Application Forms

Application forms are available as interactive PDFs and an updated form is posted each year in September.  Please complete and mail to CASA at The University of Texas at Austin (typed applications are preferred). Completed application forms and accompanying documents for the academic year must be received in the CASA State-side Administrative office by Friday, December 16, 2011.

2012-2013 CASA I APPLICATION
2012-2013 CASA II APPLICATION
CASA III (Suspended for 2012-13)

Application Guide

Please find details for each section below providing assist in completing the application form. This information refers primarily to the CASA I application; however, some sections may also be applicable for CASA II and CASA III applications.

Section 1: Personal Information

• Please complete all items on this page and subsequent pages of the application form.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have U.S. permanent resident status.

• All CASA I applicants are required to have a EID (electronic identifier)to avoid using the applicant's social security number.  You will need the EID in order to take the CASA entrance exam, please remember the number and have it on the day of the exam. To create an EID for your CASA application, please go to the EID setup page and follow the instructions provided.

Section 2: Academic Information

• If you are currently enrolled at a college or university, list that institution. If you are not currently affiliated with an institution, write "None."
• Complete section A only if you are an undergraduate and section B only if you are a graduate student.

• All applicants must complete section C - Please list all colleges or universities attended, as well as other programs both in the U.S. and abroad that focused on the study of Arabic.

Section 3: Official Transcripts

All applicants must enclose with their application official, sealed transcripts from every institution attended. Please plan ahead since all transcripts must be received with the application form by December 16, 2011. Any additional transcripts which include grades from Fall 2011 should be sent as soon as they become available. Sealed and official transcripts can be sent directly to the CASA office by the institution, if more convenient.

Section 4: Proctor and Reference Information

• All applicants must identify and provide the name and contact information of the person who has agreed to proctor their selection exam. It is the responsibility of the applicant to arrange the appropriate proctor. Keep in mind there may be several applicants taking the exam at a given university/college, but there can only be one proctor at each university/college. Traditionally, the CASA selection exam has been proctored by someone from the Department or Center for Middle/Near Eastern Studies at each school. Therefore, it is advisable to first contact someone in this department or center to assist you in designating a proctor for the exam. If your school has neither, please contact the department at your school which offers courses in Arabic. They may be able to proctor the exam, or guide you to someone who can. The proctor must not be a teacher/professor, and if at all possible, not a speaker of Arabic. Please provide your proctor with a copy of the proctor guidelines before listing them as a proctor.  Download Proctor Guidelines

• Three academic references are required: One (1) must be an Arabic language professor and the other two (2) references preferably would be professors with a Middle East area specialization, if possible. Letters of reference must be sent directly to the CASA office in the U.S., not to the student. Letters must be received by the December 16, 2011 deadline, please plan accordingly.

Section 5: Statement of Purpose

This section is your opportunity to explain your academic goals and the objectives you hope to fulfill from participation in CASA. The selection committee is interested in understanding your specific short and long-term goals. Please do not turn your statement of purpose into a summary of your Master's or Ph.D. thesis proposal. The CASA program, and how its various components relate to your goals, should be specifically addressed.

Section 6: Health Forms

• The Health Clearance Form is to be completed by the physician, returned to the applicant, and mailed to CASA at The University of Texas at Austin State-side office with the application form. Please plan ahead in order to meet the December 16, 2011 application deadline.

• The Confidential Medical History Report is to be completed by the applicant, and returned with the other application materials. Please provide as much detail as possible.

Section 7: Pay-Your-Own-Way Option (PYOW)

This section of the application is to be completed only by students who wish to be considered for this particular option.

• CASA has a limited amount of funds with which to offer fellowships each year and funding may not allow for all qualified applicants to be offered fellowships. In this case, some applicants may be accepted into the program on the condition that they are able to pay their own way.
• The Pay-Your-Own-Way option is available to a limited number of qualified students who are willing and able to provide funds for all expenses associated with their CASA program of study. CASA encourages applicants to seek funding from other sources, and welcomes all qualified applicants to participate in its programs.
• It is to your benefit to apply for other sources of funding to subsidize the cost of the CASA program. Some of these programs may have fall application deadlines, and it is best to investigate these sources beforepreparing to submit your CASA application. The following are just a few examples of alternate sources of funding: Fulbright and FLAS (Foreign Language Area Studies). Contact the appropriate representative at your university or college for more details regarding these funding opportunities.

The following conditions apply to the PYOW option:

• With the exception of the U.S. citizenship/permanent resident requirement, PYOW participants must be selected through the same procedures as all other CASA applicants.
• Once selected, participants must sign a statement assuming all financial responsibility for participation, and agree to abide by the same rules and regulations as other CASA fellows.
• If you are accepted under the PYOW option, the agreement is considered binding and can only be terminated in the case of extreme family emergency.
• No student may enter the program after the beginning of classes in June. Since our language programs are dependent for their success on the consistent and orderly acquisition of skills, we must insist that all students participate fully from beginning to end.

Program Expenses for PYOW Students:

The expenses of the CASA program include the following:

Non-Refundable Program Fee - Full-year: $1,650/ $2,200*
Tuition - Full-year: $17,023
Airfare - Full-year: $1,600-$2,500
Living Expenses - Full-year: $400 - $450/mo

All figures are estimates and provided only as a guideline; a more exact listing will be provided after the selection process is completed in March.  * Program Fees in bold relate to Non-Consortium students.

Section 8: Certification

Please sign and date this statement, confirming that all information you have entered on the application is complete and true to the best of your knowledge. This form must be returned with all other parts of the application to CASA at The University of Texas at Austin State-side office.

Section 9: Application Fee

  For applicants taking the selection exam in the U.S. or at the American University of Cairo (AUC):

• $50 for applicants currently enrolled in a Consortium Member school
• $75 for applicants not currently enrolled or at a Non-Consortium school

For applicants taking the exam anywhere overseas other than AUC:

• $100 for all applicants, regardless of Consortium Member affiliation

Please include a check or money order (no cash or credit cards accepted) for the non-refundable application fee and ensure your name is somewhere on the check or money order.   Mailing instructions for the application and fee are included in this section; however, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact the CASA's Administrative office.