FULBRIGHT FOREIGN STUDENT PROGRAM

Instructions for Completing the Fulbright Foreign Student Program Application

Romanian - U.S. Fulbright Commission
Str. Ing. Nicolae Costinescu Nr. 2,
011878 Bucharest, Sector 1, Romania
Tel: (021) 230-7719
Fax: (021) 230-7738
www.fulbright.ro
Email: office@fulbright.ro; corina.danaila@fulbright.ro

Before you begin this application, please carefully check www.fulbright.ro to learn about eligibility
requirements, selection criteria and procedures, required documents and deadlines. These
instructions are country-specific for the Romanian applicants – you must follow the guidelines in
this document to correctly complete the application. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have
any questions.

Requirements for submitting an application

The 2019-2020 competition for Romanian applicants opens on February 5, 2018.

The Romanian-US Fulbright Commission is pleased to announce the 2019-2020 Fulbright Student Award
program for master’s study or for research in the United States. Applicants can be Romanian graduates -
BA, MA and PhD students from both public and private accredited universities. BA students are also
invited to apply if they are in their final year of undergraduate study.

The Student Fulbright award provides: international travel, tuition and university fees within established
budget limits, books and supplies allowance, accident/sickness insurance and a living stipend for one
academic year.
The applicants will be selected through an open, merit-based competition to participate in quality
graduate level programs in any academic field except the clinical ones (i.e. those that include patient
contact).

Grant duration: one academic year (9 months, starting August 2019)

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• have Romanian citizenship;

• hold a university degree (BA students may apply if they are in their final year of undergraduate
study);
• have English proficiency;
• if applying in law, applicants must hold a degree in that field

NOTE: Romanian citizens who are currently residing in the U.S., have been residents in the U.S. for five
or more years in the previous six years preceding the date of the application, or have recently graduated
from a U.S. academic institution are ineligible to apply. The preference for candidates without extensive
previous experience in the U.S. applies at each stage of competition.

Each applicant will be required to submit:

• a complete online application (https://iie.embark.com/apply/ffsp), including all supplemental
forms (see the left-side menu of the online Embark application);
• three letters of recommendation from university professors and/or other acknowledged Romanian
or foreign professionals, submitted directly in the online Embark application by referees or
 mailed to the Romanian- U.S. Fulbright Commission as signed official paper copies (by May 14,
2018, postmarked); the letters of recommendations are also accepted via email if they are sent by
recommenders as scanned signed documents.
• academic transcripts and diplomas for all undergraduate and graduate levels, accompanied by
translations, scanned and uploaded to the online application by May 14, 2018; official paper
transcripts should be sent at a later date, only by those who are selected for the interview; high-
school transcripts and diplomas are not required.

Application deadline for the academic year 2019-2020: MAY 14, 2018

Application process: Only online Embark applications will be accepted.

Applications or supporting materials received after the deadline will be deemed ineligible.
Incomplete applications will lead to the exclusion of the respective applicant from further selection
process. Paper documents will not be returned.

The Fulbright online application is a global application managed by the Embark System and is used by all
Fulbright Commissions worldwide. Therefore, each Commission establishes its own rules and country-
specific instructions for using the online application system.

Any technical questions regarding the Embark System or problems related to your submission of your
application on Embark should be directed to support@Embark.com.

NOTE: Test vouchers for exam registration will be provided to final nominees who must take the TOEFL
(for research) or the TOEFL plus GRE or GMAT (for master’s study). Finalists need to make score
reports available before November 27, 2018.

STEP 1: Access the application link https://iie.embark.com/apply/ffsp and register.

STEP2: Record user ID and password in a safe place

Your email address is your user ID. When you created an account for this online application, you created
a password. An e-mail was sent to you indicating your User ID and Password. Keep this information in a
safe place. You can log in and out of the application as frequently as you like; however, you must have
your user ID and password.
Note for Repeat Applicants: To re-enter the Fulbright application process you may need to set up a new
account with a different email address than previously used.

