bp Global STEM Academies

Welcome bp employees and children of bp employees! Apply now for this once in a lifetime opportunity. bp and AFS have partnered to host the bp Global STEM Academies, four-week programs in Brazil, Egypt, India, and the USA focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and global competence education. Scholarship winners will enrich their STEM knowledge and skills through interactive, hands-on curriculum, while developing critical global competencies, including problem solving, analytical skills, intercultural understanding, and the ability to build bridges across cultures. The pro gram culminates with team projects and presentations that offer potential solutions to real world challenges, with an emphasis on climate change and the energy transition. The program is only available via scholarship award – see below for eligibility criteria.

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Eligibility Requirements

Talented young people from all backgrounds who reflect the diversity of populations around the world, particularly young women and students with financial need, are encouraged to apply!

Must be a child of a bp employee (or bp employee is a legal guardian) in order to qualify for the scholarships allocated for children of bp employees; children of contractors and extended family members are NOT eligible
Must be born between December 1, 2002 and June 1, 2005 (for participation in the 2020-2021 program)
The ability to participate fully in a classroom and program conducted entirely in English
Demonstrated interest in STEM, study abroad and interacting with different cultures
Willingness to attend all four Academy destinations: Brazil, Egypt, India or the USA
Ability and willingness to travel unaccompanied abroad
Ability and willingness to secure travel visa if selected

For more details on eligibility requirements, please see Frequently Asked Questions section below.

Applications for the 2020 program are now closed.

bp Global STEM Academies Highlights

Airfare
Airport Pick-up
Host Family Placement
Housing
Meals
Medical Insurance
24/7 Emergency Support
Field Trips
Cultural Tours
Domestic Transport
Assistance with Application Process
Visa Application Assistance
Orientations during your time abroad
Continuous Support
Worldwide Presence
70 Years Experience

Why STEM?

If you are dreaming about becoming a game developer, coder, engineer, or future innovator, a STEM-focused program is a great opportunity! Get the critical skills you need, while engaging with people from around the world and exploring a new and exciting culture.

Science

experiments creating extraordinary discoveries

Technology

cutting-edge designs we can’t live without

Engineering

brightest ideas that set the world in motion

Mathematics

in Einstein’s words, the poetry of logical ideas

Brazil
Egypt
India
USA

Becoming a global citizen to make an impact in the world

“It was an amazing experience. I still think about it every day and I think it helped me a lot for my future. I had the chance to grow, to get to know all those wonderful people from around the world, to learn more in STEM topics and about cultures.”

-bp Global STEM Academy Participant

Brazil

Explore innovations in renewable energy from Brazilian scientists in the coastal city of Natal and bustling São Paulo. Scholarship winners will meet with professors and learn about their research at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, also making field trips to the Institute of Physics, Brain Institute, and Digital Metropolis Institute. Gain a deeper understanding of how we power our cities through field trips to solar, wind, and thermal plants, and learn about opportunities for your own career through projects and mentorship by STEM professionals at bp Brazil. This immersive 4-week experience includes a homestay weekend with a Brazilian family and activities with Brazilian high schoolers, as well as Portuguese language classes and workshops to build intercultural leadership and global citizenship skills.

Egypt

In “the cradle of civilization”, explore wonders such as the pyramids and the Nile River, as well as the unique environmental sustainability practices in the modern city of Cairo. Over this 4-week program, learn about topics such as water conservation, waste management, and microbiology through hands-on STEM activities both in the field and conducted in laboratories. In addition to a homestay experience with a local family, scholarship winners will have the opportunity to take Arabic language classes and volunteer alongside local youth in community service projects. bp Egypt will also host workshops, team-building activities, and offer mentorship by STEM professionals for this diverse cohort of scholars.

USA

Roll up your sleeves and get ready for a summer of hands-on STEM explorations in the metropolitan city of Houston, Texas. Learn with your global peers through programs hosted at the University of Houston, witness advancements in STEM with field trips to world-renowned sites such as NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital, and help protect the healthy wetlands and coastal habitats of Sweetwater Preserve. Scholarship winners will also experience American culture through the city’s arts and cultural events such as Theatre Under the Stars. Over the 4-week program, a mentor from the bp USA headquarters will support scholars in designing projects and learning about how to pursue their own STEM careers.

