Fulbright Program Grants

Fulbright offers competitive, merit-based grants for Students, Scholars, Teachers, Professionals and Groups. Grants are available for U.S. citizens to go abroad and for foreign (non-U.S.) citizens to come to the U.S.

Fulbright grant categories and programs are listed below.  Potential applicants should consult individual country pages for program availability and contact information for complete details about applying, eligibility and award benefits, as these details vary by country and program.

Most Fulbright grants are fully-funded; benefits include roundtrip transportation to the host country, monthly maintenance for the length of the grant, full or partial tuition (if applicable), accident/sickness coverage, and the cost of mandatory Fulbright orientation and enrichment activities. 

Fulbright operates on a yearly application cycle, which generally (but not in all cases) opens approximately 15 months before the anticipated start of the grant with a deadline approximately 11 or 12 months before the grant's start date.

Note: Fulbright Program grants for U.S. and non-U.S. citizens are not for the principal purpose of attending conferences, completing doctoral dissertations, travel and consultation at multiple institutions, or clinical medical research involving patient contact.

Grants for Students

For U.S. Students to Go Abroad

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year. The Program also includes an English Teaching Assistant component.

The Fulbright-mtvU Fellowships award up to 4 U.S. students/young professionals the opportunity to study the power of music as a cultural force abroad.  Fellows conduct research for one academic year on projects of their own design about a chosen musical aspect. They share their experiences during their Fulbright year via video reports, blogs and podcasts.

The new Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship Program affords participants the opportunity to serve in professional placements in foreign government ministries or institutions and gain hands-on public sector experience while also carrying out an academic research/study project.

The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, offers pre-doctoral U.S. students awards to support research and training that focus on non-western foreign languages and area studies. Note: No new awards will be made through this program in financial year 2011 because of substantially reduced funding.

For Non-U.S. Students to Come to the United States

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables graduate students, young professionals and artists from abroad to conduct research and study in the United States. Some scholarships are renewed after the initial year of study.

The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program provides opportunities for young English teachers from abroad to refine their teaching skills and broaden their knowledge of American culture and society while strengthening the instruction of foreign languages at colleges and universities in the United States.

The International Fulbright Science and Technology Award, a component of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, supports doctoral study at leading U.S. institutions in science, technology, engineering or related fields for outstanding foreign students.

Grants for Scholars

For U.S. Scholars to Go Abroad

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends American scholars and professionals abroad to lecture and/or conduct research for up to a year.

The Fulbright Specialist Program sends U.S. faculty and professionals to serve as expert consultants on curriculum, faculty development, institutional planning, and related subjects at academic institutions abroad for a period of 2 to 6 weeks.

The Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, offers awards to post-doctoral U.S. faculty to support research and training efforts overseas that focus on non-western foreign languages and area studies. Note: No new awards will be made through this program in financial year 2011 because of substantially reduced funding.

For Non-U.S. Scholars to Come to the United States 

The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program and Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program bring foreign scholars to lecture and/or conduct post-doctoral research for up to a year at U.S. colleges and universities.

Grants for Teachers

The Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program supports one-to-one exchanges of teachers from K-12 schools and a small number of post-secondary institutions.

The Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program sends teachers abroad for a semester to pursue individual projects, conduct research, and lead master classes or seminars.

Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad--Bilateral Projects, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, provide short-term study and travel seminars abroad for U.S. educators in the social sciences and humanities for the purpose of improving their understanding and knowledge of the peoples and cultures of other countries.

Grants for Professionals

Grants for U.S. Professionals to Go Abroad

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends experienced American professionals (generally with five or more years of experience in their field) abroad to lecture and/or conduct research for up to a year.

The Fulbright Specialist Program sends experienced U.S. professionals to serve as expert consultants on curriculum, faculty development, institutional planning, and related subjects at academic institutions abroad for a period of 2 to 6 weeks.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year. The Program also includes an English Teaching Assistant component.

The new Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship Program affords participants the opportunity to serve in professional placements in foreign government ministries or institutions and gain hands-on public sector experience while also carrying out an academic research/study project.

Grants for Non-U.S. Professionals to Come to the United States

The Hubert H. Humphrey Program brings outstanding mid-career professionals from the developing world and societies in transition to the United States for one year. Fellows participate in a non-degree program of academic study and gain professional experience.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables young professionals and artists from abroad to conduct research and study in the United States. Some scholarships are renewed after the initial year of study.

Grants for Groups

Fulbright-Hays--Group Projects Abroad Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, provides support for overseas projects in training, research, and curriculum development in modern foreign languages and area studies for U.S. teachers, students, and faculty engaged in a common endeavor. Projects may include short-term seminars, curriculum development, group research or study, or advanced intensive language programs.