Fulbright Foreign Students Program

The Fulbright Program is a foreign exchange program funded by the government of the United States. This program operates in more than 155 countries worldwide.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad to study and conduct research in the United States

Scholarship Overview

US embassies and bi-national Fulbright commissions/foundations administer the Fulbright Foreign Student Program. These offices process all applications for this program.
Fulbrighters are required to involve themselves in the host community by observing the host culture as they share their culture.
Scholars are chosen for their leadership potential, and get the opportunity to observe economic, political and cultural institutions, exchange ideas, and embark on joint ventures of importance to the overall welfare of the world’s inhabitants.
Approximately 4000 international students from more than 155 countries worldwide receive these scholarships yearly.

Host School(s)

Field(s) of study

There are a variety of disciplines and fields that one can pursue under the Fulbright Program. These include performing and visual arts, mathematics, natural sciences, technology, and engineering.
Fulbright encourages applications in all fields, including interdisciplinary ones.

What does the scholarship cover?

The Fulbright program provides funding for the full duration of the study.
The grant also funds tuition, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance.
Terms of the grant, however, vary according to one’s country of citizenship and the program selected.

How many scholarships are given?

Approximately 4,000 international students receive Fulbright scholarships each year.

Which countries are targeted?

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program operates in 155 countries, as listed below.

Africa

East Asia and Pacific

Middle East and North Africa

South and Central Asia

The Americas

Europe and Eurasia

Am I Eligible to Apply?

To qualify for this scholarship, you must have completed undergraduate education, and be in possession of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
Study the application details carefully, as they vary depending on the country of citizenship and program
In countries where the US Embassy administers the Fulbright Foreign Student program, the applicant must be a national, citizen or permanent resident who qualifies to hold a valid passport issued by that country.
In the 40 countries that host the Fulbright Commission, the applicant must meet citizenship requirements as laid out in the bi-national agreement.
An applicant who holds citizenship in a partner country and US citizenship or permanent residency is not eligible for this scholarship.
All Fulbright candidates must meet the language requirements for the program of study, teaching assignment or research, as well as for adjustment to life in the host country. Language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS) may be required.
Each candidate must meet the basic requirements for acceptance into the host institution. GRE scores for graduate programs and GMAT scores for business programs may be required.

Note that candidates are selected based on:

How Do I Apply – Next Steps

Note the application requirements and procedures vary from country to country. Consult the country-specific pages for more details.
Because the application process is lengthy, time-consuming and rigorous, applicants are advised to consider their plans, proposed projects, and goals before applying.
The selections for this scholarship are merit-based.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program operates on a yearly application cycle. The application period usually opens 15 months before and closes 12 months to the grant’s start date.
Bi-national commissions, US Embassies, and cooperating agencies are in charge of administering the program in participating countries. These institutions process all the applications.

Closing Date

How do I get more information?