Fulbright Scholarship- What You Need to Know

The field of international education is full of programs, scholarships, and third party study abroad providers that you need to be familiar with. One of these is the Fulbright Program, an international education exchange program sponsored by the United States government. The Fulbright Program is prestigious, with participants chosen for their "academic merit and leadership potential," so that they may teach, do research, or study in another country. Around 8,000 people per year are granted the scholarship, with some 1,600 U.S. students  and 1,200 U.S. scholars chosen to participate. A 12 member Fulbright Scholarship Board is assigned the task to select those who will receive the scholarship.


There are several programs offered to U.S. students and scholars under the Fulbright umbrella. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for three different purposes: study/research, English Teaching Assistantships, and travel-only grants. The program is only offered to graduating college seniors, graduate students, or young professionals and artists. For more information on this program, visit their website:
http://fulbright.state.gov/grants/student-program/u-s-citizen.html


Fulbright Scholars are typically faculty members of U.S. universities and colleges who are conducting research or teaching abroad; there are also a limited amount of administrative staff who are in the field of international education.


To apply for the Fulbright Scholarship, prospective candidates must undergo a "lengthy and rigorous" application process. There is a yearly application cycle for all programs, which begins typically 15 months prior to the grant start date and ending around 11-12 months prior to the start date. For more information, visit the Fulbright website: http://fulbright.state.gov/apply.html


The Fulbright Program is an amazing opportunity for students who are seeking a very involved and unique study abroad experience, and who have interesting ideas concerning international relations and cultural exchange. Fulbrighters are encouraged to bring back the lessons they have learned from their host country and share them when they return home. Exciting and prestigious, the Program is one of the most recognized cultural exchanges in the world, and would bolster any resume or cover letter.


The U.S. government also provides information for study abroad in general, which can be found at http://studentsabroad.state.gov/. There, you can receive information on travel tips, including necessary documentation needed for studying abroad, information on health care abroad, emergencies, and voting when abroad. This is definitely a useful tool that should be utilized by all students who are studying abroad.


Hopefully this information will serve useful to some, as it can be difficult finding accurate information for even fellowships abroad. My advice would be to always check certified government websites before traveling abroad, ensuring that you have all pertinent documents and information to make your trip safe and fun.


Rule #8 for Breaking into the Field of International Education: Be familiar with all government programs and information in order to advise students properly.


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