the Afghan workforce and serve as positive agents of change upon completion of their studies.

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