Check the small print on Fulbright Scholarships

A CYPRIOT Fulbright scholar has complained of the government’s failure to respond to her plea to allow her to take a job in America, in breach of the terms of her scholarship.
Fulbright Scholars commit themselves to returning to Cyprus for at least two years on completion of their programme of study, which can pose serious problems if an overseas job offer comes up at the end of their studies.

The student in question was studying at Boston University on a £20,000 scholarship from the Fulbright Institution. Like all scholars, she had signed an agreement with the government, agreeing to come back to Cyprus on completion of her studies.

However, in the course of her degree in biotechnology, she was offered a post at a law firm, which included training. She sent a letter to the Finance Ministry back in Cyprus, but has yet to receive a reply. The student protests that the “government should at least answer letters. There should be a change.”
Ombudswoman Eliana Nicholaou said there should be “a clear agreement between the complainant and the government”. Students should have a full understanding of the agreement and what obligations were to be fulfilled, she added.

Fulbright Scholarships assist students in obtaining additional financial aid through select US universities. But some students are not aware of the implications of signing the agreement and what the Fulbright requirements are.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.