STEP 3: Complete the application

You do not need to complete this application at one sitting. You can re-enter at anytime and edit your
application. But remember that, once you submit your application, you can NO longer make changes to
it.

All forms in this application are to be completed in English. Items must be answered completely and
carefully.

Please read all instructions carefully. In addition, please review the following important information.
Preliminary Questions Page: It is very important that the following questions are answered
correctly:
• Program Country: Make sure that you properly identified Romania as the country (i.e. country
of citizenship) through which you are applying. If we do not receive your application, we cannot
review or consider it for the award.
• Program: Make sure that you correctly identify the Fulbright Program to which you are applying.
Select the Fulbright Foreign Student Program.
• Question Have you checked with the Fulbright Office: select YES
NOTE: You do not have to check with the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission before making an
application, but please make sure you fit all the eligibility requirements before starting your application.
Also visit www.fulbright.ro and carefully read the information concerning the Fulbright Student Award
2019-2020.

Name: List your name exactly as it appears (or will appear) on your passport. Please use upper and lower
case when entering in your name. Do not use diacritical markings as this can sometimes create technical
problems.

STUDY PLANS

Application Cycle: Romanian applicants are applying for the 2019-2020 cycle. Before final submission
make sure that you selected the correct cycle.

Degree Objective: Select one degree from the drop-down menu of choices: Master’s or Visiting Student
Research. Do not select Bachelor’s, Doctorate or Non-degree.

NOTE:
• The Fulbright Student Award competition for Romanian applicants is for Master’s study or post-
university research only. Applicants interested in research programs are expected to be PhD
students enrolled in a Romanian or European PhD program. The Fulbright awards for Romanian
citizens are not meant for undergraduate programs.

• Candidates who are interested in research scholarships but already have or will receive a PhD
degree prior to their Fulbright year are invited to apply for the Fulbright Senior Award (Visiting
Scholar category) competition which opens late May each year. For more information about the
Fulbright Senior Award competition please check www.fulbright.ro.

Field of Study: From the choices, select the field of study most appropriate to your study objective. You
can briefly elaborate on the exact nature of your objective plus future plans in the text boxes that follow.

Institutions Attended: List all post-secondary institutions (BA and MA level only) attended in reverse
order (putting the most recently attended first). DO NOT INCLUDE INFORMATION ON PRIMARY
AND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION. Fill out the required fields that follow.

Occupational Experience: Please select from the drop-down menu the position title which best describes
the activity in which you are currently (or most recently) involved.

Examination dates and standardized test scores:

Standardized tests are not mandatory in the first stages of the competition. Score reports should be
received prior to November 27, 2018. After the interview stage, test vouchers for exam registration will
be provided only to the Romanian final nominees who must take the TOEFL (for research) or the TOEFL,
GRE//GMAT (for master’s degree).

Starting September 2018, all finalists will be required to take one or more of the following standardized
tests to gain admission to a U.S. university. For instructions on registration, check the website for the test.

a. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): TOEFL is an admissions

requirement at U.S. institutions for applicants whose native language is not English.
b. GRE (Graduate Records Examination): The GRE is required by U.S. graduate
schools and/or departments for candidates in most fields other than Business
Administration and Law.
c. GRE SUBJECT TESTS are required in certain fields. A GRE Subject Test may be
required in your field of study.
 d. GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test): GMAT is an admissions
requirement for applicants proposing to study Business or Management, as well as
any fields which may fall within the scope of offerings of a Business school or
department.

IMPORTANT
Note carefully, you MUST indicate that you want your score reports sent to the Institute
of International Education (IIE). You must indicate the IIE code on the registration forms
and/or the forms provided at the time you take the exam.

For all TOEFL and GRE exams please indicate CODE: 2326.
For the GMAT, please indicate CODE: F0F-4J-28.

Personal Information: The information provided on this form will be used by the Romanian-U.S.
Fulbright Commission and Fulbright administrative agencies for internal purposes only.

