Terminology - A MASA Primer Program Organizer – This is the official body that is responsible for the program the applicant is planning to attend.  A program organizer could be the name of the university or a youth movement running the program of your choice, etc.  Many program organizers have more than one MASA approved program.  Be sure to confirm that the program of your choice is MASA approved.  Not all programs of all approved program organizers meet the criteria for MASA approval. Grant – Funding that MASA will give every participant in a MASA approved program.  To qualify you must fill out the MASA application form and follow the directions provided application form. Needs-based scholarship – MASA funding that applicants can receive is determined by the participant’s financial need, country of origin and the length and cost of the program and not all applicants are eligible for this scholarship. (See below for more details).  To apply, fill out the entire application form online.  Submit ALL required documents (proving your gross annual income) together with the signed last page of the MASA application form to your program organizer.  Applicants for needs-based scholarships who do not submit official proof of income, will not be eligible. • In very extreme exceptional cases, one may apply to the MASA Appeals Committee for an additional review. In order to present a case to the committee, all proof of the expenses must be provided together with an explanatory letter. Please note that the appeals process is a lengthy process and may result in denial. The Appeals Committee comprises legal and financial representatives from both partners of MASA, the Jewish Agency of Israel and the Israel Prime Ministers Office. Independent applicants – To qualify as an independent applicant for a needs-based scholarship, applicants must fill the online application and be able to produce ALL of the following documents: • A notarized letter from parents/guardians that states they are not supporting the applicant financially • A copy of applicant’s lease or rental agreement for 6 months prior to the start of the Israel program - University/ college dormatory living is NOT acceptable. • Proof of income must be in the form of 6 months of pay slips (income tax returns are NOT acceptable). MASA understands that a truly independent applicant will not be earning anything during his/her time on a MASA approved program. Thus to calculate the needs-based scholarship for an independent applicant, MASA uses 50% of the annual gross income as a basis. General Information • Once a participant's Masa funding has been confirmed, their program will deduct the amount of their funding from the total cost of the program. The participant then only needs to pay the program the difference between the cost of the program and their Masa grant/scholarship. • To receive a MASA grant and or be eligible for a MASA needs-based scholarship, applicants must complete the online application form. • MASA grant/needs-based scholarship application forms must reach the MASA office no later than 60 days prior to the start of the program.  This is to enable applicants to receive answers at least 2 weeks before the start of the program since MASA promised answers within 45 days of receipt of a full and completed form. • MASA applicants from Eastern Europe and countries of the Former Soviet Union must supply MASA with a copy of an A2 Visa (Student Visa valid for up to one year) together with their application form.  This visa is available at no charge to MASA program participants.    MASA Grants • Every MASA participant is eligible to receive a MASA Grant. However, to receive the MASA grant the participant must complete an online application form. • The grant amount varies from country to country and is determined by the length and cost of the specific program.  MASA Scholarships • A portion of the remaining fee of the program (program fee minus MASA grant) has the potential to be covered by a MASA needs-based scholarship.  The total amount of financial assistance a participant is able to receive from MASA (grant and needs-based scholarship) cannot exceed 95% of the program fee. • The amount of needs-based scholarship money awarded is determined by the participant’s financial need, country of origin and the length and cost of the program. • What is taken into consideration in the needs-based scholarship evaluation process is: the age of the participant, the participant's country of origin, the number of members in the participant’s family and the family's gross income (if the participant is a dependent). If the applicant is independent, then the applicant’s gross annual income is considered.  Independent applicants must meet the criteria as defined above and on the application form. • MASA applicants must send the signed last page of the PDF version of the application form that will be sent to them by MASA to their program organizer. The program organizer is responsible for forwarding the grant/needs-based scholarship applications (the grant and needs-based scholarship applications are on one application form) to MASA. The Application & Review Process • All required documents must be sent directly to the program organizer.  The program organizer reviews them, and if the applicant is accepted to the program, the papers are forwarded to MASA.   • Upon receipt of the application by MASA it is stamped with the date of receipt.  This is done so that MASA can stand by its promise to have answers within 45 days of receipt of all required paper work or as close to this time-frame as possible. • The amount of grant money an applicant can be awarded is a predetermined amount, depending on the country the participant is coming to Israel from.  To be awarded, however, the participant must apply by completing the application form. • MASA will notify the applicant of the amount he/she is to receive within 45 days of MASA receiving the participant's paperwork from their program.  • Transfer of funds to the program organizer occurs during the participant's year in Israel.  The Distribution of Funds • Legal issues bind MASA from transfering grant/needs-based scholarship funds directly to the MASA participant.  MASA, therefore, transfers the money to the participant's program organizer.  The program organizer then passes the grant/needs-based scholarship on to the participant by deducting the award amount from the total program cost.