General Requirements 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Citizenship: Must be a Nepali citizen and current resident.
• Work Experience: At least 3 years of post-bachelor’s full-time, professional work in Nepal in a field relevant to the proposed study. Professional recommenders must verify employment details.
• Education:
  • Minimum 16 years of education: A four-year bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s plus a Master’s to meet the 16-year requirement.
  • Ineligible: Three-year bachelor’s degree holders without completing a full Master’s, or multiple shorter bachelor’s degrees without a Master’s.
• Academic Performance:
  • 60% aggregate or 3.0 GPA system
• English Proficiency (ONLY required once shortlisted): Must demonstrate sufficient proficiency. TOEFL (100+) or GRE scores per subject matter/major requirements. Past valid test scores may be accepted.
• Visa Eligibility: Must qualify for a non-immigrant J-1 U.S. visa and not hold or be pursuing a U.S. immigrant visa.
• Submission: Applications must be completed online; no hard copies accepted.

*All grantees receive an exchange visitor (J-1) visa which requires that the individuals return to Nepal upon completion of their academic program. Grantees are not eligible for an immigrant visa, for permanent residence, or for a non-immigrant visa as a temporary worker (“H” visa) or trainee, or as an intra-company transferee (“L” visa) to re-enter the U.S. until they have accumulated two years’ residence in Nepal after returning from the U.S. on an exchange visitor visa. This does not preclude the individual from going to the U.S. on other visas during the two-year period.