Personal Financial Information: In case you have no funds available, you could mention “not
applicable”. The information provided in this section does not affect in any way your application
and status in the competition.
Please note that the Fulbright Student Award is offered to Romanian citizens for the first year of a
master’s program or for one academic year of PhD research (non-degree). Awards are not renewable.

University Preference: If you have U.S. university preferences, please complete this page as fully as
possible. Do not just list the name of a university in which you are interested. Be specific. Provide the
name of the department and the specific program within that department in which you are interested. If
you have been in contact or correspondence with a faculty member, please provide the name and contact
information for that individual.
If you have applied to a U.S. university within the past three years, please list the programs and the
results. If you have letters of admission, letters of invitation, or other correspondence from a school,
especially a preferred program, please e-mail a copy of this correspondence to the Romanian-U.S.
Fulbright Commission.
Applicants to research programs are strongly encouraged to list their U.S. university preferences and any
(prospective) academic contacts.

Study/Research Objective: The study/research objective description that you provide is an essential and
highly important part of your application. You should take great care to write a clear and very detailed
description of the program you want to pursue. Clearly identify the area(s) within your field of study in
which you want to specialize or concentrate. If there is specific research project that you want to pursue,
please describe. As this is an indication of your written communication skills, make sure that your essay
is well-organized and spell-checked.

Personal Statement: The personal statement is a vital part of your Fulbright application. It tells the
evaluators about you personally not just academically. Compose a narrative essay in which you can
include information about your education, practical experience, special interests, career plans, and your
purpose in applying for study/research in the U.S. Outline your motivations, relevant preparations and
expectations of the Fulbright program and how you and Fulbright will benefit from your receiving an
award. As this is an indication of your written communication skills, make sure that your essay is well-
organized and spell-checked.

Resume/CV: You are required to attach a professional resume (useful if you intend to pursue a
professional degree, e.g. business or law) or Curriculum Vitae (useful if you intend to pursue a
theoretical, academic degree).
The applicants in the field of Arts or Architecture may include a link to relevant video//audio materials in
their CV. This would provide more substance to the application and give a more comprehensive idea on
the applicant’s artistic pursuit. Please note that the applicants in Arts or Architecture are not required to
bring a portfolio in the early stages of the competition.
You may write your CV in any format you prefer.

Applicants in arts or art-related fields are expected to provide a portfolio in early October,
provided they become competition finalists.

University Transcripts and Diplomas:

You should scan and upload into this application your university transcript/records along with your
diploma (if this is available by the deadline) //or the certificate (adeverinta) issued by your university
department. The transcripts should list the subjects you studied and the grades you received during each
year of your enrollment. High school transcripts are not necessary. English translations must be added
for each item.

NOTE:
Only the applicants who passed the interview stage in September will be required to submit official paper
transcripts and certified diplomas accompanied by authorized translations. The paper copies of the
official transcripts must bear the stamp of the issuing university; the copy of the diploma should be
certified by a notary public.

Writing Sample: You should use the Additional Documents section to upload a writing sample that will
be submitted along with your application materials to the U.S. universities. The writing sample (research
paper, published article, paper written for a course, etc.) is often required for study in the humanities or
social sciences; research students in all fields will generally need it.

Supplemental forms
The supplemental forms can be accessed in the online application directly. They are also available at
foreign.fulbrightonline.org/fulbrightpage.html, in editable word versions.

a. Report on Proficiency in English: not necessary

b. Information Concerning Foreign Student Academic Records: In order to assist U.S. academic
institutions in evaluating more accurately your academic credentials, this form allows you to provide
information about the educational and grading system in the country where you did postsecondary
study. A separate form should be completed for each college or university attended.
c. Transcript Release Form (for post-secondary U.S. transcripts only): This form is needed only for
those students who attended a post-secondary program (undergraduate or graduate) in the U.S.
d. Signature Form: You must print out, sign, and forward a scan of this form to the Romanian-U.S.
Fulbright Commission by May 14, 2018. We suggest that you include it as a scan in your online
application.

