Muskie Academic Exchange

The Government of the United States announces the Freedom Support Act (FSA) academic exchange programs for the 1999-2000 academic year. The FSA provides fully funded scholarships to students and scholars from Russia and the new independent states to study and conduct research in the United States for up to two years.

The FSA was sponsored by Senator Bill Bradley of the New Jersey and other members of Congress and incorporated in the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1992-1993. The purpose of this legislation is to support the economic and democratic development of the new independent states of the former Soviet Union.

The programs are administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State, which fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through educational exchange and training programs. The bureau expects to allocate approximately U.S. Dollars 35,000,000 to these programs in order to fund up to 1100 participants.

Competition for the programs is merit-based, and selection will be made on the basis of academic excellence, leadership potential, knowledge of English and the designated fields of study, and preparedness for study in the United States.

Students or scholars who take part in the programs must return home for two years after completion of their programs and are not eligible for visa transfers or extensions.

Pending final funding levels to determined by the U.S. Congress, the 2000 Muskie Program will award approximately 8 fellowships to individuals from each Baltic State.

Applications are available at no charge at Open Estonian Foundation, educational advising centers and USIS Tallinn.