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.

Fulbright Scholar Awards

Fulbright Scholar Awards comprise the bulk of awards offered and include opportunities for professionals, artists, and scholars at all career-levels. Location and eligibility vary across all awards, and some awards may be restricted to certain career levels or types of scholars. This information is outlined in the award description. The Global Scholar Award and the  Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship are unique opportunities within the Fulbright Scholar awards.

Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Awards 

Distinguished Scholar awards are viewed as the most prestigious appointments in the Fulbright Scholar Program. Awards are open to scholars who have more than seven years of experience in their discipline or area of expertise, though some awards may further restrict eligibility. Distinguished Scholars are expected to actively engage host institutions in a spirit of promoting mutual understanding and sharing knowledge.

Fulbright Postdoctoral Awards

Postdoctoral Awards provide recently graduate scholars an opportunity to conduct research and receive professional training abroad. Awards may involve limited teaching. Postdocs are open to scholars who will have received a doctoral degree (Ph.D., J.D., M.D., Ed.D., etc.) within five years of the fellowship start date. Degree conferment before the start of the award is mandatory. Institutional affiliation in the U.S. is not required.

Fulbright International Education Administrator Awards

This award provides international education professionals and senior higher education officials an opportunity to engage in a two-week intensive seminar to learn about the host country’s education system and establish networks of U.S. and international colleagues.  

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.