Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
2027–2028: Award Types, Eligibility, Deadline & How to Apply (Complete
Guide)
Key Details
- Program: Fulbright U.S.
Scholar Program
- Who it’s for: U.S. citizens
who want to teach, conduct research, or lead professional projects
abroad
- Awards available: 380+
awards across 120+ countries
- Eligible applicants: Faculty,
researchers, professionals, artists, and higher education administrators
- Main award types: Scholar
Awards, Distinguished Scholar Awards, Postdoctoral Awards, International
Education Administrator (IEA) Awards
- Activity types: Teaching,
Research, Teaching/Research, Professional Projects
- Application deadline: September
15, 2026 (5:00 PM EDT)
- Application limit: Only one
award per cycle
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Which Type of U.S. Scholar Award is
Right for Me?
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers
more than 380 awards in more than 120 countries for U.S. citizens to teach,
conduct research, and carry out professional projects around the world.
College and university faculty, research and development professionals, as well
as artists and professional practitioners from a wide range of fields can join
nearly 450,000 Fulbrighters who have come away with enhanced skills, new
connections, and greater mutual understanding.
For the full list of our award
offerings, visit the U.S.
Scholars Awards Search. Location, activity type, and
eligibility vary across awards. Some awards may be restricted to certain career
profiles or disciplines. Awards range from a few months to a full year. Each
award outlines the duration and potential start dates, and some offer a Flex
option for multiple visits to the host country. All of this information and
more is available in the award description.
The U.S. Scholar Program includes the
following Award Types:
Fulbright Scholar Awards comprise the bulk of
awards offered and include opportunities for professionals, artists, and
scholars at all career levels. These include opportunities to pursue a project
in multiple countries and world regions, such as the Global
Scholar Award.
Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Awards are open
to scholars who have more than seven years of experience in their discipline or
area of expertise, though some awards may further restrict eligibility.
Mid-career, senior academics, and professionals may want to consider these
awards. Distinguished Scholars are expected to actively engage host
institutions in a spirit of promoting mutual understanding and sharing
knowledge.
Fulbright Postdoctoral Awardsprovide recently
graduated scholars an opportunity to conduct research and receive professional
training abroad. Awards may involve limited teaching. Postdoctoral Awards are
open to scholars who have received their doctoral degree (Ph.D., J.D., M.D.,
Ed.D., etc.) within five to seven years of the fellowship start date, as noted
in the award description. Degree conferment before the start of the award is
mandatory. While institutional affiliation in the United States is not
required, be sure to view the award for any citizenship/residency requirements.
Fulbright International Education Administrator Awardsprovide
international education professionals and senior higher education officials an
opportunity to engage in a two-week intensive seminar to learn about the host
country’s education system and establish networks of U.S. and international
colleagues.
What are the Career Profiles in the
awards?
Each award is open to one or more of the
following career profiles. Use the award
search filter for Career Profile to
identify awards that are open to your career profile. For all awards, be sure
to read the award description closely for any additional qualifications.
Artists: Awards are open to individuals who have more than seven years of
experience in an artistic profession.
Community College Faculty: These awards specifically welcome community college faculty, who are
encouraged to apply for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar program. Also search for
awards that match your level of academic degree and scholarly discipline.
Early Career Academics: Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a
teacher or scholar for no more than seven years.
Mid-Career Academics: Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of
a teacher or scholar for more than seven and less than 13 years.
Senior Academics: Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of
a teacher or scholar for more than 13 years.
Professionals: Professionals are defined as those who have more than seven years of
experience in a particular profession.
Higher Education Administrators and
Executives: Awards are open to those who have
been working in the capacity of administrators or executives with a focus on
the international dimensions of their campuses. Opportunities include the Fulbright
International Education Administrators Awards which are fully-funded
two-week seminars abroad to learn about other countries’ higher education
systems.
In addition:
Independent Scholar: We encourage independent scholars to search for awards that match
your level of academic degree and scholarly discipline. While institutional
affiliation in the United States is not required, be sure to view the
program eligibility requirements, and the award description
for any citizenship/residency requirements.
Retired and Emeriti Faculty
Applicants: The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
is open to applications from retired and Emeriti faculty. As is required of all
applicants, the project statement should address the expected impact, outcomes,
and benefits of the Fulbright, including to the host country, and to the U.S.
following the award.
Getting Started
Review eligibility requirements for the Fulbright U.S.
Scholar program before proceeding. Applicants are also encouraged to
review the Leave and Support resources.
Step 2: Explore Award Activities
Each Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award offers
one or more of the following activities:
- Research – Research includes
activities involving scientific research, qualitative research,
quantitative research, and practice-based research, including artistic
research. Research can take place in locations such as the laboratory, the
field, the archives, or an artist residency. It can be experimental,
clinical, or applied. It can include examining policies, systems,
theories, methods, interactions, and works of art and music, with the
objective to evaluate or develop new knowledge or works. Quantifiable
(tangible) outcomes can include publications (books, journal articles,
scripts, etc.), conference presentations, artistic and musical
compositions, exhibitions, performances, films, and patents.
- Teaching – Teaching
includes classroom teaching, as well as giving guest lectures, workshops,
and seminars, and engaging in other related activities. Classroom teaching
is typically at the undergraduate and graduate level, and courses may be
designed by the scholar or prescribed by the host institution and may be
taught or co-taught by the scholar. The teaching load varies by award, as
well as the host institution. Scholars may also consult on building
research capacity, advise graduate students, and assist with thesis
advising.
- Teaching/Research – Many
awards allow participants to conduct both research and teaching as defined
above. Some awards will indicate the percentage that should be devoted to
teaching compared to research while other awards allow the candidates to
select their own percentage breakdown.
- Professional Projects – The
Professional Project activity type provides professionals and artists in
various fields the opportunity to interact with relevant organizations
abroad to explore a topic related to their field without answering a
defined research question. Professional Projects may include: professional
consultations; artist residencies; visits to organizations in the
applicant’s field; practical experience in day-to-day operations; public
lectures; mentoring; arranging exhibitions, performances or musical
compilations; preparation of print materials (books, articles, or
reviews); exchange of expertise with other professionals; participation in
public events; or other appropriate professional activities.
