U.S. citizenship

Applicants must hold U.S. citizenship at the time of application. Permanent residence is not sufficient.

Residency abroad

Applicants who have resided abroad for five or more consecutive years in the six-year period preceding the application deadline are ineligible. A period of nine months or more during a calendar year constitutes a full year.

Degree and/or Experience

Award descriptions specify where a Ph.D., other terminal degree, or comparable professional qualifications are required. Current faculty, administrators, and experienced professionals are encouraged to apply. Postdoctoral candidates are encouraged to apply for postdoctoral awards. However, graduate or doctoral students seeking funding to complete their degrees are ineligible. Recent college graduates with limited professional experience are ineligible and should instead apply to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

Prior Fulbright Scholar Awards

Recipients of a Fulbright Scholar award are eligible to apply for another award two years after the date of completion of the previous award. Recipients of a Fulbright Specialist Program grant are not required to adhere to the two-year waiting period before applying for a Fulbright Scholar award. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received a Scholar award.

Department of State employees and their immediate family

Employees and their immediate families (i.e. spouses and dependent children) of the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, and of public or private organizations under contract to the U.S. Department of State are ineligible to apply for a Fulbright award until one year after termination of such employment.

Core

These awards comprise the majority of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, with awards available to all disciplines or select fields. Some Core awards are only open to applicants with more than five years of academic or equivalent professional experience, while others will be open to all eligible applicants.

Distinguished Chairs

These awards are intended for applicants who are established scholars or professionals with a significant publication record and considerable teaching or equivalent professional requirements. Please see the award description for details.

Postdoctoral/Early Career

These awards are intended for applicants who have received their Ph.D. within the last five years. Applicants are eligible to apply if they will complete the requirements for their doctoral degree by February 1, 2021 unless otherwise specified in the award description.

Global/Multi-country

These awards are intended for applicants to engage in multi-country projects either in one region (e.g. South and Central Asia) or for projects that are global in nature.

Public Policy Fellowship

This fellowship is intended for professionals and practitioners with approximately three to five years of experience in the public policy field to serve in professional placements in a foreign government ministry or institution.

International Education Administrators

These two-week seminars are intended for international education and senior higher education officials.

Timeline

Note: This timeline may not apply to IEA seminars as they have varied deadlines.

Review Criteria

Applicant training, background, and experience:

The applicant possesses the training, credentials, and active professional standing, as appropriate for their project, discipline, and career path, and meets all stated requirements for the award, including language proficiency (if applicable).

Quality of project:

The project is feasible, original, well-designed, innovative, and demonstrates relevance and currency to the discipline.

Project’s potential impact, outcome, and benefits:

The project demonstrates broad, sustainable impact beyond the length of the award period and clearly describes plans to disseminate results.

Personal qualities:

The applicant displays an ability to be adaptable, culturally sensitive, collegial, and can serve as a cultural ambassador for the U.S.

Veteran status:

Preference is given to veterans of the U.S. armed forces when other factors are equivalent.

Note:

Awards shall not authorize engagement in pastoral, missionary, or other professional religious activities nor activities for which a license to practice medicine or nursing is required.

Webinars

We host live webinars and archive them. View the webinars relevant to your application here.

What type of teaching, research, or professional project can I propose?

Award descriptions indicate which type of project is acceptable. Some awards accept Teaching only, Research only, a combination of Teaching and Research, or professional projects. Each activity has unique submission requirements.

Are there opportunities to conduct a project during the summer?

The timeframe is indicated in each award description, and while most awards follow the academic calendar in the host country, some awards may allow projects in the summer months, especially if no teaching is involved.

If I am selected, can I take my family?

Most awards have no restrictions on accompanying dependents and some provide additional support for dependents. Please check the award description for details.

Can I apply to more than one country or more than one award?

You can only apply to one award per cycle. The majority of awards are for a single country. For multi-country projects, please search for Global or multi-country awards.

Can I apply to the Scholar program if I am on the Fulbright Specialist roster?

Yes; however, grant periods cannot overlap.

What are the financial benefits?

Award stipend and benefits vary by country and type of award, but are intended to cover a stipend, and travel and living costs in-country. Please refer to the award description for more information.

I am a retired academic or professional. Can I still go on a Fulbright grant?

Yes; the Fulbright Scholar program welcomes applicants at all stages of their careers.

Do I need Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval to apply to an award?

IRB approval is not required at the time of application; however, applicants must abide by all ethical requirements before commencing their research on human and/or animal subjects through a Fulbright award.

Can I apply to the Scholar program to fund MA/PhD research?

No. Please visit the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website.

Who can I contact at my institution for assistance?

Over 1,400 academic institutions and professional associations across the United States have Fulbright Scholar Liaisons, a network of faculty and administrators who can guide you. We encourage you to connect with the Liaison at your institution for assistance with your application and your institution’s process for participating in the Fulbright program.

Application Components

• Review Project Statement examples and other resources.
• Download the Eligibility & Application Checklist.

Application Instructions

When you are ready to start your application, please read the detailed instructions for navigating the application system, uploading your materials, and submitting your application.