Seniors interested in studying and/or doing research for a year in a country abroad should consider applying for a Fulbright grant. These grants cover travel expenses, university fees, and living costs, and are available for about 115 countries. It is also possible to serve as a teaching assistant for English in France, Germany, Belgium/Luxembourg, Turkey, Korea, and Hungary.
For a Fulbright, language fluency and a strong academic background in the subject to be studied are key qualifications.
The purpose of the USIA Fulbright Student Grants is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills. They are provided under the terms of the 1961 Fulbright-Hays Act through an annual appropriation made by Congress to the USIA and by foreign governments, universities, corporations and private donors.
The Fulbright Program was created in the wake of World War II to foster international understanding and today is the U.S. Government's premier international scholarship program. Over 700 American students and artists study and conduct research with its support in more than 100 nations. The Institute of International Education (IIE) coordinates the activities relevant to U.S. graduate students and conducts the annual competition for the grants.
The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, composed of 12 educational and public leaders appointed by the President of the United States, establish criteria for the selection of candidates and has the final authority for awarding grants. Most of the grants offered provide round-trip transportation, tuition and maintenance for one academic year. The U.S. Student program is designed to give recent B.S./B.A. graduates, master's and doctoral candidates, and young professionals and artists opportunities for personal development and international experience.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application, and must generally hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent before the beginning date of the grant, and in most cases, should be proficient in the language of the host country. A detailed program of research and/or study is necessary for a strong application, and candidates with sponsors in the receiving country have additional advantages. Grantees plan their own programs, and projects may include university coursework, independent library or field research, classes in music or art, and special projects in the social or life sciences.
To apply, you must see the Fulbright Program Advisor on campus.