Use the Award Search filters
to find an award which most closely aligns to your field and interest. Be sure
to review the Award Details, Award Requirements, and Award Benefits tabs for
each award. Please note: Applicants can only apply for one award
per application cycle.
Step 4: Review Application Components
The application components may vary
depending on the type of activity you apply for: teaching, research,
teaching/research combination, or professional project – as well as your discipline and specialization. Please see application
steps for details on each component and whether it applies to your
application.
Note: Letters of Invitation – Applicants are responsible for obtaining and uploading the letter of
invitation to their Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program application if required by
the award. If required, preferred, or optional for that award, applicants are
encouraged to solicit a letter of invitation as soon as possible.
Who can I contact at my institution for
assistance?
Over 1,400 academic institutions and professional associations across the
United States have Fulbright Scholar Liaisons, a network of faculty and
administrators who can guide you. We encourage you to connect with the Liaison
at your institution for assistance with your application and your institution’s
process for participating in the Fulbright program.
The 2027-28 Fulbright U.S. Scholar
Competition is open! Start your application, and
refer to the application
steps for application instructions and details on each application
component.
Step 6: Create a Competitive Application
- Review Criteria – Read
the Review Criteria page to learn more about the
basic objectives of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program which Reviewers
consider when evaluating applications.
- Connect
- Sign up for the My Fulbright newsletter to
receive the latest program updates, webinar schedules, helpful resources,
and suggestions for application assistance.
- Speak with a Fulbright
U.S. Scholar Alumni Ambassador
- Explore the Scholar Directory
- Find your Scholar
Liaison
- Join an Office Hour or Register for
a Webinar
- Before you begin, check your
eligibility and the award description for any specific requirements:
professional profiles and specific qualifications vary across the awards.
You are encouraged to apply to the award that best fits your background
and experience. Refer to the Application Page and the Review Criteria as you prepare your materials.
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Timeline for U.S. Scholars
The 2027-2028 Fulbright U.S. Scholar
competition is now open.
If you are a non-U.S. citizen, please review the Non-U.S
(Visiting) Scholar programs.
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Peer Review Discipline-based Peer Review Committees
read and assess applications against the Review Criteria, and meet to review and determine whether
or not applications are recommended for further consideration in the host
country. Peer Review committees are comprised of U.S.-based academics and
professionals with relevant expertise. |
|
Peer Review Notification Following the conclusion of Peer Review,
applicants are notified by email of the status of their application,
recommended or not recommended. Applications not recommended in the Peer
Review phase are not forwarded to the next phase of review. If your email address has changed since
you submitted your application, please update your application with your new
address. You can also log into the application portal to check for a status
update if you are concerned about missing an email notification. Please note
decisions are not communicated by phone. |
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Selection All recommended applications are
forwarded to the Public Affairs Sections of U.S. Embassies (Posts) or
binational Fulbright Commissions overseas, the U.S. Department of State, and
the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board for review. Selection decisions and
timing can be influenced by a number of factors, including available funding,
the number of applications received, country priorities, and any host
institution administrative procedures (if applicable). All three entities
must approve selection decisions before candidates can be notified. Not all
applications that were recommended in the Peer Review process will be
selected for grants. This phase of the review process normally
requires several months, it is important that applicants do not make any
irreversible arrangements based upon the expectation of receiving an award. Applications that are not recommended do
not move forward to this phase. |
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Selection Notification Please note that IIE cannot predict in
advance when the final selection results will become available, neither for a
particular country nor a specific award. Applicants are notified by email of the
final status of their application, selectee, alternate, or non-select.
If your email address has changed since
you submitted your application, please update your application with your new
address. You can also log into the application portal to check for a status
update if you are concerned about missing an email notification. Please note
decisions are not communicated by phone. |
|
Grant details are finalized and grants may begin per start dates listed in the Fulbright
U.S. Scholar Awards. For some countries, an orientation may be scheduled for applicants selected
for grants. What are the safety and security
protocols in place for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program? |
Which Activity is Right For Me?
If you are a non-U.S. citizen, please
review the Non-U.S
(Visiting) Scholar programs.
Teaching includes classroom teaching, as
well as giving guest lectures, workshops, and seminars, and engaging in other
related activities. Classroom teaching is typically at the undergraduate and
graduate level, and courses may be designed by the scholar or prescribed by the
host institution and may be taught or co-taught by the scholar. The teaching
load varies by award, as well as the host institution. Scholars may also
consult on building research capacity, advise graduate students, and assist
with thesis advising.
Research includes activities involving
scientific research, qualitative research, quantitative research, and
practice-based research, including artistic research. Research can take place
in locations such as the laboratory, the field, the archives, or an artist
residency. It can be experimental, clinical, or applied. It can include
examining policies, systems, theories, methods, interactions, and works of art
and music, with the objective to evaluate or develop new knowledge or works.
Quantifiable (tangible) outcomes can include publications (books, journal
articles, scripts, etc.), conference presentations, artistic and musical
compositions, exhibitions, performances, films, and patents.
IRB approval is not required at the time of
application; however, applicants should abide by all ethical requirements
before commencing their research on human and/or animal subjects through a
Fulbright award.
Many awards allow participants to conduct
both research and teaching as defined above. Some awards will indicate the
percentage that should be devoted to teaching compared to research while other
awards allow the candidates to select their own percentage breakdown.
The Professional Project Award Activity is
an opportunity for applicants to pursue projects that would enhance their
professional development and the field at large.
Professional Projects may include, but
are not limited to:
- Professional consultations or exchange of expertise with other
professionals
- Artist residencies
- Visits to organizations in the applicant’s field
- Practical experience in day-to-day operations
- Public lectures
- Mentoring
- Arranging and planning exhibitions
- Performances or musical compilations
- Participation in public events
- Preparation of print materials (books, articles, or reviews)
If your project involves classroom
teaching, as opposed to public or guest lectures, then please apply for the
Teaching Award Activity.
