SUSI for Student Leaders from Europe summer program scholarship

The Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Student Leaders from Europe are five-week intensive academic programs in the US fully funded through a grant from the US Department of State.

These scholarships are designed to enable young Portuguese to deepen their knowledge of the USA while developing different academic and personal skills.

The SUSIs last five weeks and consist of seminars, discussions, group presentations and lectures. Each program (institute) will have 22 participants and will include four weeks on a campus of one of the participating universities and one week on a study visit. Classes and teaching activities will be complemented by study visits to cultural sites, leadership activities and volunteering opportunities with local communities. The program runs during the months of June and July 2017.

There are three SUSI themes. Each of these programmes is organized by a different university.
A. Civic Engagement
B. Environmental Issues
C. Social Entrepreneurship

Funding: Participants' expenses are fully covered through a State Department grant, which includes all travel.
Accommodation and foodaccommodation will be in the university residences in shared rooms. Meals will take place in the university canteens. 
Health insurance: all participants are covered by health insurance.

Candidate profile:
Students in their first or second year of undergraduate studies who demonstrate initiative through academic achievement, community involvement and extracurricular activities.
The field of study of the candidates will be varied and will include students of science, social sciences, education, management, among others.

An effort will be made to receive applications from students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, whether from rural or urban areas, with no prior experience of the USA. In addition, relative preference will be given to applications from students from disadvantaged communities, including ethnic minorities, citizens with disabilities and members of the LGBTI community.

The applicant must:
- Be fluent in English
- Have a demonstrated interest in the area of SUSI to which you are applying, regardless of the area of higher education you are attending in Portugal.
- Be between 18 and 25 years old
- Have at least one academic year of the degree to complete
- Demonstrate strong initiative in your university or community
- Have a real interest in learning more about the USA
- Demonstrate high academic performance through college and high school results, as well as through letters of recommendation
- Demonstrate community involvement and initiative in extracurricular activities
- Have not previously traveled to the US
- Be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, analytical and curious
- Willingness to participate fully in an intensive academic program, perform community service and educational travel
- Be comfortable with academic life, be prepared to share accommodation, be willing to accept cultural and social practices different from your home country

Application until February 15, 2017
Requests for information should be addressed to: rsequeira@fulbright.pt
Reading this information does not dispense with the need to read the full information available on the scholarship page here.