India

Witness both the rich culture and leading research and development in one of India’s educational hubs, the city of Indore. Scholarship winners in the first year of the India Academy will engage in hands-on workshops on topics such as robotics and technology driven software, participate in service-leadership projects, talk with industry leaders, and embark on trips to explore innovations in STEM fields at laboratories, universities, and in the private sector. bp India will also offer scholars the chance to connect with a mentor and find out more about careers in STEM. With tours of the city’s iconic landmarks, extracurricular activities like music, dance, and art, and activities with peers, scholars will develop a deeper understanding of India’s uniquely diverse culture and history.

Do you have any questions about this program? Check out this space for answers!

Please Note: This FAQ document is for bp employees and their children. bp employee children applying for the scholarship will be asked to answer questions about their parent(s) / legal guardian, including bp work email address and bp segment. Non-bp employee children (external community applicants) from participating countries interested in learning more about the program and applying for a scholarship should access information on the external AFS program page: https://dev.afs.org/stem-academy-scholarships/

Why are bp and AFS partnering to launch the bp Global STEM Academies?

bp relies on cutting-edge innovation and the minds of the brightest scientists and engineers to help us develop the energy the world needs. As a global energy leader, bp wants to attract, develop and retain the best talent from the diversity our world offers. The bp Global STEM Academies focus on recruiting students from across the globe and providing these talented young people with an exceptional, international opportunity to build critical intercultural skills and develop their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) training to help them thrive in a global economy.

What is AFS Intercultural Programs?

AFS Intercultural Programs is a leading student exchange and study abroad provider. For over 70 years, AFS has prepared and activated future leaders, global citizens and changemakers with essential 21^st century intercultural skills to engage, lead and collaborate effectively in different cultural settings. AFS’s international exchange, study abroad and volunteer programs are supported by research-based intercultural learning journeys facilitated by trained AFS volunteers and staff and help people of all ages and backgrounds develop leadership, problem-solving, language and intercultural skills needed to succeed in a global economy and make a positive difference in the world.

Why is bp interested in supporting global student exchange?

Who is funding the bp Global STEM Academies scholars?

bp will provide 110 scholarships – 20 dedicated to eligible children of bp employees worldwide– to participate in one of four bp Global STEM Academies which will be hosted in Egypt, Brazil, USA and India. While bp is providing the financial support for the bp Global STEM Academies, AFS manages and delivers the program including logistics, curriculum, housing and student support.

What costs and elements does the bp/AFS scholarship cover?

The bp Global STEM Academies scholarship:

Pays the cost of domestic and international economy airfare from the student’s hometown to the host country. Once participants are selected, AFS travel will work with students/families on travel logistics
Includes AFS-provided student study abroad medical insurance
Includes housing. Student housing is provided and carefully arranged by AFS Intercultural Programs depending on the country and program. AFS students may live with host family, live in dormitories or a combination of both.
Includes meals. Some meals will be with host families, some will be provided as a group by AFS; applicants are able to provide any dietary restrictions or preferences in their application. There will be no meal plan or meal stipend

What is not included as part of the bp/AFS scholarship?

The following items are not covered, as part of the scholarship:

Vaccinations, immunizations, and other disease-preventing medications (i.e., malaria prevention)
Any necessary pre-trip doctor visits and co-pays
Visa and passport fees
Travel expenses to the regional consulate to obtain a visa
Travel to the point of departure
Checked luggage fees
No stipends provided
Local tax liabilities

What is the bp student/participant eligibility and selection criterion?

