Language:

Applicants are required to have sufficient proficiency in written and spoken Arabic to conduct the proposed study. An applicant for a language-only grant must have studied Arabic for a minimum of two years.

Critical Language Enhancement Awards :

Acceptable Languages:  Arabic–Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and/or a dialect.

Prior Language Study:  A minimum of one year of prior Arabic study is required.

Dates and Timing: The Critical Language Enhancement Award (CLEA) duration is a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 6 months.  Neither CLEA nor Fulbright grant periods may begin earlier than September 1, 2014.  All grantees must arrive in Egypt prior to the in-country orientation in mid-September 2014. If the Fulbright application proposes research or study, the CLEA grant period must precede the Fulbright study/research grant period, and, therefore, must begin no later than September 15, 2014.  If the Fulbright study/research application proposes only Arabic language study, the CLEA grant period must follow the Fulbright grant period.  In this event, the Fulbright grant period must begin by no later than September 15, 2014 and the CLEA grant period must start immediately following the conclusion of the Fulbright grant period.  Concurrent CLEA and Fulbright grant periods are not permitted.  CLEA and Fulbright grants must be taken consecutively.

Recent CLEA grantees have enrolled in language classes provided by one of the following institutions:

• Al-Diwan Center, Cairo (www.arabiccairo.com or www.aldiwancenter.com)
• Alexandria Center for Languages, Alexandria (www.acl-egypt.com). 
• Arabeya Association, Cairo (www.arabeya.org/)
• Arabi Center For Arabic Studies, Alexandria (www.arabi-center.com)
• Arabic Language Institute, Cairo (www.aucegypt.edu/huss/ali/Pages/default.aspx)
• British Council, Cairo (www.britishcouncil.org/egypt.htm)
• Center for Arabic Study Abroad, Cairo www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/casa/ or www.aucegypt.edu/huss/ali/Pages/CASA.aspx)
• Episcopal Training Centre, Cairo (www.etcegypt.org)
• Fajr Center, Cairo (www.fajr.com)
• Hedayet Center, Cairo (www.hedayetinstitute.com)
• International Language Institute, Cairo (www.arabicegypt.com)
• Kalimat Language School, Cairo (www.kalimategypt.com)
• Logia Center, Alexandria (www.logia-egy.com)

CLEA grantees may enroll in institutions not listed above.  They may also opt to study under a tutor rather than–or in addition to–classroom instruction. All activities funded by CLEA must have the prior approval of the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt.

NB:  Individuals whose Fulbright projects propose graduate study may find it difficult to complete a minimum CLEA grant period before their studies begin.

Critical Language Enhancement Award Managers:  
Eman Shaker, Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt, Eshaker@bfce.eun.eg.
Ashley Prather, aprather@iie.org

Academic year:

Two semesters: September through mid-January, and mid-January through May.

Grant period:

9 months.  All grants should have an official start date of on/about September 1, 2014. Exceptions will be considered, on a case-by-case basis, to defer a grant start date until no later than the beginning of the second semester of the academic year. All grantees must attend the Pre-departure Orientation in Washington DC  in June/July 2014. Grantees are also expected to attend the post-arrival orientation conducted by the Fulbright Commission in mid- September 2014.

If awarded Critical Language Enhancement Awards (CLEAs), grantees proposing to conduct research/graduate studies may defer their Fulbright grant start dates to no later than on/about March 1, 2015, to pursue their CLEA studies prior to their Fulbright awards. Grantees proposing full-time Arabic language study pursue their CLEA studies after their Fulbright language grants.

Candidate profile :

Preference is given to students enrolled in American graduate degree programs. Applicants at all degree levels will be considered.

Grants are awarded to individuals who wish to:

• Conduct research; or
• Pursue graduate degree programs; or
• Pursue full time Arabic language study.

Full-time Arabic language study and research cannot be combined in the same grant.

Affiliation:

Each grantee must be affiliated with a host institution approved by the Fulbright Commission. The Commission arranges host-institution affiliations for research grantees at Egyptian national or private academic institutions and research entities. Affiliation with the American University in Cairo (AUC) is limited to full-time Arabic language study and graduate degree programs. Applicants may indicate a preferred institution. Although not mandatory, a letter of invitation from a potential host institution may be included in the application. A grantee wishing to pursue Arabic language or graduate studies must apply directly to the program of his/her choice. For language-only grants, preference is given to students enrolled in the Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA). A separate application procedure applies  for the CASA program. For additional information, applicants should visit www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/casa/.

Tuition:

• Grantees who enroll in diploma or degree programs/coursework, will need to secure independent (non-Fulbright) funds to cover the local university’s tuition costs and fees.
• For language-only grantees enrolled in CASA, tuition and fees are defrayed by the Fulbright Commission and CASA. However, program and registration fees are covered entirely by the grantee. For other language-only grants, the Commission defrays the cost of tuition incurred to a ceiling of $12,000 or its equivalent in Egyptian Pounds (EGP).
• Graduate study and research grants carry a modest provision for Arabic language study.
• Grantees proposing projects in the Creative and Performing Arts and Creative Writing will receive a modest provision for private instruction in the field of specialization of the project, undertaken during the grant period in Egypt.

Research clearance :

The Fulbright Commission issues grants approved by the Government of Egypt. Not all fieldwork is permitted, and projects regarding subjects that are socially, culturally, or politically sensitive may be denied clearance. The Fulbright Commission applies for all necessary clearances, and facilitates archival work and contact with the Egyptian academic community.

Dependents :

Grantees with accompanying dependents receive a small supplementary allowance as part of their Fulbright and/or CLEA grant benefits.

Contact:

usteam@bfce.eun.eg

Website:

www.fulbright-egypt.org