Eligibility
The NBS Graduate Fellowship Program is a merit-based competition open to Bank employees who meet the following criteria:
- Currently in good standing as an employee at the National Bank of Serbia;
- Able to demonstrate professional aptitude and leadership potential in the selected field of specialization;
- Recipient of undergraduate degree equivalent to a US Bachelor's degree at the time of application;
- Proficient in spoken and written English at a level typically required by US graduate programs;
- Able to begin the program of study in the United States in the summer of 2008;
- Able to receive and maintain a US J-1 visa;
- Willing to make a commitment to returning to employment at the National Bank of Serbia upon completion of the program.
Selection
The Graduate Fellowship Program is a merit-based competition open to all eligible Bank employees. American Councils administers the selection process, which consists of two stages. During stage one, participants submit a program application (available online), including academic transcripts and three letters of recommendation, and undergo preliminary English-language testing (Institutional TOEFL) administered by American Councils staff in Belgrade. Applications and detailed instructions are available online at www.nbsfellowship.americancouncilsnetwork.org. Applications and Institutional TOEFL results are reviewed by a preliminary selection committee, which determines the semifinalists of the competition, who continue on to stage two. During stage two, program representatives interview each semifinalist. In addition, semifinalists complete the official standardized tests (TOEFL and GRE or GMAT) required for their preferred field of study. Interview assessments and test results are reviewed by a final selection committee of US graduate admissions experts in Washington, DC. The committee designates six finalists and two alternates. Finalists should be prepared to begin study as early as July 2008 to fulfill any pre-enrollment requirements by their host university.