America is a land of immense possibilities, abundant opportunities, and quality education – from this assertion, it is not too difficult to guess why it is a dream for a multitude of foreign students to come to study here and pursue their academic and career goals, and eventually carve out a materialistically successful life here.
The US has always been a preferred destination for students and scholars, compared to other countries. This is because it has the highest number of Ivy Leagues, and is home to some of the world-renowned technical and private institutes, public universities, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges with the best infrastructure, competent and accomplished in-house teaching staff, excellent research facilities, etc, guaranteeing an unparalleled quality of education to the enrolling students. The US also offers a wider range of subjects for specialization at the postgraduate and doctorate levels. Besides academia, students are encouraged to join a large number of social clubs that aim to enhance their personalities and transcend their outlook.
Many have the misconception though that to study in the states you have to have a good bank balance and be prepared to shell out a large sum to fund your education. The reality is far from it. Academic institutions provide financial assistance to meritorious but underprivileged students across the globe through scholarship programs, fee waivers, and financial aid. This is done in a bid to encourage them to pursue their academic and professional dreams undeterred. Availing a world-class education at a nominal fee enables many talented but needy students to prepare aggressively for a promising future.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is one such prestigious program that wholeheartedly supports and promotes the admission and participation of deserving international candidates in the fields of science, arts, business, and public service. It has received an overwhelming response from teachers, professionals, graduates, researchers, and artists ever since its introduction post the second world war by US senator, J.William Fulbright. The scholarship program aims to cover tuition, travel, and living expenses of the student, besides health insurance (in the USA). The program accommodates 4000 international candidates every year and is governed by Fulbright Commissions/Foundations or US Embassies.
In a nutshell, the Fulbright Foreign Student Program was conceived to enhance the mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries. The scholarship program offers participants the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, and devise innovative solutions to manage shared international concerns. Approximately 8000 grants are awarded each year under various categories and programs. It is a life-changing opportunity that has a profound influence on the candidate’s professional and personal endeavors.
What is the Eligibility & Requirements
There are close to 160+ participating countries for the scholarship program. Fulbright participants are chosen based on merit and leadership potential. The eligibility and requirements vary with the participant’s country of residence. The scholarship deadlines also vary with respect to the country you apply from and the nature of the scholarship you are opting to apply for. The deadlines for submitting documents accordingly may fall anywhere between January to June of an academic year.
The documents that are required for making an application are — Official Transcripts; Online/Paper Application; GRE Score; and English Language Proficiency Score (TOEFL). It is important to note here again that requirements vary with the applicant’s country of residence and the nature of the scholarship program. For the latest updates, please follow the information on their official website.
How to Apply or Contact
Getting a Fulbright grant will not be a breeze. The application process is rigorous per se. Please review your plans, agenda, and intentions carefully before applying for the grant. The selection of candidates is mostly based on the following factors, but is never limited to them — Academic Merit; Project Feasibility; Leadership Potential; and Available Grant Funds.
The Fulbright yearly application cycle opens approximately 15 months prior to the anticipated start of the grant and a deadline that is placed at least 11 to 12 months before the grant’s start date. You may please consult the country (from where you intend to apply) pages for program availability and contact information for details.
For general or application inquiries, you can write to [email protected] or call 202-686-4000. Here is the mailing address if you would like to send a post: IIE – 1400 K Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005
