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Columbia University - Southern Africa Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP)
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HOW TO APPLY
1. Procedures for application
Admission to the traineeship is a two step process. The potential trainee must be successful in their application to the CU-SA Fogarty AITRP, and then must be accepted by the relevant institution and meet the institutional requirements.
Applicants to degree programs at Columbia University, after being awarded the traineeship by the Fogarty AITRP, MUST be then accepted by Columbia University. If the potential trainee is not accepted by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the AITRP traineeship is no longer tenable and the applicant will need to reapply and repeat the review process.
All CU-SA Fogarty AITRP applications received on the pro forma Application Form will be considered. Application forms can be obtained from swartm@ukzn.ac.za
Applications are usually solicited once annually in August/September of each year, and evaluated in October/November. Please note that applications are only reviewed following a public call for applications. While applications can be received in the interim, they will only be reviewed following a call for applications. The number of successful applicants will depend primarily on merit and the availability of funds.
For successful applicants, the letter of award stipulates the details of what the traineeship will cover. Successful applicants are required to indicate their acceptance of the traineeship in writing within two weeks of receipt of notice of award. Failure to confirm acceptance of the traineeship within the time stipulated will result in forfeiture.
2. Procedures after Acceptance by CU-SA Fogarty AITRP
2.1. Application for Mailman School of Public Health
Application to the Mailman School of Public Health is done on-line, by logging into the Columbia University/ Mailman School of Public Health website (http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/admissions/index.html). The on line application form submits directly to the CU Admissions office. A hard copy of the application and the following supporting documents should be sent to Ms. Manidipa Sengupta, Project Coordinator, by courier mail and faxed as well. The completed application will require transcripts, copies of degrees received, GRE and TOEFL scores and three letters of recommendation.
Manidipa Sengupta
Project Coordinator
Columbia University
Mailman School of Public Health
Department of Epidemiology
722 West 168 Street, Room R738
New York, NY 10032
USA
Phone: 212-342-0478, Fax: 212-305-9413, email: ms560@columbia.edu2.2. Standardized tests
All trainees seeking training at Columbia University are required to complete standardized tests. Columbia University determines the eligibility of all prospective trainees based upon their prior academic record as well as their performance on two standardized test scores viz.TOEFL and GRE.
The accepted scores at Columbia are 50% for both Quantitative and Verbal on the GRE. Analytical Writing has to be 4.5 on a scale of 1-6. As Epidemiology and Biostatistics are disciplines requiring strong quantitative skills, it is advised that the GRE is taken as soon as possible, preferably by December of the year before the enrollment year. This would allow the scores to be sent to Columbia around the January 15 application deadline, and if need be, the test could be repeated in January.Test dates can be arranged with Prometric: Tel (011) 713 0605. The address is:
Thomson Prometric, Block C, Ground Floor, 55 Empire Road, Parktown, Johannesburg.
Prometric has a website as well at www.prometric.com. The costs of these exams must be born by the trainee and paid by credit card or bank guaranteed check in dollars. Trainees will be reimbursed retrospectively for the costs of taking these exams only if they are successfully completed. The supporting documentation should be retained for this reimbursement. Both the GRE and TOEFL tests are administered throughout the year in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Exact dates have to be obtained from Prometric but the tests should be taken as soon as possible after admission as a trainee. The Columbia Bulletin lists the final dates for submission of completed applications. As these standardized tests may be unfamiliar to those who have not trained in the US, it is recommended to obtain study guides for the GRE and TOEFL The tests should be taken as soon as possible before or after acceptance by the training program. This may allow one an opportunity for a retest in case the grades are low. Acceptance in the long term program requires the minimum score designated by the admissions office of a US institution.
3. Procedures on acceptance
3.1 Pre-departure requirements for Columbia University
On receipt of an acceptance letter from the School of Public Health at Columbia University, the Program Administrator contacts the trainee with instructions for relevant logistic information. This includes housing, visa, arrival date at Columbia and the registration process.3.2 Visa
The appropriate visa for a new international student is determined by either Columbia University's International Scholars and Students Office (ISSO) or the Immigration Affairs Office of the other institution where training will take place. Trainees will be required to communicate with these offices directly and follow their instructions. Once CU approves and sponsors a trainee for a visa, the trainee will received a package and must take that to the nearest US consulate for the actual visa. The visa fees incurred at the US consulate will be reimbursed after arrival upon submission of a receipt. These procedures will be similar at other US institutions. The reimbursed visa fees are a taxable item per US income tax laws.
Spouse and children could be added to the visa application of the new student and will be processed through the training institution. ISSO will advise on employment eligibility for spouse. However, these visa fees will not be reimbursed.3.3. Spouses, children and other accompanying persons
The traineeship only covers the costs of the trainee. Should trainees choose to be accompanied by spouses, significant others, and/or children they are responsible for all their costs as well as for making the arrangements for additional accompanying persons in terms of accommodation, flights, visas, health insurance and schooling. Where possible the program administrators will provide assistance but will not be responsible for ensuring arrangements for accompanying persons. When program resources permit, family health insurance may be available for trainees at Columbia University.3.4. Orientation Program for Trainees in US
New students who attend Columbia University are required to attend orientation programs offered by International Students Services Organization (ISSO), the School of Public Health, and the Department of Epidemiology. In addition Ms. Sengupta and Dr. Berkman, as well as Trainees already present at Columbia University can serve as resources. The orientation programs answer academic and logistic questions. In addition, there are orientation programs offered by the Student Association to familiarize new students to life in New York. Several documents orienting new students to Columbia and to New York City are linked on the AITRP website linked to the Columbia University website.
