Cds alfa fellowship program

Personal statements must be in English and no more than two typed pages in length. There are no requirements for font size, margins, or spacing as long as the personal statement includes all the necessary information, as outlined above. We recommend saving the personal statement as a PDF file in order to avoid formatting issues.

If an applicant is currently a student or a recent graduate, one letter may be from either a professor or a professional contact. All other applicants must submit two professional letters of recommendation. Please note, the letters of recommendation should not be character references, from friends, or peer reviews. Letters of recommendation must be in English. Because the Alfa Fellowship Program is a professional development opportunity, it is not recommended to request letters of recommendation from teachers of Russian.

There is no recommendation form or specific format. However, the letter must be digitally or hand-signed by the recommender and on letterhead.

Letters of recommendation must be sent directly by your recommenders with your name in the subject line to: alfa culturalvistas. Transcripts should be submitted through the online application system.

In instances where transcripts are sent directly from a university registrar, they may be emailed to: alfa culturalvistas. Yes, in order to be considered for the Alfa Fellowship Program, all application materials must be completed.

A pre-selection is conducted following the December 1 application deadline. Notifications will be sent to all applicants several weeks later, and finalists will be invited to interview with the Selection Committee at that time.

The Selection Committee is comprised of the Alfa Fellowship Program management, alumni, and other individuals with regional expertise. In addition, a Russian language instructor conducts a language assessment for finalists as part of the selection interview process. The professional assignment is arranged with assistance from the Fund for International Fellowships and Cultural Dialogue, which administers the Alfa Fellowship Program in Russia.

These proposals are carefully considered during the placement process. Fellows play an active role in identifying appropriate institutions together with the Fund for International Fellowships and Cultural Dialogue.

We strongly recommend that applicants not contact companies until after they have been formally accepted to the program. Placements are normally arranged in the summer, after the fellows arrive in Russia. The Program provides limited travel medical and liability insurance for fellows during the program in Russia.

Any supplemental insurance is the responsibility of the fellow. It is the responsibility of fellows to familiarize themselves with applicable tax regulations pertaining to the receipt of a stipend while living abroad. There are no fees to apply to the Program. Moreover, round-trip transportation and accommodation as needed for the selection interview process are covered by the Program. The Alfa Fellowship Program is a private initiative to build relationships between Russia and these countries.

It has representatives in the U. It can only provide visa support in these three countries. In addition, the Program maintains relationships with the U. Russian citizens who are also citizens of any of these three countries are ineligible to apply for the fellowship because they would not receive assistance from these embassies in Russia. Applicants who do not speak Russian or have not previously studied the language will need to demonstrate a professional connection to Russia and how they could be successful in the program with limited language skills.

Learn how our work empowers people to drive positive change in themselves, organizations, and society in our interactive annual report. Learn More. Participant Profile and Eligibility Participant Profile Fellows have a demonstrated interest in Russian and European and Eurasian affairs, exceptional academic and professional credentials, proven personal initiative, and clear goals and expectations for their professional assignments.

Fellows value being part of an international network of individuals with diverse backgrounds and a common interest in Russia and the region. While Russian language skills vary, most fellows have studied Russian for at least two years at the postsecondary level.

Program Year Application Deadline: The deadline to apply for the program year was December 1, Selection Interviews: Following is information about what the interview process entails when it is held in-person. This training does not require fellows to relocate and is meant to be completed in conjunction with finishing an academic degree or working.

Washington, D. Inside the Fellowship Experience. Please note , prior to becoming fellows, applicants to the program are expected to demonstrate their knowledge of their respective fields in Russia through their personal statements.

Testimonials I overall truly valued the experience of participating on this programme and feel I have received a huge amount from it, both personally and professionally. How to Apply. Application Instructions Please review these instructions before completing and submitting your application: The Alfa Fellowship Program application must be submitted online no later than PM ET on December 1 and any supporting documents not submitted through the online application system must also be submitted by this deadline.

Once an application has been submitted, it is considered final. Once you have submitted your application, you will not be permitted to log in, view, or make any changes to the information you provided. However, if you submit the application ahead of the deadline, your recommenders will still be able to send their letters to alfa culturalvistas.

We recommend uploading your resume, personal statement, and writing sample as PDF files in order to avoid formatting issues. Personal statement Two pages maximum, in English; please make sure to include your name on this document. The personal statement should contain very specific information about your background, experience, career aspirations, and interest in Russia. It should also include anticipated benefits of participation in the Alfa Fellowship Program for you, your proposed host institutions and the fellowship network.

It was an unforgettable experience to be part of the Alfa Fellowship program. The program helped me to increase my Russian skills up to a professional level, facilitated networking and supported me in building up my professional focus.

The flexibility of the program in choice of the work placement, contacts available through the Alfa Fellowship Program and the possibility to combine work placements accelerated my professional development.

I overall truly valued the experience of participating on this programme and feel I have received a huge amount from it, both personally and professionally. Not only am I now a confident Russian speaker with a varied C. The Fellowship was a brilliant and life-changing experience that permanently altered my career direction. Skip to content. Gain competitive skills for the global workplace plus experience the business, policy, and cultural environments of Russia and the region.

They exemplify personal initiative and clear goals and expectations for the program year. Fellows have now started their work placements, which will last through the end of April. The placements are as varied as the fellows themselves and their professional backgrounds; examples include Control Risks, the World Bank, BP, and the Museum of Cosmonautics.

In addition to the daily professional and cultural immersion of spending 11 months in Moscow, fellows will be traveling for the first time this December to Uzbekistan, where they will be visiting the ancient cities of Bukhara and Samarkand along the Silk Road.

Area of Interest: International Affairs. Learn how our work empowers people to drive positive change in themselves, organizations, and society in our interactive annual report.