Program History

The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by then Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.

Approximately 286,500 "Fulbrighters," 108,160 from the United States and 178,340 from other countries, have participated in the Program since its inception over sixty years ago. The Fulbright Program awards approximately 7,000 new grants annually.

Currently, the Fulbright Program operates in over 155 countries worldwide.

Program Funding

The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation by the United States Congress to the Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions in foreign countries and in the United States also contribute financially through cost-sharing and indirect support, such as salary supplements, tuition waivers, and university housing.

The Congressional appropriation for the Fulbright Program in fiscal year 2007 was $198.8 million. Foreign governments, through binational commissions or foundations abroad, contributed an additional $63.2 million directly to the Program.

Program Administration

The Fulbright Program is administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State under policy guidelines established by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB) and in cooperation with a number of private organizations.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is responsible for the U.S. government's overseas educational, cultural and informational programs.

The J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board is composed of twelve educational and public leaders appointed by the President of the United States to formulate the policies, procedures and selection criteria that govern the Fulbright Program. The Board also selects the grantees for Fulbright awards.

Binational commissions and foundations abroad propose the annual country programs, which establish the numbers and categories of grants based on requests from local institutions. In a country without a commission or foundation, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy develops and supervises the Fulbright Program. Currently, 50 commissions are active, 47 of which are funded jointly by the United States and respective governments. Each commission or foundation has a board, which is composed of an equal number of Americans and citizens of the participating nation.

Some Fulbright programs are administered directly by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Others are administered with the assistance of cooperating agencies. Foreign citizens interested in the Fulbright Program should contact the Fulbright Commission or Foundation in their home country or, where no commission exists, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy.

		What Do Fulbrighters Do?
		Fulbrighters are more than students, scholars and teachers. They are valuable contributors to the exchange of knowledge, skills, ideas and mutual understanding.
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		Why Is the Fulbright Program Unique?
		The Fulbright Program is based on binational partnerships and open, merit-based competition. Fulbrighters are offered unique opportunities for enrichment and leadership development as well as access to facilities and a vast community of alumni.
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