Fulbright Scholarship: A Prestigious U.S. Scholar Program

The Fulbright Scholar Program (www.cies.org) or The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is an American scholarship program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists, and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the Fulbright Program, competitively selected American citizens may become eligible for scholarships to study, conduct research, or exercise their talents abroad; and citizens of other countries may qualify to do the same in the United States of America. The program was established to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. It is one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world.

Objectives of Scholarship

• U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright believes “We must try to expand the boundaries of human wisdom, empathy, and perception, and there is no way of doing that except through education.”\
• The Fulbright Program aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship.
• Educational exchange can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations.

Eligibilities

• In general case, applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application. Permanent residents are not eligible. Please review the Ineligibility section below in relation to the eligibility of dual citizens.
• If anyone is a non-U.S. citizen looking to applying for a Fulbright grant to study in the United States you he/she will apply to the Fulbright Commissions/Foundations or U.S. Embassy
• https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/about/applicants) in the home country.
• All Foreign Student Program (http://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/about/foreign-fulbright) applications are processed by bi-national Fulbright Commissions/Foundations or U.S. Embassies. Therefore, foreign students must apply through the Fulbright Commission/Foundation or U.S. Embassy in their home countries. Deadline varies per country but is around February to October annually.
• Program eligibility and selection procedures vary widely by country. Please see the country specific websites to find information about the Fulbright Program in your home country, including eligibility requirements and application guidelines.
• Applicants must have a conferred bachelor's degree or the equivalent before the start of the grant.
• In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement.
• Applicants must be in good health. Grantees will be required to submit a satisfactory Medical Certificate from a physician.
• Applicants must have sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken language of the host country sufficient to communicate with the people and to carry out the proposed study/research. This is especially important for projects in the social sciences and the humanities.
• Candidates may not apply to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Fulbright Scholar Program in the same competition cycle.
• Candidates may not apply for more than one type of Fulbright U.S. Student grant in a given competition cycle.

How to Apply: Steps of Application

STEP 1: Learn the requirements for submitting an application

Eligibility Requirements:

• For a Master’s degree program, you must already have an Honours degree OR be currently enrolled in your final, fourth year of a Bachelor’s degree, BTech, or Honours degree.
• For a Doctoral degree program, you must already have a Master’s degree OR be currently enrolled in a Master’s degree program.
• Online Application Form: The application process is entirely online. Paper applications will NOT be accepted.

 

STEP 2: Create an online account

Go to the Embark online system: https://iie.embark.com/auth/login and follow the instructions to create an account.

 

STEP 3: Complete the application

You do not need to complete the application at one sitting. You can re-enter at any time and edit your application, before submission. However, once you submit your application, you can NO longer change it.  All forms in this application must be completed in English. Items must be answered completely.

 

STEP 4: Letters of Reference/Recommendation

• 3 Letters of Recommendation must be registered on the “Home” page of the application.
• You must have three letters of reference (or recommendation) submitted on your behalf. Letters of reference are extremely important.
• All letters of reference should be written by teachers under whom you have studied or pursued research or by someone who has supervised you in work related to your proposed field of study.
•  Letters of reference should not be written by persons related to you – either by blood, or marriage or by personal friends.

At least one academic and one professional or work-related letter should be included among the letters. Letters should be written in English; if they are not, provide an English translation. Your recommenders must complete the forms online and submit electronically. Go to the Application “Home” page (the top left tab on the Embark online system)

 

STEP 5: Application Inspector

Before you submit your application electronically, your application must be reviewed for completeness. Go to the “Home” page and click on the “Application Inspector,” and it will review your application and prompt you to complete any missing data.

 

STEP 6: Review and print your application

Review a PDF version of your application and print a copy for your records.

 

STEP 7: Submit your application

• After completing the application and thoroughly reviewing it, submit it electronically to the Fulbright office in the respective home country.
• You can easily make corrections by clicking on the ‘Update my answers to preliminary questions’ link on the upper-right hand corner of the homepage.
• Note: After submitting your application, you can access it and the supplemental forms as a viewable PDF. You will be able to print your application and supplemental forms. However, you will not be able to alter or update your application.

 

STEP 8: Supporting documentation needed to complete your application

• Scan copies of your unofficial transcripts and upload them into the application. Only university transcripts are required. Should you be selected for the Fulbright scholarship, you will then need to submit official transcripts, (e.g., unopened transcripts that have been sent directly by the institution).
•  Standardized tests: You will be required to take one or more of the following standardized tests to gain admission to a U.S. university. Should you be selected for a Fulbright scholarship, the Fulbright Program will assist with the payment and registration of the Standardized Test listed below:
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): TOEFL is an admissions requirement at U.S. institutions for applicants whose native language is not English.
• GRE (Graduate Records Examination): The GRE is required by U.S. graduate schools and/or departments for candidates in most fields.
• GRE SUBJECT TESTS are required in certain fields. If a GRE Subject Test may be offered in your field of study.
• GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test): GMAT is an admissions requirement for applicants proposing to study Business or Management, as well as any fields which may fall within the scope of offerings of a Business school or department.

 

Note: TOEFL scores are valid for two years. GRE and GMAT scores are valid for five years.

IMPORTANT – If you choose to take any of the above-mentioned exams prior to being notified as a candidate for the Fulbright grant:  YOU MUST indicate that you want your score reports sent to the Institute of International Education (IIE). You must indicate the IIE code on the registration forms and/or the forms provided at the time you take the exam.  For all TOEFL and GRE exams; please use CODE: 2326.

 

Deal with Deadline

• In order to apply for any scholarship around the world, one needs to keep enough time to prepare all relevant documents, scores on the basis of the forthcoming deadline. It is very unwise to wait for applying the time very nearer to the deadline.
• It can be a risk due to the complexities of documents, correction in any kind of documents or uncertain disruption of the internet. So one should start working on the processing of application taking at least 1-3 months before the deadline.

Since its establishment, the Fulbright Program has grown to become the largest educational exchange program in the world, operating in over 160 countries. In its seventy-year history, more than 370,000 students, academics, and professionals have received Fulbright Scholarships to study, teach, or conduct research, and promote bilateral collaboration and cultural empathy.
Since its inception in Australia in 1949, the Fulbright Commission has awarded over 5,000 scholarships, creating a vibrant, dynamic, and interconnected network of Alumni. One can take proper steps on the basis of the proper utilization of time and decisions with a view to achieving the Fulbright Scholarship.