FULBRIGHT
U.S. STUDENT
PROGRAM
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
U.S. Student Program
Program History & Administration
• Created by Congress in 1946 to foster mutual
understanding among cultures and nations
• Sponsored by U.S. Department of State
• Functions abroad in cooperation with Fulbright Commissions
and Foundations, and U.S. embassies
• Administered in the U.S. by the Institute of International
Education
U.S. Student Program
What Is the U.S. Student
Fulbright Program?
• The U.S. Government’s flagship
educational and cultural exchange
program
• Focus on recent U.S. college/
university graduates, artists, and
young professionals
• Study, research, or teaching
assistantship opportunities
U.S. Student Program
The Basics
• What is a U.S. Student Fulbright Grant?
o
An award to support self-designed study or research in 150
countries; English language teaching assistantships in over
40 countries
• Who should apply?
o
o
Highly-motivated, open-minded individuals
Those who can contribute to and benefit from cultural
exchange
U.S. Student Program
Diversity
•
Program is seeking universities traditionally under-represented in the Fulbright
Program
•
Institutional, ethnic & geographical diversity
•
1,500 grants awarded representing all facets of American society
(institutional, ethnic, & geographical diversity)
Number of institutions submitting
applications / Awarded:
Small – 191 / 113
Large – 329 / 182
THINKING OF APPLYING?
U.S. Student Program
Am I Eligible?
• U.S. Citizens
• Those with Bachelor’s degrees, equivalent training or
professional experience by grant start
• Sufficient language ability as required by host country and
in keeping with the Fulbright mission
• Good health
U.S. Student Program
Who Is NOT Eligible?
• Non U.S. citizens (including permanent residents)
• Ph.D. degree-holders
• Previous U.S. Student Fulbright grantees
• Dual citizens or residents in some host countries (check
website country descriptions)
U.S. Student Program
A Fulbrighter Has…
• Strong academic and/or
professional preparation
• Demonstrated leadership ability
• Less than six months spent in host
country (excluding undergraduate
study abroad)
• Focus on community involvement
Phuong Do - Vietnam
U.S. Student Program
The Website
• All information about the Program is on our website:
www.fulbrightonline.org/us
U.S. Student Program
On the Website
• Grant Information
Descriptions
• Eligibility Requirements
• Country Descriptions
• Campus Adviser Information
• IIE Contact Information
• Online Application
Rosanna Brilliantes – Philippines
• Grantee Directory
GRANTS AND BENEFITS
U.S. Student Program
Overview
• Basic Grant Types
o
o
o
Full Grant
English Teaching Assistantship
Travel Grant (Germany or Hungary only)
• Special Fulbright Programs
o
o
o
o
Critical Language Enhancement Awards
Fulbright-mtvU Awards
Internship Grant (Taiwan)
Business Grant (Mexico or Spain)
U.S. Student Program
Fulbright Full Grant
• Individually-designed academic, research, or artistic project
• Projects may include university coursework, research, or
professional training in the arts
• Guidelines may vary by country – check the website for
details
U.S. Student Program
English Teaching Assistantship
• Grantees assigned to teach conversational English in
schools or universities throughout host country
• Grantee-designed project emphasizing community
engagement
• Over 40 countries offer Fulbright ETA grants
U.S. Student Program
Critical Language Enhancement Initiative
• Pre-grant training covering language study in Arabic,
Chinese, Korean, Russian, Turkish and other specific
languages for Full Grant applicants
• Funding is only available to grantees who demonstrate
need for training and have completed one year of language
training
• Language training occurs prior and during the grant term or
for projects focusing on language acquisition training
follows the grant term
U.S. Student Program
Fulbright-mtvU Awards
• Grants focus is on international contemporary or popular
music as a cultural force of expression
• Explores the use of music as a global force for mutual
understanding
• Special ‘Documentation and Outreach Plan’ must be
submitted in addition to Fulbright application
U.S. Student Program
Grant Benefits
• Roundtrip airfare
• Monthly stipend (for room, board,
incidental costs
• Health insurance
• Benefits may also include (varies
by country):
o Dependent support
o Research allowance
o Tuition
o Language lessons
o Enhancement activities
Caleb Kim – South Korea
FULBRIGHT APPLICATION
U.S. Student Program
Application Components
• Application form (online)
• Statement of Grant Purpose
