About:

Launched in 2011, Science without Borders is a scholarship program primarily funded by the Brazilian government, with additional private sector support. The program is a joint effort of the Ministry of Education (MEC) and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI) through their respective funding agencies – the Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

Through this program, the Brazilian government seeks to strengthen and expand the initiatives of science and technology, innovation and competitiveness through the international mobility of undergraduate and graduate students and researchers. LASPAU is administering the scholarships of 500 Ph.D. level grantees annually on behalf of CAPES and CNPq and will place a total of 1,500 Brazilians in doctoral degree programs in the United States over a three-year period.

Benefits:

LASPAU offers full support to grantees during the academic placement process until his or her program completion. LASPAU services include:

• Reviewing application materials such as the statement of purpose, CV, and letters of recommendation
• Recommending doctoral programs offered at U.S. universities based on the student’s interests and qualifications
• Sending certified copies of original documents to all universities during the academic placement process on behalf of the applicant, saving the applicant over $500 in copies and translations
• Issuing of the DS-2019 form for the J visa
• Administering scholarship funds
• Program advising and academic monitoring