Eligibility | Application Process | Dates and Deadline

Eligibility:

The scholarship is offered to candidates with a proven academic record who demonstrate achievement in their field of study and show potential for future leadership and accomplishments in science and technology.

To be considered for the scholarship, you must:

• be a Brazilian citizen or a foreign citizen with a Brazilian permanent visa;
• be proficient in English; and
• hold a minimum of a Bachelor's degree conferred by June 30, 2014.

You do not need to have an admission letter from a U.S. university in order to apply for LASPAU’s academic placement services. Candidates who held an undergraduate Science without Borders (Graduação Sanduíche) scholarship are welcome to apply. Read more about eligibility requirements on the Science without Borders website.

Candidates who already have a doctoral degree or who hold permanent resident status (green card holder) in the United States will not be considered for a PhD scholarship.

Application Process:

The application process is composed of five phases:

Phase I. Standardized Tests and LASPAU Online Application

1. Identify the field of study listed by CAPES and CNPq. See the list on the About page.

2. Take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Test (IELTS) exam. On the TOEFL, the candidate must earn a minimum score of 79 for the Internet-based test and 550 for the paper-based test to be eligible for the scholarship. A minimum overall band score of 6.0 is required on the IELTS. The TOEFL is the preferred exam at U.S. universities; not all universities accept the IELTS.

   Request to have the Educational Testing Service (ETS) send your official TOEFL scores to LASPAU (access code 3492). For the IELTS score, request to have the British Council send your official scores to LASPAU.

3. Take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) exam. While there is no minimum score required for scholarship eligibility, universities may have their own minimum score requirements.

   Request to have theEducational Testing Service (ETS) send your official GRE scores to LASPAU (access code 3492).

4. Submit the LASPAU online application. When submitting the online application, you will need to upload scanned copies of the following documents in PDF format:
   • your Registro Geral card (front and back)
   • your passport (if available)
   • your standardized test results (TOEFL or IELTS; GRE), if available

Phase II. LASPAU Pre-Selection

You will be notified by LASPAU if you are eligible to participate in the placement process for U.S. universities.

If pre-selected, LASPAU will ask you to submit the documents required for university applications.

Phase III. Selection

If you are pre-selected to participate in LASPAU's placement process, LASPAU then will ask you to submit a scholarship application to CAPES and CNPq. They will evaluate all candidates and confirm scholarship recipients approximately 90 days after the candidate has been pre-selected by LASPAU.

Phase IV. Placement

LASPAU works with each candidate to create a university application submission plan and then collaborates with you on preparing your university applications. LASPAU pays for online application fees.

Phase V. Monitoring

If you are confirmed as a scholarship recipient, LASPAU will issue a DS-2019 required for your J-1 visa. LASPAU program advisors will guide you through the visa process and provide support for the duration of your scholarship.

Dates and Deadline:

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis between March 1st and September 30th, 2014. You are encouraged to apply early to give LASPAU ample time to help you prepare your documents for the placement process.