As a graduating college senior, master's, or doctoral candidate from the U.S., you may apply for a fellowship to study and do research abroad by proposing a project in an area and region in which you are interested. (You should have some undergraduate preparation for your proposed project). Projects can include university coursework, independent research, or professional training in the arts. Fulbright scholarships are awarded to projects which provide the most potential for applicants to meet, work, and live with people of a host country, sharing daily experiences and promoting cross-cultural interaction and mutual understanding.
The Student Program also operates in more than 100 countries, offering fellowships to foreign graduate students to come to the U.S. to participate in research and further studies. This program seeks to offer insight into U.S. culture and values to potential future leaders from around the world. Foreign students can apply for Fulbright scholarships through the bi-national Fulbright Commission or through U.S. Embassies in their home countries. Fellowship projects come to fruition in countries all over the world in areas of academia and the arts that are highly diverse and ever changing. For a list of fellowship projects from recent years, go to www.fulbrightonline.org/us/resources_current_granteedirectories.html.
This program funds research and studies in countries with significant Muslim populations. Projects selected for funding are chosen for their potential to increase and enhance Americans' knowledge of Islam and of Islamic cultures.
Got an itch to participate yet? You don't need to be a Rockefeller - or even at the top of your class - to apply and receive a Fulbright award. If you are an American student, eligibility requirements are pretty simple. You must:
- Be a U.S. citizen at the time of application.
- Hold a B.A. or its equivalent before the start of your grant. (If you haven't yet earned a B.A. degree or the equivalent, but have extensive professional study and/or experience in the field in which you wish to pursue a project, you may be considered.) In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional study and/or experience meets this requirement.
- Be in good health. If awarded a grant, you will be required to submit a satisfactory Medical Certificate of Health from a physician.
- Have sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken language of your chosen host country. This is especially important for projects in the social sciences and the humanities.
If you are a foreign student interested in pursuing a Fulbright scholarship to conduct research in the U.S., application procedures and eligibility requirements vary from country to country. To learn more about the Fulbright program or to begin the application process, contact the Fulbright Commission in your country. If there is no commission in your country, contact the American embassy.
The types of grants and fellowships awarded vary, and in many cases, additional funds must still be obtained for research projects that require greater resources than average. Ultimately, award selections are based on the quality of the applications, rather than by what country is requested for a project, or by the type of project proposed. The number of awards distributed in various regions around the world varies every year depending on the caliber of the applicants.
For more information about the Fulbright Programs, eligibility, and how to apply, visit their Web site at www.fulbrightonline.org/us/home.html.
