Students, Scholars, Teachers, Professionals, and Groups are eligible for competitive, merit-based Fulbright Scholarships. Grants are available for both US citizens traveling abroad and foreign (non-US) citizens visiting the US.
It is a one-of-a-kind international educational and cultural exchange program that fosters mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, shares knowledge across communities, and improves lives around the world through Fulbright’s diverse and dynamic network of scholars, alumni, and global partners.
Description of the Program
Each year, the Fulbright Scholarships program awards scholarships to U.S. citizens, foreign students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals from the United States and 160 other countries to study abroad.
Fulbright is a one-of-a-kind binational program distinguished by its merit-based selection process and academic prestige. Fulbrighters come from all walks of life and are not discriminated against.
The Fulbright Program is administered by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in accordance with policy guidelines established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB).
Binational Fulbright Commissions in 49 countries set program priorities, such as the number and types of grants. The United States and the respective host governments fund the commissions, which are governed by boards comprised of citizens of the United States and partner nations.
Criteria for Eligibility
The eligibility requirements for Fulbright Scholarships vary depending on the program and the country of citizenship. To determine eligibility, candidates should select either U.S. Citizen or Non-U.S. Citizen.
The general eligibility requirements for non-US citizens are as follows:
Applicants in the 49 countries with a Fulbright Commission must meet the binational agreement’s citizenship requirements.
In countries where the program is administered by the US Embassy, applicants must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of that country with a valid passport.
Applicants cannot be citizens of both a partner country and the United States.
Specific eligibility requirements and award numbers are listed on the participating country pages.
Fulbright candidates must meet the language requirements for their proposed study, research, or teaching assignment, as well as the language requirements for adjusting to life in the host country. Fulbright applicants to the United States may be required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores along with their application.
How to Apply
How to Use: Before applying for Fulbright Scholarships, keep the following in mind:
Fulbright operates on a yearly application cycle that generally (but not always) opens about 15 months before the anticipated start date of the grant and closes about 11 or 12 months before the grant’s start date.
The application for the US Student Program is usually available in May, with a deadline in October for grants beginning in the summer or autumn of the following year. The Fulbright Specialist Program for US academics and professionals, as well as the Distinguished Fulbright Program, are exceptions to this rule.
Teaching Awards Program for both domestic and international educators.
The application process is determined by the applicant’s country of citizenship or permanent residency.
Please keep in mind that non-US citizens with legal permanent residency in the US are not eligible for Fulbright Scholarships.