About the program

The Fellowship for the Future is a full scholarship for graduate (Master's) study in the United States in fields which are essential to Croatia's economic and social development.  The fellowship is intended to support highly competitive Croatian citizens who are applying to one-year or two-year Master's degree programs at U.S. universities, in preparation for assuming leadership roles in their career field.

Candidates should have excellent academic qualifications, demonstrate leadership potential and have fluent command of the English language.  The Fellowship for the Future covers university tuition and fees for a Master's degree program, room and board (monthly stipend) for up to two years and a return airfare.

Eligible academic programs

The fellowship supports professional degree programs that award a Master’s degree and last one or two years. The fellowship does not support research degree programs that focus on a narrow subject and use solely theoretical or scientific methods of study. Degrees which teach analytical skills for policy-making are also eligible. 

Professional degree programs are academic programs which prepare students for careers and positions in business, government, nonprofit organizations, international agencies, media, industry, education and other work of importance to Croatia's economic and social development. They are often interdisciplinary, and they develop both academic and professional skills.  By merging theory and practice, professional degree programs teach analytical and leadership skills which are needed to assume leadership positions in a career field.  Through their fellowship application and choice of academic program(s), candidates should demonstrate their commitment to serving in positions of responsibility, leadership and wide impact within their area of work upon their return to Croatia.

Eligible fields

Strong candidates from any field who demonstrate excellence and a sense of purpose in pursuing the desired graduate degree are welcome to apply.  However, certain priority is given to the following fields: law; economics; business; journalism/communications; environmental studies; public policy; public administration; public health policy/administration; political science; international relations; security studies; educational policy/administration and agricultural policy/administration.

Basic eligibility criteria

• Croatian citizenship and permanent residency in Croatia
• An undergraduate degree (either through 3-year or 4-year degree programs) obtained no later than August prior to the start of the desired academic program in the United States
• High level of proficiency in written and spoken English
• Candidates must be planning to return to Croatia at the end of the period of study for a minimum of three years
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously studied or lived abroad for an extended period of time (short academic and professional experiences abroad, however, are not a disadvantage and may add to the quality of the candidate's application)

Evaluation criteria

• Candidate's academic record and achievements
• Leadership potential in the candidate's field and a commitment to making a positive impact as decision maker, policy maker or opinion former in Croatia
• Candidate's motivation and sense of purpose in pursuing the desired study program(s), as demonstrated in prior relevant work experience and/or engagement in initiatives, activities and institutions related to the candidate's field
• Overall strength of the candidate's application and fit with the program goals, as evident in the candidate's essays, letters of reference and professional or extracurricular activities

Selection process

a. Fellowship for the Future Selection Committee

Fellowship for the Future Selection Committee is a bi-national (Croatian and American) committee composed of independent evaluators with academic and professional backgrounds which ensure their ability to evaluate candidates, including experience with the U.S. educational system, teaching experience, previous service on scholarship selection committees, familiarity with the philosophy of the scholarship program and/or other strong connection to higher education.  The Committee may also include members of the Board of Trustees of the Croatian-American Foundation for Education and Training.

b. Pre-selection

The Selection Committee evaluates candidates based on the eligibility criteria specified in the program description and competition announcement, including academic record, leadership, motivation and overall strength of the application.  Based on the evaluators’ ranking of applications, the top-ranking candidates remain in the competition and are invited for an interview with the members of the Selection Committee. 

c. Second round – Interviews

Members of the Selection Committee conduct interviews with each pre-selected candidate.  Based on the interviews, the Selection Committee ranks the candidates and recommends which candidates should be short-listed for the award of the Fellowship for the Future.

d. Final selection

Once short-listed candidates have received admission and financial aid decisions from U.S. universities, the Board of Trustees of the Croatian-American Foundation for Education and Training confirms scholarship recipients.  Candidates will be notified of the final decision by email no later than April of the academic year they plan to enroll.

Ineligibility

Candidates already living in the United States or individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residence status are not eligible to apply for the fellowship.

The following representatives of the Croatian-American Foundation for Education and Training or the Institute for the Development of Education are not eligible to apply for the fellowship:

• Members of the Board of Trustees and their relatives
• Current employees and their relatives

Financial terms

Pending availability of funds, the Fellowship for the Future will cover university tuition and fees for a Master's degree, room and board (monthly stipend) for up to two years and a return airfare. Reimbursement of application fees and standardized testing fees, as well as additional allowances for living and school expenses, may also be available, subject to availability of funds. The Fellowship for the Future does not provide for dependents, nor is it in any way responsible for dependents accompanying fellows to the U.S.

Important: Candidates are asked to apply for financial aid, scholarships, grants or fellowships they qualify for, if any, which are offered by the universities they are applying to. The Fellowship for the Future will cover remaining costs in case the successful candidates obtain a financial aid package with their offer of admission.