If your proposed project answers a research
question or will have research outcomes, then please apply for the Research
Award Activity.
Eligibility Essentials for U.S. Scholars
If you are a non-U.S. citizen, please
review the Non-U.S
(Visiting) Scholar programs.
Fulbright U.S Scholar applicants must
meet all program eligibility requirements by the application deadline.
Applicants must also meet award eligibility requirements by the application
deadline unless specific exceptions are indicated in the award.
The complete Fulbright policies for U.S.
Lecturers and Research Scholars are available here (Chapter
600).
U.S. citizenship
Applicants must hold U.S. citizenship by
the application deadline. Permanent residence is not sufficient.
Dual citizenship: In some cases, a dual
citizen may not be eligible to participate in a Fulbright program in the
country of their other nationality due to host country law or policy.
Individual award descriptions specify whether this is a point of ineligibility
in the award requirements section.
Residency abroad
Applicants who have resided abroad for five
or more years in the six-year period preceding the application deadline are
ineligible. A period of nine months or more during a calendar year constitutes
a full year.
Education, Experience, Career Profile
Applicants are expected to demonstrate they
meet the education, experience, and career profile requirements stated in the
award. This may include addressing the nature of their terminal degree and/or
experience in the application.
Award descriptions specify where a
Ph.D., other terminal degree, or comparable professional
qualifications are required. A terminal degree refers to the highest degree
awarded in a field. The degree level can vary by academic and professional
field, as not all terminal degrees are doctorates. (Please refer to this list of common terminal degrees.) If a terminal degree
is required, degree conferment before the fellowship start date is mandatory.
Postdoc awards are open to scholars who
will have received a doctoral degree (Ph.D., J.D., M.D., Ed.D., etc.) within
five years of the fellowship start date, unless otherwise noted on the award
description’s Award Requirements section.
Graduate or doctoral students seeking
funding to complete their degrees are ineligible. Recent college graduates with
limited professional experience are ineligible and should instead apply to
the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
Experience gained as an undergraduate
student does not count toward years of experience for the Fulbright U.S.
Scholar Program (including internships and Fulbright U.S. Student Program
awards).
Prior Fulbright Scholar Awards and Other
Programs
Recipients of a Fulbright Scholar award are
eligible to apply for another award two years after the date of completion of
the previous award. For Flex grants, the two-year period begins at the end of
the final grant in the series. Fulbright Scholar grants include: Fulbright U.S.
Scholar, International Education Administrator Seminar, Fulbright Arctic, and
Fulbright Visiting Scholar. Preference for Fulbright Scholar opportunities will
be given to candidates who have not previously received a Fulbright Scholar
grant.
Recipients of a Fulbright Specialist
Program grant are not required to adhere to the two-year waiting period before
applying for a Fulbright Scholar award. Applicants may be on the
Specialist roster, but may not carry out both a U.S. Scholar grant and a
Specialist grant simultaneously.
You are eligible to apply to the Fulbright
Scholar Program while on the Fulbright Specialist roster. Recipients of a
Fulbright Specialist Program grant are not required to adhere to the two-year
waiting period before applying for a Fulbright Scholar grant. Likewise,
recipients of a Fulbright Scholar grant are not required to adhere to the
two-year waiting period before applying for or receiving a Fulbright Specialist
Program grant.
Department of State employees and their
immediate family
Employees and their immediate families
(i.e. spouses and dependent children) of the U.S. Department of State or the
U.S. Agency for International Development (paid or unpaid, including part-time
or temporary employees, consultants, externs, fellows and contract employees;
does not include interns), and of public or private agencies (excluding
educational institutions) under contract to the U.S. Department of State to
perform administrative or screening services on behalf of the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs’ exchange programs are ineligible to apply for
a Fulbright award until one year after termination of such employment.
Additional U.S. Scholar Additional
Eligibility Factors
- Employment: The following are
ineligible to apply for a Fulbright award until one year after termination
of such engagement. An officer of an organization, in the U․S․ or abroad,
including members of boards of trustees or similar governing bodies, or
individuals otherwise associated with the organization, wherein the
organization and the individuals are responsible for nominating or
selecting individuals for participation in any U․S․ Department of
State exchange program; a current board member or staff of the Institute
of International Education or the Council for International Exchange of
Scholars; a board member or staff of a Fulbright Commission; a member
of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board; an Alumni Ambassador for the
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
- Grant Activity: Grants shall not
authorize engagement in pastoral, missionary, or other professional
religious activities.
- Grant Activity: Grants shall not
authorize engagement in activities for which a license to practice
medicine or nursing is required.
- 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.) If required, this is noted in the Award requirements
section of a specific award.
- Sound physical and mental health:
Candidates selected for awards are required to submit a Medical History
and Examination Report before their grants can be finalized. (This is not
part of the application and selection process; this process takes place
after candidates selected for grants are notified of their selection.)
- Applicants are required to disclose if they have been arrested
for, indicted for, or charged with a felony or a misdemeanor (excluding
minor traffic violations, juvenile convictions, or cases where the record
has been sealed or expunged) or accused of misconduct (including but not
limited to unethical practices, harassment, sexual harassment or abuse, or
other misconduct that may have been the focus of some kind of inquiry or
process). 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.) Submitted documentation will not
be revealed to those reviewing your application during the Peer Review
process or as a part of the host country selection process․ However, statements and documents may be forwarded the
Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board for review and determination of
eligibility.
If you meet the eligibility requirements,
learn more about the next stages in the application procedure.
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Application Steps and Requirements for
U.S. Scholars
If you are a non-U.S. citizen, please
review the Non-U.S.
(Visiting) Scholar programs.
The 2027-28 Fulbright U.S. Scholar
Competition is now open.
Thanks for your interest in the Fulbright
U.S. Scholar Program. Explore current
opportunities and Connect with Fulbright to receive important program
updates and application resources. Register for webinars today for more
information and join an office hour to
have your questions answered live by IIE staff.