The above-mentioned supplemental forms can be sent at the official e-mail address of the Romanian-U.S.
Fulbright Commission (office@fulbright.ro) or as hardcopies to the Commission’s post mail address.

Letters of Reference

You must have three letters of reference (or recommendation) submitted on your behalf. Letters of
reference are extremely important. All letters of reference should be written by teachers under whom you
have studied or pursued research or by someone who has supervised your work related to your proposed
field of study. Letters of reference should not be written by persons related to you either by blood or
marriage or by personal friends. At least one academic and one professional or work-related letter should
be included among the letters. The letters should be written in English if possible. If they are not, an
authorized English translation must be provided.

Your recommenders have three ways in which they can submit their letters:

• Your recommenders can complete the online form and submit directly in the online Embark
application. This is a method preferred by the Romanian Fulbright office. It is the
 responsibility of each applicant to register recommenders and ensure that each recommender
submits the reference in the online Embark by May 14, 2018.
To register your recommenders – please carefully read the indications provided by the online
Embark application for the respective section.

• You can print out the Letter of Reference form and forward it to your recommenders
who will then complete, sign and mail it in original to: Romanian-U.S. Fulbright
Commission, Ing. N. Costinescu no. 2, 011878, Bucharest, Romania. The postmark on
the envelopes should indicate a date no later than May 14, 2018.

• As an alternative, your recommenders can also send their letters as scanned signed
documents by email at office@fulbright.ro, no later than May 14, 2018.

The letters of reference - sent through e-mail by the applicant himself/herself - will not be taken into
consideration. To submit the letters please use one of the three ways mentioned above.

Review and print your application

Review a PDF version of your application and print a copy for your records.

STEP 4: Submit your application

After completing this application and thoroughly reviewing it, you will submit it electronically to the
Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission. Please note, it is very important that the preliminary questions
were answered correctly:
• Program Country: Make sure that you identified Romania as the country through which you are
applying.
• Program: Make sure that you identified the Fulbright Foreign Student Program as the Fulbright
Program to which you are applying.

Note carefully, after submitting your application electronically, you will be able to access it in a viewable
PDF format and access supplemental forms. You will be able to print your application and supplemental
forms. However, you will not be able to make changes to your application.

Supporting documentation needed to complete your online application form

Your application is not considered complete until the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission
receives all your supporting documentation. Please be reminded that the following supporting
documentation must be provided to the Romanian-U.S. Fulbright Commission by the deadline
May 14, 2018:

• three letters of reference/recommendation;

• official academic transcripts and diplomas, for BA and MA (if this is the case), scanned and
uploaded to the online application; all the documents must be accompanied by English translations
(when necessary); high school transcript and diploma are not necessary;
• the signature form (scan or paper document);

NOTE: For the first stages of the competition, your transcripts and diplomas accompanied by English
translations should be scanned and uploaded to the online application. Official paper copies
accompanied by authorized translations are required only after the Fulbright interview stage, in
September 2018.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1. Duration of Grants: Fulbright grants and other fellowships, assistantships, scholarships and educational grants are
generally awarded for one academic year beginning in August or September. Candidates appointed to certain types of
Fulbright grants may be required to arrive during the summer for an introductory course or intensive English program prior
 to the academic year. In some cases, arrangements may be made for an extension of the period of grant beyond the first
academic year. Awards are not renewable.
2. Duration of Degrees: The length of your degree program may exceed the available funding and sponsorship limits of your
Fulbright grant. The requirements for completing academic work toward a degree vary depending upon the degree desired,
the candidate’s academic background and the regulations of the individual U.S. institution to which the candidate is
admitted. It is usually not possible to obtain a degree in one academic year. Although the minimum time required for a
Master’s degree is one academic year, a student should expect to spend from at least one summer session to an additional
academic year to complete the academic requirements.
3. Change of Plans: You should promptly inform your Fulbright Program Office of any change in your academic status or
future plans after your application has been submitted.