1. Home
  2. Apply for the Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program

Apply for the Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program

Apply for the Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program

We are now accepting applications for the 2025–2026 Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program (TJSP). The Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program provides opportunities for full-time, undergraduate, university/institute students from Tunisia to spend one academic year of non-degree study at a U.S. university or college.  

Through academic opportunities, professional engagement, and leadership development, TJSP fosters economic growth, stability, and democratic development in Tunisia by equipping a network of youth with essential skills to lead positive change in their professional fields and communities. 

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 5 p.m. Tunis time. Please read the application materials carefully before beginning the application.  

Eligibility 

The Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic as established by U.S. law.  TJSP alumni have come from all 24 governorates of Tunisia. 

Competition for the Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program is merit-based and open to anyone who:  

  • is a Tunisian citizen;  
  • currently resides in Tunisia;  
  • is enrolled as a full-time, undergraduate, university/institute student in good academic standing at the time of application at a registered academic institution in Tunisia;  
  • is in their second year of undergraduate education or above. Students who are in their first or final year of study at the time of application are not eligible to apply. 
    • Architecture students are eligible in their second, third, fourth, or fifth year of study. 
    • Engineering students are eligible in their second year (preparatory classes) and third and fourth year of undergraduate study. 
  • is able to receive a U.S. J-1 visa;  
  • is at least 18 years old by July 1, 2025; 
  • is committed to returning to Tunisia after completion of the program for a period of two years in accordance with the United States Department of State’s J-1 visa regulations; 

  • is able to achieve a Duolingo English Test (DET) score of at least 100; and  

  • completes the academic year prior to study in the United States in good standing with a passing average (a.k.a. moyenne générale). 

Please note that you do not need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Duolingo English Test (DET) to apply for this program. Only semi-finalists are required to take the DET, which will be coordinated by IREX and at no cost to the semi-finalist. 

Selection process and criteria 

TJSP is conducted as a merit-based open competition. Selection panels for TJSP semi-finalists and finalists will use the following criteria to evaluate applications (not in order of importance): 

  • Academic excellence; 
  • Expressed commitment to contribute to Tunisia’s development; 
  • Demonstrated leadership potential and commitment to community engagement; 
  • Proficiency in written and spoken English; 
  • Flexibility and adaptability as an exchange student.

How to apply 

The application must be completed online and all questions must be answered in English, except where specified. Applicants must fill out all required sections of the application and provide contact information for two references. Reference 1 and reference 2 must be completed by two different individuals who can speak to your suitability as a potential scholarship recipient. References may be provided by professors, advisors, managers, mentors, etc. 

Complete copies of all application materials, including references, must be received together in one package as per the application instructions by Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 5 p.m. Tunis time. Only complete applications, which include a complete application form with two reference forms, will be forwarded to the selection committee. 

Download the full application instructions (PDF, 178 KB).   

APPLY NOW

Other resources 

To learn more about the program and share program information with interested applicants, please read the following:

Contact 

If you have questions about the TJSP application, please e-mail  thomasjeffersonscholars@irex.org.   

The Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Department of State and implemented by IREX.