Application Deadline: September 15,
2026, 5:00 PM EDT (UTC -4:00)
We strongly recommend that you do not wait
until the deadline to submit your application. Technical difficulties with uploading documents, submission of the
application, or registration of recommenders, particularly in the hours prior
to the deadline, will not be grounds for an extension. Applications not fully
submitted by the deadline will not be considered. No exceptions.
Applicants must submit their complete
application by the application deadline to be considered for an award in the
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program for that application cycle and award
competition.
Applicants may only apply for one Fulbright
award per competition, and applications will only be considered for that
competition. This means applicants cannot apply for multiple awards in the same
program year (2027-2028), nor can applications be deferred to a future year.
Before starting your application, review the eligibility requirements and the award
description for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar program. Applicants are
also encouraged to review the leave
and support resources.
It is your responsibility to understand
what is required for your selected award and to submit the application with the
appropriate application materials by the application deadline noted above.
Failure to provide necessary information or materials may affect the
eligibility of your application. Using the application resources and reaching
out early with questions will facilitate a successful application.
Application components vary depending on
the type of activity you apply for: teaching, research,
teaching/research combination, or professional project – as well as your discipline and specialization will prompt the
application to include the necessary components based on the activity and
discipline criteria you select. The application does not allow for any
additional uploads beyond the required components.
Your application materials should be
well-organized, working together to demonstrate why the project is needed and
how you are prepared to accomplish it. Connect the dots for the reader: present
information clearly to prevent the reader from (mis)interpreting to the extent
possible. You may find the Review Criteria helpful as you prepare your materials.
All material must be your own work. It is
unacceptable to misrepresent accomplishments, to borrow from the works of
others without proper acknowledgment, or to submit as one’s own material that
has been written, re-written or heavily edited by others. Breaches of these
protocols may result in rejection of the application.
Once your application has been submitted,
no further changes or edits can be made to your application. Proofread your
materials more than once – before submitting.
Application link: https://apply.iie.org/fusc2027. This
is the application for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. The
Fulbright U.S. Student and Visiting Scholar Programs
have different applications (and different links).
You do not need to complete the application
in one sitting or session. You can return to your saved work to edit it at any
time prior to submission. We recommend opening an application early to
familiarize yourself with the layout and question prompts.
First, you need an application
account.
New (first-time) users:
- Open the link above and click Create an Account.
Enter your email address, name, and date of birth. Use an email address
that is not subject to change. Your email address serves as your login and
will be used for application notifications. Your full name must be
entered as it appears on your government-issued ID. (You will have an
opportunity to enter your preferred name later.) Click Continue.
- You will receive an email from apply@iie.org (Application Registration)
with a link to the application and a temporary PIN to verify the account.
Once you enter this PIN on the application link, you will be asked to set
a password.
- Then proceed to starting your application.
Returning users: If you started an
application or applied at any point since 2020, you
have an application account already. Please do not create a new
application account.
- Open the link above and click Log In to
continue an application. Once you have logged in, you can proceed
to creating your application. Also see: Reapplying (below).
- If you forgot your password or your password expired, follow the steps to reset your password (you will be sent
a password reset email with instructions).
- If your email address has changed,
email scholars@iie.org, and we can update the email address
associated with your application account.
Next, create your application. Click Start New Application at the bottom
after logging in. The popup should show Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
2027-2028. Click Create Application, then click Open
Application to start working on your application.
You will also receive an email confirming
that you started your application. Save this email! This has
the link to your application, the deadlines, and links to essential resources.
Application link: https://apply.iie.org/fusc2027
Now that you have an account and an
application, use the Returning Users prompt to log in. Then,
on the Application Management page, click Fulbright
U.S. Scholar Program 2027-2028 to open your application.
The application will log you out
automatically after 60 minutes of inactivity. To save your progress,
click Save and Continue at the bottom of the application page
and return to the page you were working on.
When you are done working on your
application, close your browser tab/window. Be sure to work on your application
in one, single web browser tab to avoid making conflicting edits. Do
not have the application open in more than one tab/window in your browser.
If you started an application or applied
at any point since 2020, then you have an application account already. We are not able to postpone or defer applications from one year to
another year, nor are we able to copy a whole application from one year to
another.
- Has your email address changed? Email
us at scholars@iie.org to update your email address on
your application account.
- Is your email address the same? Please DO NOT create another application account to
start a new application. This will make things more confusing: we have
found it can be challenging to distinguish between accounts. If
you aren’t sure: try logging in; the system will indicate if that
email address is not recognized, meaning you do not have an application
account associated with that address.
- Go to the application (https://apply.iie.org/fusc2027)
and login as a Returning User using your login (email
address) and password. (Follow steps to reset password if needed.)
- Once logged in, you will land on the Application
Management page where you can view your prior application(s) and
start your new application.
- Click Start New Application and select Fulbright
U.S. Scholar Program 2027-2028. If that does not work, login via https://apply.iie.org/fulbrightusscholar instead,
and it should prompt you to create your 2027-2028 application.
- Note: DO NOT open past and current applications in the same
browser simultaneously as data will not save properly. If you must refer
to an old application, download it as a PDF or open it in a different
browser.
What carries over to the new application?
- Some basic personal information fields will automatically
populate based on the information you previously provided. Be sure to
double-check the information in case any updates are needed.
- You will need to select the program, country, and award. Be
sure to review the award
description, as award details and requirements may have changed for
this year’s competition.
- You will need to enter the project details and upload the
supporting documents (Project Statement, CV/Resume, and the Reference
List/Bibliography, Syllabi/Course Outlines, and Portfolio as applicable).
Ensure your materials and your proposed project fit the award for this
year’s application cycle.
- You will need to register two recommenders and any foreign
language evaluators (if applicable). Even if they have provided a
recommendation or evaluation for you before, they must upload their
letters to your new application. If they need a copy of the letter they
uploaded last year, your reference(s) are welcome to email FulbrightScholarReview@iie.org for assistance.
