Applicants from Abroad

Resident scholars from many countries besides the United States have come to the Institute—to date, from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, People's Republic of China, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden, and the United Kingdom. We encourage applicants from abroad.  Fluency in spoken English is required.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State (BECA) has designated the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research the sponsor of an Exchange Visitor Program in accordance with regulations issued under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Public Law 87-256, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act).

Such designation permits the Institute to issue a Certificate of Eligibility (Form DS-2019) to foreigners who are invited to be resident scholars and who accept the invitation. Form DS-2019, when presented to the appropriate United States consular office in the resident scholar's home country, permits issuance of a J-1 visa to the resident scholar (and a J-2 visa to the resident scholar's accompanying spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age). The official program description that is inserted on Form DS-2019 reads as follows:

"A program of the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research to provide research opportunities in the field of religion conducted by the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research for qualified foreign research scholars to promote the general interest of international educational and cultural exchange."

Institute Executive Director, Donald B. Ottenhoff, is the Responsible Officer, and Program and Office Manager, Elisa Schneider, is the Alternate Responsible Officer. They are accountable to BECA for the proper administration of the Institute's Exchange Visitor Program.

BECA publishes The Exchange Visitor Program: Welcome Brochure, that should be read by each applicant from abroad. [Request a copy from the Institute if you do not already have one.] Especially important is the requirement of medical insurance. In order to maintain its Exchange Visitor Program status, the Institute has to comply with the BECA rule that says we must make this requirement known in writing to potential participants in the Exchange Visitor Program: Exchange visitors are required to have medical insurance in effect for themselves and any accompanying spouse and dependents on J visas.

[*Note: these "other standards" include the following: the policy (a) may require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions which is reasonable as determined by current industry standards; (b) may include provision for co-insurance under the terms of which the exchange visitor may be required to pay up to 25% of the covered benefits per accident or illness: and (c) several technical requirements for the rating of the issuing insurance company, requirements that are met by companies the Institute would recommend.]

The Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research does not provide the required insurance. In order for the Admissions Committee to consider an application from a foreign national, the applicant must sign the following statement on the application form:

"If the Admissions Committee invites me to be a resident scholar and I accept the invitation, I (and any dependents who accompany me) will be covered by health insurance meeting the requirements established by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State for participants in an Exchange Visitor Program. This insurance will be provided either (a) through a policy issued by my home institution or government or a private insurer in my home country, or (b) through a policy I will purchase specifically for coverage during the period of my stay in the United States."

Foreign nationals who are interested in applying to the Institute's Resident Scholars Program are encouraged to inform the Executive Director of their interest prior to the application deadline, so special questions or concerns may be discussed.

We ask that, when possible, communication from abroad be by e-mail or by fax.

 

Financial Assistance for International Scholars

Resident scholars from many countries besides the United States have come to the Collegeville Institute—to date, from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, People's Republic of China, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden, and the United Kingdom. We encourage applicants from abroad. Fluency in spoken English is required.

The Institute provides financial assistance to scholars from developing countries who demonstrate both scholarly merit and financial need.  Scholars qualifying for assistance will hold a degree in areas relating to religious studies broadly speaking, or will be working on a project in another field (history, sociology, philosophy, etc.), which relates to religious or ethical issues.  The Institute also provides financial support on the basis of merit and need for students in the final stages of completing a dissertation.

Awards are crafted to meet the needs of individual scholars.  Accepted scholars will be given the use of an apartment at the Institute, a study in Alcuin Library, faculty library privileges, faculty access to the facilities at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, and a university meal plan.  Additional financial assistance will be determined on the basis of individual scholar’s needs.