• Personal Statement
• Three references
• Transcripts
• Language Evaluation (if
necessary) - varies by host
country
• Affiliation in host country
Lisbeth Garassino – Romania
U.S. Student Program
Applications in Creative
and Performing Arts
• Over thirty fields of study in the
creative and performing arts
• Supplemental materials must be
submitted:
o
o
o
o
Photographs, Portfolios
CDs
DVDs
Writing Samples (Creative Writers
only)
• See website for eligible arts fields and
specific requirements
Randin Graves - Australia
U.S. Student Program
Preparing the Application
• Visit “How Do I Apply” on the website for details on
preparing the application
• Currently-enrolled students MUST apply through the
campus Fulbright Program Adviser
APPLICATION PROCESS
U.S. Student Program
Statement of Grant Purpose (Full Grants)
• Two page essay that answers the questions: what, where,
how, when, and why
• Demonstrates knowledge of the field of study
• Demonstrates awareness of needs in host country
• Any potential concern about project feasibility or your ability
should be addressed directly
U.S. Student Program
Statement of Grant Purpose (ETA Grant)
• One page essay that explains how you will reach your
goals as an English Teaching Assistant, and why you
would like to be an English Teaching Assistant
• Description of a small, supplemental research project
(focused on community involvement)
o
Should not be location-specific
• Demonstrates sincere desire to teach English to non-native
speakers
U.S. Student Program
Letters of Affiliation- Full Grants Only
• From a host contact willing to advise/mentor you while
conducting your Fulbright project
• Can be a professional at a university, laboratory, library,
community organization
• Provides a signed letter on institutional letterhead indicating their
support
• Check country summary for specifics before requesting letter
• ETAs DO NOT make affiliations
U.S. Student Program
Things to Consider
• Is your project feasible?
• Do you have/can you secure a solid affiliation?
• Do you have requisite language skills?
• Have you demonstrated your ability to carry out your
proposed project?
U.S. Student Program
Online Application
• The Fulbright Application is ONLY available online
• Visit “Apply Now” on the website and follow the instructions
for completing an application
SELECTION PROCESS
U.S. Student Program
Deadlines
Campus Deadline
Sept/Oct
• Enrolled candidates submit applications to campus committee by
campus deadline for review
IIE Application Deadline
October
• Online submission deadline: Oct 19, Hard copy: Oct 21
• Campuses send enrolled students’ applications to IIE at deadline,
at-large applicants submit directly to IIE
• Applications are processed at IIE and sent to National Screening
Committee members
U.S. Student Program
Selection Timeline
National Screening Committees
Nov/Dec
• Screening committees review applications for a given country/field.
They recommend candidates for selection
Fulbright Commissions/Embassies
Jan-May
• The Fulbright Commissions and U.S. Embassies in the host
countries select principal and alternate candidates
J. William Fulbright Foreign
Scholarship Board (FSB)
Feb-May
• The presidentially-appointed FSB makes the final selection of
candidates
U.S. Student Program
Overall Timeline
Design Project, Seek
Affiliations, Prepare App.
May-Sept
Campus Deadline
Sept/Oct
IIE Application Deadline
October 19
National Screening Committees
Nov/Dec
Commissions/Embassies
Jan-May
Foreign Scholarship Board
Feb-May
RESOURCES
U.S. Student Program
U.S. University Page
• Look up FPA information, deadlines, and other campus
Fulbright information on our website
U.S. Student Program
Current Grantees
• Get a sense of current
and previous fellows and
their projects
• Search by name,
university, country, grant
year, and more
• Learn fellows’ project
names and fields of study
U.S. Student Program
Fulbright Contact Information
Fulbright Contacts
Revelant Program Managers
General Inquiries
Walter Jackson (wjackson@iie.org)
East Asia-Pacific
Jonathan Akeley (jakeley@iie.org)
Brazil
Jody Dudderar (jdudderar@iie.org)
Europe (excluding Germany)
Marla Mazer (mmazer@iie.org)
Eurasia
Alyssa Yeng (ayeng@iie.org)
South and Central Asia
(and Germany)
Cara Doble cdoble@iie.org)
Middle East and North Africa
Jermaine Jones (jjones@iie.org)
South America, Mexico and Canada
(excluding Brazil)
Jody Dudderar (jdudderar@iie.org)
Central America and the Caribbean
no representative named
Critical Language Enhancement
Susan Muendl Muendl@iie.org)
External Relations/Outreach
Tony Claudino (tclaudino@iie.org)
Schuyler Allen (sallen@iie.org)