- Invitation letter: If the same host institution is proposed,
you can include the invitation from the prior year. However, providing an
updated invitation letter is encouraged.
- To download a PDF copy of your prior application, click on the
respective Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program application to open it. Then
click on Preview Application Proof to open a downloadable copy of your
application.
Applications are reviewed individually, on
their own merit, with the pool of applications submitted that year. The status
of your prior application is not considered in the Peer Review process. Some
applicants choose to revise their prior proposal; others opt to propose an
entirely new project. See also: Review Criteria.
When you start your application, you will
only see three pages: Home, Welcome, and Program
Eligibility.
The Home page is where you
open your application, and it is labeled Application Management.
The Welcome page contains important information about the
program, application, deadlines, and instructions.
You will not see any application components
available in your application until you complete the Program
Eligibility page (Eligibility Essentials for U.S. Scholars).
Once you complete these pages, the Program
Type and Country and Award pages will appear.
Then, after you complete these pages, the
rest of the application will appear. Note: Some elements of the application
will appear based on responses to questions on the Award Details page.
Changing Awards
You can change
awards before you submit your application. You cannot change
awards after submission.
Be mindful of the award parameters
(activity, start date, award length, etc.) and award requirements as you may
need to update some responses and materials to match the new award.
Additional Tips
- Required questions are marked
with an asterisk (*). You will not be able to submit until all required
items are complete.
- Text boxes: Where character limits
are indicated, spaces and punctuation count as characters, including
paragraph breaks (Enter or Return key).
Prepare answers to longer questions ahead; you can copy and paste into all
text boxes.
- Uploaded documents: If any files
exceed stated page limits, a warning will only appear on the Review page
(at the end of the application), and you will be prevented from submitting
until a shorter document is uploaded. Upload documents in PDF format to
preserve any special formatting and special characters.
- Use proper capitalization and proofread.
- Preview your application before submitting.
Project Statement – required for all applications
The Project Statement is your opportunity
to explain the proposed project. This document addresses key elements of your
project: what the project is, why it is needed, the objective(s) of the
project, how you are prepared for the project and how you will accomplish it,
the project timeline, and the outcomes and impact. The information you provide
in your essays and CV/resume should align with your proposed project.
In the application, on the Award
Details page, you will be asked to provide a Project Title and Abstract in
text boxes. The Project Title has a 100-character limit.
The Abstract has a 700-character limit. The Abstract is
a summary of your project: it briefly describes the nature of the project, the
plan (e.g., methodology), why the project is important/its impact, and the
expected results. All applications are read in their entirety in the review and
selection process. The purpose of this concise overview is to help the reader
quickly understand the proposed project. Character limits include spaces and
punctuation. The Abstract does not need to be included in the
Project Statement document.
Project Statement Format Requirements:
- 3-5 pages
- Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins. This helps ensure
readability.
- Use headers and/or bullets to organize and convey key elements;
use page numbers.
- File type: Adobe PDF (recommended)
or Word document.
- Note: If any non-English
characters, images, tables, equations, etc. are used, you must upload your
document as an Adobe PDF to maintain formatting.
- Citations are not required in the Project Statement. You may
use endnotes or footnotes in 10-point font (use any format for citations).
If you are applying for Research or Teaching/Research, you may put the
full citation for a source mentioned in your Project Statement in the
Reference List/Bibliography.
- You may include figures and images in your Project Statement
where appropriate, but they must fit within the 5-page limit for the
Project Statement (this is not in addition to the 5-page limit).
- Do not include hyperlinks to websites intended to direct the
reader to access information not included in the application. You may cite web links with the understanding that reviewers
are advised not to review material outside of the application. Content to
be considered in the application review must be contained within the
application itself.
Project Statement Content Guidelines
The Project Statement should be clear,
focused, and specific. Avoid jargon; it should be able to be understood by
individuals in other disciplines. Proofread carefully. We encourage you to
have colleagues review your project statement before submission. See
also: Review Criteria.
Each section below contains discussion
points for each activity type. For example, if you are proposing a research
project, your statement should focus primarily on the points relevant to
research (versus points for teaching or professional project). Note for teaching/research:
Your statement should reflect the relative amount of time you propose for each
activity and address both teaching and research points below. Consult the award to
determine if it specifies a percentage or courseload. If a percentage or
courseload is not specified, it is up to you to determine and explain how you
will divide your time between the two activities.
- What do you propose to do,
including:
- All Applications: What is the
project, what are the objectives, and what is the need for the project?
What is the importance of conducting the project at this time, and in
this location? (This should complement your essay response on Country
Selection.) What do you expect will result from your project,
including any works produced?
- Teaching: What is the nature of
your project, and what are your anticipated plans for teaching? This
includes classroom teaching, giving lectures, seminars, and workshops,
curriculum/ program development, public lectures, etc. (Consult your
award for specific requirements.)
- Research: What is the nature
of your research (scientific, qualitative, quantitative, artistic, etc.)?
What are the objectives for your project? What is the academic and/or
disciplinary context for the project?
- Professional Project: What is
the nature of your project? What are your objectives, and what is its
context within your field?
- For Flex and Multi-Country: Clearly describe your plans and
justification for each segment/country visit, including a project
timeline.
- How do you propose to do it,
including:
- All Applications: How will
you accomplish the project? Be as specific as possible regarding all
aspects of your plans, including anticipated activities, methodology,
required resources, and your proposed timeline. Address how you will
adjust your plans if needed, including the feasibility of the project
given the resources and time allocated. How is your project innovative?
- All Applications: How are you
prepared to carry out your project? Describe your relevant experience and
how it prepares you to conduct the project (this should complement your
essays and CV/Resume).
- All Applications: How will
you engage with the host institution/ organization and community? If
applicable, address any communication you may have had with the potential
host institution(s).
- Teaching: What have you taught
that prepares you to teach the proposed course(s)? Describe your past
involvement in curriculum planning, advising, and/or administrative
responsibilities.
