Skip Global Navigation to Main Content
Skip Breadcrumb Navigation
Skip Left Navigation
FY2012 NESA Undergraduate Exchange Program

The U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv announces the FY2012 NESA Undergraduate Exchange Program

 The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv is pleased to announce the annual competition of FY 2012 NESA Undergraduate Exchange Program that will provide fully sponsored scholarships for one full academic year of non-degree undergraduate study at accredited two and four-year institutions. Participants may not choose their U.S. host university or college.  The goal of the program is to provide a substantive exchange experience at a U.S. college or university to a diverse group of emerging student leaders from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. All academic fields of study are eligible. 

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Community Service: To expose fellows to the principles of community service and social responsibility in the United States, NESA UGRAD participants will be required to perform a minimum of 20 hours of community service to local organizations during their first semester. 

Part-Time Internship: Internships provide an essential opportunity for fellows to gain professional experience and skills that can be applied in their future careers in their home countries. NESA UGRAD participants will be required to intern 40 hours per month during their second semester. Each fellow's internship must be related to their field of study as stated in their application.  

Eligibility: Applicants should be highly motivated students who have completed high school (or in their final year at the time of application) or undergraduate students from colleges, universities and other institutions of higher education who demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement and extracurricular activities, with little or no prior experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of their home country. Their major fields of study will be varied, and will include the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education and business. Other application requirements:  

  • Student must be a citizen, national or permanent resident qualified to hold a valid passport issued by the country from which applicant is applying;
  • Student is enrolled in his/her final year high school or first- second- or third-year full-time (third year students must be enrolled in a four-year program at their home university) undergraduate study in the country from which the applicant is applying at the time of application;
  • Is able to receive and maintain a U.S. J-1 visa;
  • Is committed to returning to their home country after completion of the program;
  • Personal statement in English, 450-550 words, typed in English;
  • Copy of the data/photo pages of your passport; Two passport-size photos;
  • Official academic transcripts for years of university study (officially translated into English);
  • Official results of the national general secondary school exam;
  • Two letters of recommendation from teachers/professors in English.
  • TOEFL or ITP score report of a minimum of 500 paper based.  

Deadline: 

APPLICATION DEADLINE to the Embassy by: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 

*NESA APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS -- PDF

For more information please contact the U.S. Embassy, Tel Aviv, Public Diplomacy at

e-mail LevyRX@state.gov; website: http://israel.usembassy.gov