Borel Global Fellows Program

• Citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country

• B.S. degree (or equivalent) in an area of plant and soil sciences, agriculture and resource economics, wildlife ecology and entomology, or animal and food sciences 
• Holding of an advanced degree does not preclude consideration of the Borel Fellows Program

• Three to five years of post-graduation work experience in the agricultural or natural resource sectors

• A sincere and demonstrated passion to pursue a master’s degree and return to the home country to contribute to agricultural development, increased food security, natural resource conservation and/or agribusiness development

• Acceptance to the Borel Global Fellows Program, which ensures placement with a UD/CANR faculty member

• Admission to a graduate program in the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

• Documented support of an African research institute and an African faculty mentor, as described below

• Acceptable scores on the GRE exam, if required by the program of study

• Acceptable scores on the TOEFL exam for students coming from non-English speaking countries

• Ability to obtain a student visa (F-1) and travel to the U.S. from the home country

• Access to reliable internet in the home country

• Sept. 1:  Application process opens 
• Nov. 15: Application process closes
• Oct. 1 to Dec 1: Rolling internal review of BGFP applicants
• Dec. 15: Finalists are notified and initiate UD application process

Students interested in being considered for the BGFP should apply to the Borel Program before applying to the University of Delaware. The BGFP application outcome may influence one’s interest in pursuing graduate studies at UD. Please follow the steps below to apply to the Borel Global Fellows Program.

Applicants should submit the following to be evaluated for the Borel Global Fellows Program: 

1. Resume or curriculum vitae 

2. Undergraduate transcript(s) 

3. Personal statement describing post-undergraduate agricultural work experience and how the fellowship will aid in advancing their career goals

4. Names and contact information for three references who can judge the applicant’s scholastic capability and potential for research at the graduate level; references will be contacted for further information once the application is reviewed by UD.

5. Two letters of commitment are required:

   One from an African research institute or university pledging to support the Fellow for the African portion of their fellowship. This support will allow the Fellow to complete the thesis project following return to Africa and may include access to research facilities, office space, internet and libraries. In-kind financial support of the Fellow (typically tuition, fees and research costs) during the African portion of the project must be addressed either in this letter or the letter from the African research director or faculty member.

   One from an African research director or faculty member who agrees to partner with the UD faculty member on advising the Fellow’s research project, both while the student is at UD and following return to Africa. In-kind financial support of the Fellow (typically tuition, fees and research costs) during the African portion of the project must be addressed either in this letter or the letter from the African research institute.

All materials should be submitted together in one email to BorelFellows@udel.edu by the deadline above. 

Each Borel Global Fellow receives generous financial support, including: 

• A full waiver of tuition at the University of Delaware; 

• Coverage of all UD student fees;

• Graduate research assistant funding while in Delaware, which includes a stipend, access to health care, and entry into campus facilities such as wellness and recreation facilities;

• One-time roundtrip airfare (economy class) to/from the US;

• Computer allowance of up to $1,000 (purchased in Delaware);

• Waiver of the UD application, GRE exam, and TOEFL exam fees;

• Reimbursement of SEVIS and visa fees (Applicants are required to pay these costs upfront);

• Financial support of up to $5,000 for the “in residence” portion of the fellowship in Africa; and

• A $1,000 honorarium for the student’s Africa-based advisor to oversee the in-country research portion of the fellowship.