- Research: Describe your activities
and methodology. What resources and/or facilities do you need in the host
country to accomplish your project? How might local, political/cultural
or other issues impact your work?
- Professional Project: Which
activities do you plan to do within this project and how do you plan to
arrange and complete them?
- For Flex and Multi-Country:
Address your plans and rationale for how you will allocate your time for
each activity and/or award segment.
- What impact, outcomes and benefits will the
project produce, including:
- All Applications: What do you hope
to contribute, and gain from this experience? How do you expect this will
impact your home institution/organization, your host institution and
community, your discipline, and your professional development? How might
your project be sustained afterward? This may include institutional
collaboration, student and faculty exchange, new perspectives in
teaching, joint research, professional connections, etc.
- Teaching: How might this
impact your teaching and professional work? How will you share what you
have learned abroad and at home with your host institution, home
institution, and communities in the host country and the U.S.?
- Research: What significance does
your project hold for the discipline? How will the findings or results be
disseminated (publications, conferences, presentations, joint
collaborations, exhibitions, etc.)?
- Professional project: What impact
do you expect this project to have on your discipline, and professional
work? Are there broader implications in your field for someone expanding
their expertise in this way? How do you anticipate this experience will
impact you as a professional in your field in the future?
CV/Resume – required for all applications
All applications require a curriculum vitae
or resume.
Your CV/Resume should be clearly organized
and tailored to the award to which you are applying and the proposed project.
You may summarize early work or work less related to the proposed project by
listing selected publications, exhibitions, etc.
Format Requirements:
- Up to 6 pages. For Distinguished Scholar awards: up to 8 pages.
- Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins. This helps ensure
readability.
- Use headers and/or bullets to organize and convey key elements;
use page numbers.
- File type: Adobe PDF
(recommended) or Word document.
- Note: If any non-English
characters, images, tables, equations, etc. are used, you must upload your
document as an Adobe PDF to maintain formatting.
Do not include:
- Personal information. This includes
contact information (mailing address, email address, phone number), date
of birth, marital status, citizenship, and your picture.
- Links to your website(s), social media profiles, etc. While published work may include hyperlinks, reviewers are
advised not to review material outside of the application. Content to be
considered in the application review must be contained within the
application itself.
Recommendations – required for all applications
Two recommendations are required.
Recommendations evaluate your professional
work, including the abilities and expertise you bring to your project; your
ability to adapt; and the merits of the project.
Recommendations must be submitted by
September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT (UTC-4:00). Recommendation
letters will not be accepted after this deadline, and extensions will not be
granted. Applicants are responsible for ensuring their recommenders receive the
request for their letter with sufficient notice, and that they submit it by the
deadline.
- You must register your recommenders in the application before
you submit your application. Your recommenders can submit their letter
before or after you submit your application, as long as they submit before
the deadline.
- You register your recommenders in the application by entering
their information, including their email address. Your recommender will
receive an email with a unique link to upload their recommendation to your
application.
- You can monitor their progress and send them reminders through
your application, even after you submit (up until the deadline). Note: If
your recommender is no longer available, you can exclude them (remove
them) and register a new recommender (even after you submit), so please
register recommenders earlier than needed!
- You and your recommender will receive emails confirming when
their recommendation has been submitted.
- Recommenders must submit their recommendations via the online
system. Recommendations sent by email will not be accepted, nor hard copy
documents. Recommendations are confidential; applicants do not have access
to the content of them, nor can they upload recommendations on behalf of
their recommenders.
- All recommendations must be in English.
Who may serve as a recommender?
Letters should be from those who know you
and your work well.
- One recommendation should be from a colleague or supervisor at
your current place of employment. If your institution or employer recently
changed, one of the letters should be from someone at your previous
institution or employer.
- One recommendation should be from a colleague within your
discipline. This letter can be from outside your current place of
employment OR may come from a second colleague at your place of
employment. This can include colleagues with whom you have collaborated on
research in the last several years in the U.S. or abroad.
- If you have selected Teaching or Teaching/Research for your
award activity: One letter should be from
a colleague who knows and can speak to your teaching abilities. This
letter should not come from a student.
- If you are currently finishing your doctorate or
other terminal degree: If you
are applying before your final degree requirements are complete, one of
your letters must come from someone familiar with your degree progress who
can cite your expected date of conferral, such as an advisor or committee
member. Note that your degree must be conferred prior to your award start
date. Additional documentation may be requested later.
Who cannot serve as a recommender?
- Relatives of the applicant
- Representatives of U.S. Embassy posts or Fulbright Commissions
in the proposed host country (country of application)
- Representatives of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA) at the U.S. Department of State
- Representatives of the Institute of International Education,
including current IIE staff, IIE Board of Trustees, and Fulbright Scholar
Advisory Board (CIES) members
- Anyone who serves as a recommender may not also provide the
applicant with an invitation letter or foreign language evaluation.
Instructions for Your Recommenders
Please see these instructions for
those providing recommendations, which includes the prompts for their letters.
You are encouraged to provide your recommenders with a copy of your project
statement.
Format Requirements
- Up to 3 pages.
- On letterhead and signed (recommended).
- File type: Adobe PDF (recommended)
or Word document.
- All recommendations must be written in English. If the
recommendation is in a language other than English, the recommender must
provide an English translation. Because the recommendation letter is
confidential, the applicant cannot provide the translation. Both the
original recommendation letter and the English-language translation must
be uploaded to the application by the recommender.
Short Essays – required for all applications
These essays are your opportunity to
describe why you have selected the particular country (or countries), why
Fulbright and why now, your cultural preparation, and your teaching preparation
(if teaching is selected). The details you provide here should be clear and
compelling. Your essays should complement the information in your Project
Statement and CV/resume.
- As the application system may time-out while you are drafting
your responses, you are strongly encouraged to draft and
save them in a document outside of the application. This also allows you
monitor character limits.
- Character limits include punctuation, spaces, and paragraph
breaks. Using returns or paragraph breaks may cause your response to be
cut off in the application PDF.
