The 2020-2021 Fulbright U.S. Scholar competition is now open! Explore awards to teach and/or conduct research in more than 125 countries. Opportunities are available for college and university faculty, administrators, professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and more.

The U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program offers nearly 470 teaching, research or combination teaching/research awards in over 125 countries. Opportunities are available for college and university faculty and administrators as well as for professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars, and many others. In addition to several new program models designed to meet the changing needs of U.S. academics and professionals, Fulbright is offering more opportunities for flexible, multi-country grants.

• Grant benefits vary by country and type of award.
• Generally, Fulbright grants are budgeted to cover travel and living costs in-country for the grantee and their accompanying dependents.
• Check the award description in the catalog of awards and/or consult program staff responsible for the particular award you are interested in.
• Check the official website for more details

Program Policy: The complete Fulbright policies for U.S. Lecturers and Research Scholars are available in the official link (Chapter 600)

• The Fulbright Program is governed by policy and procedures established by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB), the 12-member board appointed by the President of the United States.
• Opportunities are open to people regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Eligibility Essentials: Applicants must meet all of the following requirements at the time of application unless specific exemptions apply.

• U.S. citizenship – permanent residence is not sufficient. If you are not a citizen of the United States, and would like to apply for a grant to visit the U.S., please visit the Visiting Fulbright Scholar Program.
• Recipients of a Fulbright Scholar grant are eligible to apply for another Fulbright Scholar grant two years after the date of completion of the previous grant. (For serial or Flex grants, the two-year period begins at the end of the final grant in the series.) See below for additional guidelines.
• Candidates who have resided abroad for five or more consecutive years in the six-year period preceding the date of application are ineligible. In this case, a period of nine months or more during a calendar year is considered to constitute a full year abroad.
• Recent college graduates with limited professional experience are ineligible for consideration under the Fulbright Scholar Program. Instead, such applicants can visit the Fulbright Student Program.
• Graduate or doctoral students seeking funding to complete their degrees are ineligible for consideration under the Fulbright Scholar Program. Instead, such applicants can visit the Fulbright Student Program.
• Sound physical and mental health: selected candidates are required to submit a Medical History and Examination Report before their grants can be finalized.
• Grants shall not authorize engagement in pastoral, missionary, or other professional religious activities.
• Grants shall not authorize engagement in activities for which a license to practice medicine or nursing is required.
• Applicants are required to disclose any prior convictions of a felony or a misdemeanor, including Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), but excluding minor traffic violations. Applicants must promptly notify IIE in writing if they are arrested for, indicted for, charged with or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (excluding minor traffic violations) after submitting the application․ FFSB regulations can be found here (Chapter 600/Section 626 Ineligibility Factors.)
• Employees and their immediate families (i.e. spouses and dependent children) of the U.S. Department of State and of public or private organizations under contract to the U.S. Department of State are ineligible to apply for a Fulbright grant until one year after termination of such employment. Please note: Candidates who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States will be given preference, provided their qualifications are approximately equivalent to those of other candidates.

• Please reference individual award descriptions for additional eligibility information.
  • Degree requirements: Individual award descriptions specify where a Ph.D. or equivalent professional/terminal degree (including a master’s degree, depending on the field) is required.
  • Early career and postdoctoral candidates: Where an award is open to these candidates, they may apply if they will complete the requirements for their doctoral (or equivalent) degree by February 1 in the year following the application deadline, unless otherwise specified in the award description. If not complete at the time of application, applicants must address when they expect to complete their degree in the application.
  • Teaching experience: All teaching awards are at the postsecondary level and may vary in experience or discipline requirements, as specified in the award description. Applicants are expected to have teaching experience relevant to the proposed course topic(s).
  • Language requirements: Foreign language proficiency may be required depending on the country, type of grant activity (teaching or research), and the nature of the proposed projects. (Note: In many world areas, English is sufficient for teaching activities.)
• Eligibility Guidelines for Previous Fulbright Grantees:
  • Candidates who previously held a Fulbright Scholar grant should be aware that, as a general matter, preference will be given to candidates who have not previously received a Scholar grant. Therefore, previous Fulbright Scholar grantees are expected to make a strong justification in their application for a repeat Fulbright grant. For further guidance, please refer to the relevant section in the Application Requirements and Review Criteria (Check the eligibility section in the official link).
  • Recipients of a Fulbright Scholar grant are eligible to apply for another Fulbright Scholar grant two years after the date of completion of the previous grant. (For serial or Flex grants, the two-year period begins at the end of the final grant in the series.)

Eligible Regions: Citizens of the United States of America