APPLICATION PROCESS & FORMS

The Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs began in 1926. As committees completed their rooms, they turned their attention to creating study abroad scholarships. The Nationality Rooms have awarded scholarships for summer study abroad annually since 1948. The purpose of the awards is to enable University of Pittsburgh students to have an in-depth immersion in another culture for at least five weeks. It is important that applicants choose a program that will maximize their contact with the populace abroad and be accepted by the University for credit.

It is through the farsightedness and generosity of the Nationality Rooms committees and their friends, who have raised more than $1,500,000 to provide these important intercultural exchange opportunities.

It is strongly suggested that students begin the application process in November to allow sufficient time to request references, prepare essays and, if applicable, prepare research proposals.

Application Process

• Eligibility
• Application and Interview
• Transcript (for undergraduates only)
• Study Proposal
• Course Credit
• Submission of Completed Application
• Call in to Learn About Finalist Status
• Selection and Notification
• Awardee's Responsibilities
• Timeline and Deadlines

Timeline Summary

APPLICATIONS BECOME AVAILABLE: Monday, November 19, 2007

PRELIMINARY INTERVIEWS BEGIN: Monday, November 26, 2007

LAST DAY TO PICK UP APPLICATIONS: Friday, January 18, 2008

REFERENCE DEADLINE: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

COMPLETED APPLICATIONS DUE: Thursday, January 24, 2008

CALL TO LEARN FINALIST STATUS: Friday, February 2, 2008

SELECTION PANEL INTERVIEWS: Month of February by appointment

Application Forms

These forms require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Fill out on-screen before printing.

• Undergraduate Application
• Graduate Application

1. ELIGIBILITY

a) Current full-time University of Pittsburgh undergraduates who will have between 60-90 credits by April 2008, i.e. be a sophomore or junior.

b) Current University of Pittsburgh full-time graduate students (carrying 9 credits).

c) Be a United States citizen or U.S. permanent resident.

d) 3.0 QPA minimum for undergraduates; for graduate students, maintain satisfactory QPA.

e) All applicants must have been enrolled full-time on a University of Pittsburgh campus for the fall and spring terms prior to the study abroad and must be on campus as a full-time student for the fall and spring terms immediately following the summer study.

f) Students may apply for two scholarships but can win only one. Previous awardees are not eligible.

g) Shipboard education programs are not eligible in that they do not provide five weeks immersion in one culture.

2. APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW

A preliminary interview is conducted by the Nationality Rooms Scholarship Advisor with each applicant. For that interview, the Advisor will need a copy of application pages one and two ONLY. The entire application can be obtained in two ways:

1) Stop by the Nationality Rooms office in 1209 Cathedral of Learning to pick up a hard copy. The pages should be filled out with black ink or typed.

2) Download the application from this website, fill it out on-screen and print.

Submit only one set of non-returnable photocopies of pages 1 and 2 to the Nationality Rooms office at least 24 hours before the initial interview appointment. Retain the originals to submit with the final application.

Schedule an appointment for an interview date and time. At this interview, students explain the study proposal to the Scholarship Advisor and review pages 3-8 of the application. The interview lasts approximately 20 minutes.

3. TRANSCRIPT

In January, after Fall grades are added, undergraduates ONLY should print out a transcript from the Registrar. Attach a copy of the transcript to each application submitted (two complete sets, pages 1-6 plus attachments, for each award).

4. STUDY PROPOSAL

Applicants shall select a credit-worthy study abroad program relevant to their career goals of not less that 5 weeks. Applicants participating in a study program must provide a copy of a course description which gives the dates the course will be conducted as an attachment to their application. Graduate students shall design an independent research project to be supervised (for credit) by a University of Pittsburgh faculty member.

Catalogs and information on many summer study abroad programs are on file in the NRP office and in the Study Abroad Office, 802 William Pitt Union.

5. COURSE CREDIT

Approval for course credit acceptance must be obtained from the student's academic advisor and from the appropriate dean of the department in which credit is sought as soon as the study proposal is selected.

The advisor and the dean must sign where indicated on Page 3 of the application (no exceptions).

6. SUBMISSION OF COMPLETED APPLICATION

A complete application consists of pages 1-6, plus attachments. The Nationality Rooms Program office staff will attach the references to the application. Two complete sets of an application are required for each award for which a student requests consideration. (Two awards = four copies; two copies for the first scholarship and two copies for the second scholarship.)

7. FINALISTS

Finalists for each award will be selected during the seven-day period following the submission deadline. Applicants are given a date on which to call the Nationality Rooms Program office to learn if they are a finalist. During the applicants’ calls, interviews with selection panels will be scheduled. Please be sure to call on Friday, as selection panel sessions begin the following week.

8. SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION

Selection panels meet in the month of February. After each panel meets, finalists for that award are notified of the panel’s decision.

9. AWARDEE'S RESPONSIBILITIES

It is the responsibility of each awardee to make an appointment in early March with the Nationality Rooms Program Director to discuss study/travel plans. Awardees must complete the Study Abroad Contract and submit a copy of the completed contract to the Nationality Rooms Program office.  There is a $200 fee payable to the Study Abroad Office. The award check will be held until the contract is completed.  Refer to page 6 of the application for a complete list of awardee obligations.

TIMELINE AND DEADLINES

• Application become available: November 19, 2007
• Applications can be obtained at the Nationality Rooms Program office (1209 Cathedral of Learning) or on this website.
• Initial interviews begin: Monday, November 26, 2007 and conclude on Friday, January 18, 2008.
• Last day to pick up applications: Friday, January 18, 2008
• Reference Submission Deadline: Tuesday, January 22, 2008. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the NRP office (412-624-6150) no later than January 23 to confirm receipt of both references.
• Submission deadline: Noon, Thursday, January 24, 2008. For each award for which you request consideration, two complete sets (pages 1-6 plus attachments) of your application must be submitted. NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DEADLINE.
• Application reading period: Between January 25 and February 1, 2008.
• Call-in day: Friday, February 2, 2008. To learn if you are a finalist, please phone 412-624-6150 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. It is important to call that day as the selection panel sessions begin the following week.

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Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs
University Center for International Studies
1209 Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: (412) 624-6150; Fax: (412) 624-4214
E-mail: kiley@ucis.pitt.edu
http://www.pitt.edu/~natrooms
http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/natrooms

This page last updated: 11/30/2006