- Applications are reviewed as PDFs and have limited space
allotted for each Short Essay response. You can review
the Application Proof PDF on the Review & Submit page.
It is important to review formatting to ensure that text responses are not
cut off and display correctly.
Country Selection (up to 2,000
characters, including spaces, punctuation, and paragraph breaks)
- Why is this country (or countries) the best match for your
project?
- What experiences have prepared you to undertake your project in
this country (countries)?
Why Fulbright? (up to 1,500 characters,
including spaces, punctuation, and paragraph breaks)
- Why are you applying for this Fulbright award, and why now? How
does this Fulbright award fit into your career path and future goals?
Cultural Preparation (up to 2,000
characters, including spaces, punctuation, and paragraph breaks)
The Fulbright Program is designed to
expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and
citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and
cooperation. During their award, Fulbrighters will meet, engage with, and learn
from the people of the host country.
- Address your familiarity with the host culture, and any other
global experiences that prepare you to adjust successfully to life in the
host country, including your prior experiences in the host
country/countries (if applicable).
- Explain how you will adapt to working and living in the host
country.
- How does your experience prepare you to represent the United
States as a cultural ambassador? Provide specific examples.
- How do you plan to share your culture and values in your host
community and learn from others?
- Please address language proficiency in the Language Skills
section of the application (Self-Evaluation).
Teaching Preparation (only required if
your award activity includes teaching) (up to 1,500 characters, including
spaces, punctuation, and paragraph breaks)
- How will you make your teaching relevant to the culture(s)
and language(s) of the host country? How will you adapt your materials and
pedagogy to a different teaching environment in which your students’ first
language may not be English?
Reference List/Bibliography – required for Research and
Teaching/Research applications
A Reference List/Bibliography is required
if you select the Research or Teaching/Research activity, regardless of
discipline. The Reference List/Bibliography is not required and will not be
accepted for the Teaching nor Professional Project activities.
The Reference List/Bibliography
demonstrates that you are aware of the current state of research or work
related to the discipline of your proposed project and that your project will
contribute to existing work in the discipline. It should contain sources that
situate your project in the current field and include any critical theory
informing your project. This is a list of sources that inform your work and
with which you will dialogue.
- References may include (but are not limited to) journal
articles, books, newspaper articles, works or exhibitions by other
artists, conference proceedings, reports, films or videos, collection
articles, court cases, microforms, websites, and digital images.
- You may choose the format: this can be an enumerative list, or
it can be annotated/explanatory (within the 3-page limit).
- You may choose any citation style.
- You may put the full citation for a source mentioned in your
Project Statement in the Reference List/Bibliography to save space in your
Project Statement.
- The Reference List/Bibliography should not consist
solely of your own publications.
- This is not a list of personal references to
be contacted.
- Note on hyperlinks: While
published work may include hyperlinks, reviewers are advised not to review
material outside of the application. Content to be considered in the
application review must be contained within the application itself.
- If this upload does not appear in your application, check
the Award Details page to make sure the correct award
activity is selected.
Format Requirements:
- Up to 3 pages.
- Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins. This helps ensure
readability.
- Use headers and/or bullets to organize and convey key elements;
use page numbers.
- File type: Adobe PDF
(recommended) or Word document.
- Note: If any non-English
characters, images, tables, etc. are used, you must upload your document
as an Adobe PDF to maintain formatting.
Syllabi/Course Outlines – required for Teaching and
Teaching/Research applications
Syllabi or sample course outlines are
required if you select Teaching or Teaching/Research for your award activity,
regardless of discipline. Syllabi/course outlines are not accepted for the
Research nor Professional Project activities.
These help demonstrate your teaching
experience and your approach to teaching in terms of content and pedagogy.
- Submit at least one (up to three) course syllabi or sample
course outlines relevant to the planned award activity.
- Your syllabi/course outlines should be designed by you and
expressive of your teaching philosophy. If you did not design them,
indicate as such.
- Indicate whether you have used them previously or if you
developed them for this application. (Syllabi are not required to be
tailored to award content or the proposed host institution, unless
specified by the award description.)
- Note on hyperlinks: While
syllabi/course outlines may include hyperlinks, reviewers are advised not
to review material outside of the application. Content to be considered in
the application review must be contained within the application itself.
- If this upload does not appear in your application, check
the Award Details page to make sure the correct award
activity is selected.
Format Requirements:
- Up to 10 pages, total (not per syllabus or outline).
- Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins. This helps ensure
readability.
- Use headers and/or bullets to organize and convey key elements;
use page numbers.
- File type: Adobe PDF
(recommended) or Word document.
Note: If
any non-English characters, images, tables, equations, etc. are used, you must
upload your document as an Adobe PDF to maintain formatting.
Invitation Letter – may be required
The invitation is a letter provided by the
proposed host institution or organization expressing their interest in hosting
you for your proposed project. Be sure your project statement reflects your
planned activities, including how you will engage with your host institution.
Awards indicate the Invitation
Requirement:
- An invitation letter is required: You
must submit an invitation letter.
- An invitation letter is preferred: You
are encouraged to obtain and submit an invitation letter.
- An invitation letter is optional: You
may submit an invitation letter.
- An invitation letter should not be sought: There will not be a place to upload an invitation.
Invitation Letter Deadline: September
25, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT (UTC -4:00). Invitation
letters will not be added to applications after this deadline.
- For awards where the invitation is required: If your letter(s) are not submitted by this extended
deadline, your application will become ineligible and will not proceed in
the review and selection process.
- For all other awards: If an
invitation is not required, your application will proceed in the review
process with or without an invitation.
Applicants are responsible for obtaining
and uploading the invitation letter to their Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
application. If your invitation is expected to arrive after the application
deadline, you should submit your application without the letter. You will be
able to upload your invitation letter to your application via the Application
Status page until the deadline above.
Who can serve as a host?
