Fulbright Program
The Fulbright US Student Program is the flagship international exchange program of the US Department of State. It offers grants to US students to study, research, or teach English overseas. In exchange, foreign students and scholars come to the US to perform similar activities. The Fulbright Program was founded in the aftermath of World War 2 with the mission of creating greater understanding between nations, creating new knowledge, and improving lives around the world. US recipients of a Fulbright grant engage deeply in their host countries, establish connections, listen, create, and learn. They undertake the important mission of growing trust and cooperation with communities across the globe.
See the world with Fulbright
Fulbright recognizes that there isn’t just one American story; to the contrary, there are as many stories that need telling as there are Americans. As such, the Fulbright US Student Program recruits grantees from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.
Tulanians have a rich history of Fulbright experiences that span the globe, and they want to share their stories, experiences, and application tips with you.
Program Award Types
There are three types of awards by which Fulbright grantees can participate in the program:
- Study Awards (funds a one-year master’s degree)
- Research Awards (funds one year of independent research)
- English Teaching Assistantships (funds a year of serving as an assistant English teacher)
The study and research awards require applicants to develop intellectually compelling proposals with a solid rationale for why they are the right person, that this is the right time in their trajectory, and that this is the right country for performing the proposed project. For the ETA applicants must clearly express their motivation for wanting to teach English to non-native speakers, and their rationale for selecting a specific country.
Application Information
Benefits include round-trip airfare, a monthly stipend, accident and sickness benefits, and coverage of incidental costs. Awards may include research allowances, tuition, language lessons, enhancement activities and disability-related accommodations.
1. Basic Personal Data & Program Information
2. Essays
- Statement of Grant Purpose
- Personal Statement
3. Reports / References
- Foreign Language Evaluation
- Three References
- Campus Committee Evaluation
4. Transcripts
5. Other
- Research/Study: Affiliation Letter(s) where required
Arts: Supplementary Material
Each applicant will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Quality and feasibility of the proposal
- Academic or professional record
- Personal qualifications
- Language preparation
- Preference factors as established by Foreign Fulbright Scholarship Board
- Extent to which the candidate and the project will help to advance the Fulbright Program goals
- Requirements of the program in individual countries
- Desirability of achieving diversity
URAF will hold Fulbright information sessions on Fridays in March and April. Please attend one!
The application for 2025-2026 opens on April 2, 2024.
- June: URAF hosts Fulbright Advantage Prep Program virtually in the evenings.
- June, July, and August: Applicants draft their applications, meet with recommenders, perform language evaluations, solicit affiliation letters.
- Mid-August: applicants participate in peer review workshop for personal statements.
- September 5: Tulane’s on-campus review deadline. A full application is due at this time!
- September: Applicants meet with Campus Committee Evaluation (CCE) faculty to review and improve their applications*.
- Tulane applicants submit their finalized version 72 hours before the national deadline (October 8, 2024 at 5pm ET).
* Applicants that miss the September 5 deadline can still identify Tulane as their institutional affiliation. They might not, however, be assigned to CCE faculty. Please contact the OFA!
Applicants must be US citizens and must have obtained their bachelor’s degree by the start of their grant. Seniors, alumni, and anyone who does not yet hold a PhD may apply. There are country-specific requirements as well.
