Fulbright Scholarships
By admin on October 18, 2011
What is the Fulbright Scholarship?
The Fulbright Scholarship was established in 1946 as a way to foster understanding and mutual respect between Americans and other citizens of the world. The Fulbright Scholarship is sponsored by the federal government and falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Fulbright Scholars, also known as “Fulbrighters”, are encouraged to teach, research, study, and collaborate with others on important international issues. Currently, there are nearly 300,000 Fulbright Scholars world-wide, with approximately 110,000 individuals from the United States, and around 7,500 Fulbright Scholarships are awarded annually.
Fulbright Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
The Fulbright Scholarship’s eligibility requirements may seem to reflect the elite nature of the scholarship itself. Those eligible to apply for the Fulbright Scholarship must hold a B.A. Degree (or equivalent); however, individuals with four years of extensive experience in their field may be considered without such a degree. Eligible applicants must also be a U.S. Citizen, and permanent residents will not be considered for the scholarship. The Fulbright Scholarship applicant must be able to prove that he is in good health, and medical documentation must be submitted with the application. Finally, the applicant must speak the language of the potential host country in order to effectively communicate the individual’s ideas; however, fluency is not required. Preference may also be given to Fulbright Scholarship applicants who have studied abroad for six months to one year; however, “extensive previous foreign experience” is not favored in the application process.
Additionally, some circumstances may make an individual ineligible for the Fulbright Scholarship program. These circumstances include individuals who have family members who are employed by the U.S. Department of State and agencies under contract by the department. Those with doctorate degrees and fields of study where a medical degree is required are ineligible to receive the grant. Finally, there are special circumstances for U.S. Citizens living abroad, particularly in a selected list of countries. Fulbright Scholarship applicants should consult the scholarship’s website for a complete list of countries.
How to Apply for a Fulbright Scholarship
The deadline for the 2012-2013 Fulbright Scholarship is October 17, 2011. While those interested in applying for the Fulbright Scholarship should begin the application process as early as possible, it is recommended that applicants seeking a research grant begin at least 2 months before the deadline, while those seeking a teaching grant begin at least 6 weeks before the deadline.
Individuals who are currently attending a participating U.S. College must meet with the Fulbright Program Advisor. The adviser will assist the Fulbright Scholarship applicant in preparing the application and ensuring all supporting documents are submitted with the application.
Individuals who have already graduated or are not currently attending a participating U.S. College must follow a different application route. These applicants are called “At-Large” applicants and include individuals who are currently living abroad, have already graduated and cannot apply through an Alma mater, and students currently enrolled but cannot apply through their current school. The Fulbright Scholarship application process is generally the same for both sets of applicants; however, At-Large applicants will not be able to meet with a Fulbright Program Advisor and are eligible to attend special conferences, webinars, and other resources to help with the application process.
Fulbright Scholarship Application
The Fulbright Scholarship has a very comprehensive application, and because the volume of applicants is very great, each step must be completed or the application will be rejected. The Fulbright Scholarship application must include the following documentation: a statement of grant purpose, personal statement, language report forms, references, and transcripts. Additional documentation may be required depending on the specific type of Fulbright Scholarship the applicant is seeking, as well as the desired country involved in the grant.
The application must be submitted online, with the exception of certain supporting materials that cannot be added to the application electronically. The applicant must review the application to ensure correctness before submitting the document. The Fulbright Scholarship application does not need to completed in one shot, and may be revisited as often as necessary by signing into the website and retrieving the partially completed document. Individuals who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act are exempt from the requirement of submitting the application online, and may submit the documentation through hard copy.