Must be a child of a bp employee (or bp employee is a legal guardian) in order to qualify for the bp awarded scholarships; children of contractors and extended family members are NOT eligible
For the 2021-2021 program: Must be born between December 1, 2002 and June 1, 2005
Must have a valid and current passport
The ability to participate fully in a classroom and program conducted entirely in English
Demonstrated interest in STEM, travel abroad and interacting with different cultures
Willingness to attend all four Academies destinations – Brazil, Egypt, USA, or India
Ability and willingness to travel unaccompanied abroad; particularly relevant to children of bp employees traveling from a non AFS office country; parents must be ok with this prior to application
Ability and willingness to secure travel visa if selected; particularly relevant to children of bp employees traveling from a non AFS office country
bp and AFS are committed to promoting diversity of all kinds; we highly encourage women and students with financial need to apply

How are scholarship recipients selected?

The first step is to ensure that all eligibility criteria are met. Application review and scholarship selection will then be conducted by AFS on a competitive, blind, third-party evaluation to ensure that all students are selected without preference or prejudice and solely on the quality of their application, merits and experience. A select number of a applicants will be invited for an interview after which scholarship winners will be chosen and notified.

Are there any tax implications that I should consider before my child applies?

Why should my child study abroad with AFS?

For over 70 years, AFS has had an exceptional reputation for providing quality international programs that develop skills essential to succeed in the 21st century. Research shows that the AFS experience:

Builds confidence, broadens perspectives and enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Includes respected intercultural education and language learning components that are valued by universities and employers
Offers fun adventures that make learning easy and meaningful to teens
Fosters a global community of friends, connections and volunteer opportunities

Where will my child live?

Participants in the Egypt program will live with host families, participants in the USA program will live in a dormitory, and participants in the Brazil and India program will have a mixture of both. AFS is committed to diversity of all kinds and its host families come from all backgrounds that reflect the diversity of the populations of Brazil and Egypt. All host families are carefully vetted by AFS before being selected to host students.

What are the dates of the Academies?

How will AFS support my child?

What kind of candidates are you looking for?

bp and AFS share a commitment to global diversity and inclusion. Eligible and talented students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. bp and AFS highly encourage females and students with financial need to apply for consideration. This scholarship is ideal for, but not limited to, students with demonstrated strengths in academics, but particularly an interest in science, technology, engineering, math and other fields important to the energy industry, as well as an interest to study abroad and meet other cultures. Strong candidates will be ready to fully immerse themselves in the academic and intercultural learning experience for the duration of the program.

How does my child apply?

Do you have any questions about this program? Check out this space for answers!

Why should I choose to participate in this STEM study abroad program?

These four-week, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) Academies provide an exceptional opportunity to build critical intercultural skills and drive advanced STEM training that will help students thrive in a global economy. Each Academy will bring together diverse, international groups of students for an exciting and enriching study abroad experience.

Your AFS experience will help you mature and develop skills that you will use throughout your lifetime, including:

Discovering new ways to view and solve problems
Learning to respect and value differences
Becoming more self-confident and flexible as you learn how to turn challenging situations into valuable opportunities for personal growth
Exploring and discovering a new culture
Learning to live and enjoy life outside of your comfort zone
Enjoying amazing adventures with new friends from around the world
Sharing everyday life and cultural traditions with your host family or cohort
Practicing being a leader and collaborating across differences
Becoming part of a lifelong AFS community of over half a million global citizens

Do I get to pick my destination or is a host country selected for me?

The bp Global STEM Academies will be hosted in four countries: Brazil, Egypt, India and the USA. Students must be willing and able to participate and travel to all three program destinations. Students will be provided an opportunity to rank their program preference; however, AFS reserves the right to choose the final country destination and does not guarantee you will be offered a scholarship to your top country preference listed on your application

Who will I live with while I study abroad?

How do I apply?

How are scholarship recipients selected?

The first step is to ensure that all eligibility criteria are met. Application review and scholarship selection will then be conducted by AFS on a competitive, blind, third-party evaluation to ensure that all students are selected without preference or prejudice and solely on the quality of their application, merits and experience. A select number of applicants will be invited for an interview after which scholarship winners will be chosen and notified.

By experiencing STEM subjects in a different culture, AFS and bp are preparing the workforce of the future

“Studying in another country will give me the chance to see how people from different cultures manage and solve similar problems, which I’m committed to put into practice once I come back to my country.”