Last Updated: June 21, 2021
Fulbright Scholarship
The Fulbright Scholarship is a merit-based grant offered to highly competitive students, teachers, artists, and scientists for international educational exchange programs. Instituted in 1946 by former Senator J. William Fulbright, this program opens doors to US students to enhance their knowledge in their chosen field of study in different countries. Simultaneously, students of other nations are also given the opportunity to study in the US as part of this exchange program.
The Fulbright program is primarily managed and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State. Overseas, the program is managed by the bi-national Fulbright Commission. However, the US Embassy's Public Affairs Section takes care of the program in countries that do not host this commission. The program also receives sponsorship from partnership governments, corporations, foundations, and others from within the US as well as partner nations.
Applying for Fulbright Scholarship
Candidates who wish to apply for the Fulbright scholarship should start by checking their eligibility for applying. If they are eligible, they will have to enroll for the same through an institution they are currently studying in or through the institution they have studied in earlier if they accept alumni applications. If the candidate cannot apply through their institution, they have the option of applying at large through the Fulbright online application system considering the deadline.
They will be able to choose between study/research awards and ETA awards and then move on to the opportunities offered by different countries from which they can choose the best opportunity. The eligibility requirements for different countries will be different and hence this procedure is to be carefully approached.
Most of the scholarship applications open about 15 months before the estimated grant date and have a submission deadline of about four months. Hence it is important that an applicant begins to gather all the required documents at least two years before the expected grant date.
Eligibility Requirements
All US citizens, both natives and naturalized, are eligible to apply for exchange scholarships to any of the partner nations. Non-US citizens living in America cannot apply for a Fulbright grant. Those holding dual citizenship with the United States are, however, eligible to study in any of the partner nations, but not in the US.
Language proficiency Requirement
Those applying to study in a foreign nation must be able to speak English and the language of that country proficiently to be considered a competitive candidate. Since US candidates have a choice of 50 countries to choose from for an exchange program, they need to cater to these grant requirements before deciding on a country of their choice.
Registration Process
US citizens can obtain a scholarship application from their college or a partner agency. Completed applications are forwarded to the Fulbright Commission, which is screened by a board comprising 12 members appointed by the president of the USA.
Select applicants are screened through tests and interviews to determine their eligibility for the various Fulbright scholarships. Strong preference is given to students who have not received a Fulbright grant in the past. Again, everyone is encouraged to apply.
Types of Fulbright Scholarship
A Fulbright scholarship is offered to people across all fields except that of clinical medical research. American citizens are selected on a competitive basis for studying, conducting research, teaching, etc. For this purpose, students, teachers, research scholars, and other professionals are chosen for the Fulbright Scholarship. There are four kinds of grants that are offered under the Fulbright program.
1. Grants for Students
Undergraduates, graduates, artists, and young professionals are given an opportunity to study, research, or teach English in a foreign country. Similarly, students from abroad are given academic and research opportunities in the US as part of this exchange program for the duration of one academic year.
Types of grants for students:
- Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program: The Fulbright Scholarship offers English teachers of other nations the opportunity to refine their skills and broaden their knowledge base through the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program.
- Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship: For those pursuing advanced studies in music, there are four prestigious slots available in the one-year Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship grant to research a musical aspect and its cultural force.
- Fulbright-Clinton Fellowship: A highly competitive scholarship program is the Fulbright-Clinton Fellowship that gives US students an opportunity to work with partner governments and their public sector organizations for a wholesome cultural experience.
- International Fulbright Science and Technology Award: The International Fulbright Science and Technology Award is a part of the Foreign Student Program and is focused on doctoral research in different fields.
The different grants for US students to go abroad and for non-US students to come to the US are as follows-
US Students going Abroad
- Fulbright US Student Program
- Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program
- Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship
- Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad
Non-US Students coming to US
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program
- Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program
2. Grants for Scholars
Professionals, scholars, and faculty members in American academies are given an opportunity to lecture or participate in research programs in partner countries for a year through the Fulbright US Scholar program. The duration for this award is between 3 to 12 months and the candidates chosen will be established scholars in their field with a substantial teaching and publication history.
Various grants for scholars are:
- Fulbright US Scholar Program: The Fulbright US Scholar Program sends candidates abroad to lecture and conduct research.
- Fulbright Specialist Program: The Fulbright Specialist Program sends candidates as consultants for curriculums and other educational subjects. This program allows the candidate to stay abroad for a duration of 2-6 weeks in all.
- Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program: Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program is an interesting set of exchange-program that allows scholars from across the world to interact with one another for a duration of up to 1 year.
- Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program: Scholars across the borders are invited to conduct research and share their knowledge through lectures for up to a year at American universities.
- Fulbright Regional Network for Applied Research Program: Bringing together scholars and professionals from the Western Hemisphere nations for a knowledge exchange experience is the Fulbright Regional Network for Applied Research Program. This is a one-year multi-disciplinary program that encourages team-based research and seminars for knowledge enhancement and transfer.
US Scholars going Abroad
- Fulbright US Scholar Program
- Fulbright Specialist Program
- Fulbright-Hays Program
- Fulbright Arctic Initiative
Non-US Scholars coming to US
- Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program
- Fulbright Arctic Initiative
3. Grants for Teachers
The Fulbright grants have two programs dedicated to teaching professionals.
- Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program: Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program brings together teachers from K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions, offering them a knowledge exchange platform.
- Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program: Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program offers teaching professionals a grant to participate in research programs or projects at a partner nation for a semester.
4. Grants for Professionals
American scholars and professionals are awarded grants of two weeks to a year to teach, learn and consult at partner institutions abroad through the:
- Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program and the
- Fulbright Specialist Program.
US Professionals going Abroad
- Fulbright US Scholar Program
- Fulbright Specialist Program
- Fulbright US Student Program
- Fulbright European Union Scholar-in-Residence Program
- Fulbright International Education Administrators Seminar
Non-US Professionals coming to US
- Hubert H. Humphrey Program
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program
- Fulbright European Union Scholar-in-Residence Program
Top Institutions for Fulbright scholars - 2016-2017 (for PhD)
| University | Grants | Applications |
| Brown University | 30 | 110 |
| Georgetown University | 27 | 116 |
| University of Notre Dame | 27 | 95 |
| Harvard University | 26 | 137 |
| University of Chicago | 26 | 111 |
| Princeton University | 22 | 111 |
| Columbia University | 21 | 100 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 21 | 102 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 21 | 92 |
| University of Washington | 21 | 72 |
Facts regarding the Fulbright Scholarship
- The Fulbright program is offered in partnership with 160+ countries.
- More than 400,000 students have benefited from the Fulbright program since its inception.
- 8,000 grants are offered to eligible applicants annually in the areas of undergraduate and research studies, classroom teaching as well as lecturing at universities.
- 53 Nobel Prize winners and 78 Pulitzer Prize awardees are Fulbright scholars.
- 10 Fulbright alumni have been US Congress members and 18 have served as government heads.
