Fulbright Eligibility: International Students' Opportunities Explored

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program provides grants for graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad to conduct research and study in the United States for one year or longer at U.S. universities or other institutions. The program is administered by binational Fulbright Commissions/Foundations or U.S. Embassies in 49 countries, and applicants must meet citizenship requirements, typically excluding dual citizens. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, on the other hand, is designed for U.S. graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals, and artists. Candidates may not apply to both the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Fulbright Scholar Program in the same competition cycle.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is a scholarship program that enables graduate students, young professionals, and artists from outside the US to study and conduct research in the United States. The program is administered by binational Fulbright Commissions/Foundations or US Embassies and operates in more than 160 countries worldwide. Approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year to pursue a Master's or Doctorate degree.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, candidates must:

• Be a non-US citizen.
• Not hold dual citizenship.
• Be proficient in English, with a recent score of at least 550 (Paper-Based TOEFL), 79-80 (Internet-Based TOEFL), or 6.0-6.5 (IELTS).
• Reside in the country of nomination at the time of application.
• Possess the equivalent of a US bachelor's degree with a good academic record (a master's degree is preferred by some institutions).
• Be able to work creatively, be self-reliant, and collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and students.

Application Process

The application process for the Fulbright Foreign Student Program varies by country. Candidates must apply through the Fulbright Commission or US Embassy in their home country. The Institute of International Education (IIE) and AMIDEAST administer the program on behalf of the US Department of State in different regions. There are two placement models: IIE-Placement and Self-Placement. For IIE-Placement, the Placement Team helps secure degree opportunities and manages admissions and funding. Candidates applying through a US institution must complete the Fulbright online application and submit all supporting materials by the specified deadlines.

Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health

The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health is a partnership between the Fulbright Program and the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The program is designed for candidates enrolled in medical school or a graduate program who are interested in global health. The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships were inaugurated in July 2011 with four fellows in Sub-Saharan Africa (Botswana, Malawi, and South Africa).

The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health provide an opportunity for medical and graduate students to conduct research in public health and clinical research in resource-limited settings. Fellows spend nine months in one of the nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, or South America. The program is open to United States citizens who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program. Applicants must have sufficient proficiency in the host language to carry out the project. Non-U.S. citizens with legal permanent residency status in the United States are not eligible for any Fulbright grants.

The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health have the same benefits as traditional Fulbright Study/Research grants to the host country. The Fogarty International Center, NIH, will provide support to the research training site and may provide orientation for the fellows. By the start of the program year (July 2025), fellows must be MD or other professional degree students who have completed their third year or a Ph.D.

The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health application process involves selecting the Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health in the online application form and addressing specific areas in the Statement of Grant Purpose. Applicants should consult with the Principal Investigator(s) at the site and for the project they are interested in. The areas addressed in the Statement of Grant Purpose include:

• Why the applicant has chosen the particular country and project
• How the candidate will be able to contribute to the Fogarty project
• What specific qualifications, training, and/or experiences the candidate has related to this project
• How the applicant will benefit from the assignment and make use of the experience upon returning to the United States

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals, and artists to study, conduct research, and/or teach English abroad for one academic year. The program is open to U.S. citizens who hold at least a Bachelor's degree by the start of the grant and have sufficient proficiency in the host language to carry out the project. Applicants who hold a doctorate are ineligible. The program provides grants for individuals to pursue their own projects and typically prefers candidates who have not previously held a Fulbright grant.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is just one of many Fulbright exchange programs. The Fulbright Program is the flagship international academic exchange program sponsored by the United States Government. It was founded in 1946 with the goal of increasing mutual understanding and supporting friendly and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and those of other countries. Today, it is led by the U.S. Government in partnership with more than 160 countries worldwide, offering a range of international academic and cultural exchange opportunities.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is another example of a Fulbright exchange program. It is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and AMIDEAST on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. IIE has been administering the program since its inception in 1946 and currently manages it for Africa, Eurasia, Europe, East Asia and the Pacific, South and Central Asia, part of the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere. AMIDEAST administers the program for most of the Middle East and North Africa. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program provides grants for graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad to conduct research and study in the United States.

The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health is a partnership between the Fulbright Program and the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The program is designed for candidates enrolled in medical school or a graduate-level program who are interested in global health. The basic requirements and application process for the Fulbright-Fogarty Program are the same as for any Fulbright U.S. Student Study/Research Grant.

Fulbright Scholar Program

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is for graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad who wish to conduct research and study in the United States for one year or longer at U.S. universities or other institutions. The program provides grants for these individuals to pursue their academic goals. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is administered by binational Fulbright Commissions/Foundations or U.S. Embassies in 49 countries. Applicants must meet the citizenship requirements as defined by the binational agreement of the country in which they are applying and must not hold U.S. citizenship. In countries where the program is administered by the U.S. Embassy, applicants must be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents qualified to hold a valid passport issued by that country.

The Fulbright Scholar Program is designed for non-U.S. citizens who are professors and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award in the United States. Applicants for this program must apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in their home country.

The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health are offered through a partnership between the Fulbright Program and the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. This program is tailored for candidates enrolled in medical school or a graduate-level program who are interested in global health. The basic requirements and application process for the Fulbright-Fogarty Program are the same as for any Fulbright U.S. Student Study/Research Grant.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is for U.S. citizens who are graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals, or artists. This program provides grants for individuals to pursue their academic goals. It is important to note that candidates may not apply to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Fulbright Scholar Program in the same competition cycle.

Fulbright FLTA Program

The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) program is a non-degree, non-renewable grant opportunity for one academic year (approximately 9-10 months). The program is designed to facilitate cultural exchange and enhance foreign language instruction in colleges and universities across the United States.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the Fulbright FLTA program, applicants must:

• Be nominated by a U.S. Embassy or a Fulbright Commission (independent applicants do not qualify).
• Reside in the country of nomination at the time of application.
• Hold a bachelor's degree (preferably a master's degree) with a good academic record.
• Be an early career teacher of English or in training to become one, or be an early career educator in a related field. Prior teaching experience is preferred.
• Be fluent in English, with a recent score of no less than 550 (Paper-Based TOEFL), 79-80 (Internet-Based TOEFL), or 6.0 (IELTS).
• Be willing to share their native language and culture with American students and deepen their pedagogical skills.
• Not hold U.S. citizenship; dual citizens are not eligible for the program.

Application Process:

The application process for the Fulbright FLTA Program varies by country. Applicants should consult the relevant country pages for specific details on program availability, eligibility requirements, and application guidelines. The deadline for the online submission of application materials is typically around April 15, but this date may vary.

Program Details:

As a Fulbright FLTA, participants will engage in a cultural exchange, teaching their native language and sharing their culture with American students. FLTAs may support existing language programs or help establish new ones. Duties can include teaching language courses independently or providing extracurricular support, such as leading conversation groups or participating in community events.

In addition to their duties as teaching assistants, FLTAs are required to participate in coursework. They can take up to two courses per semester, one of which must be in U.S. studies. The program is tailored to meet the unique needs of the host institution and the qualifications of the selected teaching assistant.

The Fulbright FLTA Program offers a valuable opportunity for young teachers of English as a Foreign Language to refine their teaching skills, enhance their English proficiency, and broaden their understanding of American cultures and customs. It also strengthens the instruction of foreign languages in U.S. academic institutions.

Frequently asked questions