Appropriate hosts might include a
non-profit organization, artist residency, studio collective, governmental
agency, museum, professional association, cultural organization, K-12
institution, university, college, language institute, research institute, laboratory,
think tank or foundation. For-profit organizations may not serve as hosts.
Local organizations operated by citizens of
the host country are preferred over U.S. institutions abroad. However, in some
cases, international organizations have been approved as hosts.
Be sure to review the award
description for requirements regarding what institutions or types of
institutions may serve as hosts. If you are uncertain whether your proposed
host is appropriate, please contact the IIE staff listed on the award.
How to Develop Contacts Abroad
Check the award description first! It may
list host institutions and/or specific people to contact. It is the applicant’s
responsibility to contact potential hosts.
Use your network and the resources on your
home campus, in your discipline, and your community to network, including:
- The international office on your campus
- International students and faculty, area studies faculty, and
faculty in your discipline may have contacts at institutions in the
country or countries of interest
- Colleagues who have conducted research, taught, or lived abroad
- Your professional organization may have an international
division, and may have information about the status of your discipline and
the educational system in other countries, as well as people who can serve
as contacts or can connect you with others.
How to Request an Invitation Letter
Start early as this process can take time.
Many faculty abroad are difficult to reach in July and August.
Sample invitation letter email with additional tips for your
reference.
Identify appropriate host institution(s)
and individual(s) in the country of interest and email them. Start by briefly
introducing yourself and the activities you are interested in proposing. If
they are interested in potentially hosting you and your project, you can then
request an invitation letter from them in subsequent messages. (Letters are
typically provided on university letterhead.)
Note: An
institution can provide invitations to multiple candidates. An invitation is
not a legally binding pledge. Having an invitation letter does not guarantee
your application will be recommended in the Peer Review process nor selected
for an award.
Invitation Letter Requirements
We do not require institutions to use a
template, as some have their own. The letter should be addressed to you or to
the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, and should include:
- The activities for which you are being invited by the host
(i.e., research at an institution, special lecturing needs, etc.),
- The general time period for which you are invited (approximate
dates), and
- A description of the host’s interest in your project and how it
will benefit their institution.
- Invitation letters should be in English. If the letter is not
in English, you must include an English translation with it in your
application.
- The potential host (the person who provides the letter) cannot
also be registered in your application as a recommender or foreign
language evaluator.
- Invitation letters should be their own document, but if a
“print out” of an email is all that your host can send, please ensure the
message comes from a verified email address at a host institution.
File type: Adobe
PDF (recommended) or Word document.
You may upload up to three letters to your
application as a combined file or as separate files. If you have additional
letters, you will need to combine them into a single file before uploading
them.
Language Proficiency – may be required
Many awards do not require applicants to
have proficiency in a language other than English. Others require
proficiency for teaching and/or research, while some suggest it may be useful.
In the application, there is a language
self-evaluation and an external evaluation, which help demonstrate that
your project can be completed successfully, including
identifying alternatives. You may find the Review Criteria to be helpful.
Refer to the table below for general
requirements, and the Award Requirements tab in the Award for
any award-specific requirements.
Self-evaluation
In the application, the Language
Skills page displays the award’s language skills requirement and
contains the self-evaluation. You can list up to three languages relevant to
the proposed project and indicate your level of proficiency for each (reading,
writing, and speaking). You will be asked about language proficiency for your
proposed project (first question below). And, depending on the award
requirement, you may also be asked about your previous experience with the
language (second question below).
- Language Proficiency for Proposed Project: Indicate if language proficiency is necessary for your
proposed project to be feasible. If you do not currently have the
necessary language proficiency, indicate what you plan to do to ensure the
feasibility of the project. Indicate if you have additional language study
in progress or planned. (700 characters including spaces and
punctuation). Note: This question is required for all
applications.
- Previous experience in use of language: Indicate how you learned the language(s), such as formal
study, self-study, mother tongue, spoken at home, studied/lived in
country, etc.; if you formally studies the language(s), how much time you
spent in formal study and the level (e.g., number of semesters or years);
if you have spent time studying or living in a place where the language(s)
are spoken; the recent opportunities you have had for reading and speaking
the language(s), including lecturing; if you have ever taken a language
proficiency test in the language(s); if so describe the nature of the
test(s), including when it was administered. (700 characters including
spaces and punctuation). Note: This question appears if
you select one or more languages.
External evaluation
You must register your qualified foreign
language evaluator(s) on the Recommendations and Language Evaluations page
in the application. (See Recommendations above for how to register them.)
This evaluation is uploaded directly by
your language evaluator(s). Once you register them in your application,
you can monitor their progress. This means you can submit your application
before they upload their evaluation. Foreign language evaluations are for
languages other than English, and evaluations must be provided in English.
Language evaluations must be received by the application deadline. Who
can serve as a foreign language evaluator?
- A qualified foreign language evaluator should be an instructor
in the language or otherwise qualified to evaluate language proficiency.
- Anyone who serves as a language evaluator for your application
cannot also provide a recommendation letter or invitation letter for your
application.
For applications where proficiency in
multiple languages may be necessary, the application will allow for up to two
external language evaluations to be submitted.
|
Award Requirement: |
What this means in the application: |
|
None, English is sufficient |
Self-Evaluation: Optional: Complete the self-evaluation for language(s) relevant to your
proposed project. Foreign Language Evaluation: Do not register a Foreign Language evaluator in the application. |
|
None, English is sufficient. However,
feasibility of conducting the project must be demonstrated in the project
statement |
Self-Evaluation: Required: Complete the self-evaluation for language(s) relevant to your
proposed project. Foreign Language Evaluation: Optional: You may register a Foreign Language evaluator(s) in the
application. |
|
Recommended |
Self-Evaluation: Required: Complete the self-evaluation for language(s) relevant to
your proposed project. Foreign Language Evaluation:
Recommended: You are encouraged to register
a Foreign Language evaluator(s) in the application. |
|
Required |
Self-Evaluation: Required: Complete the self-evaluation for language(s) relevant to
your proposed project. Foreign Language Evaluation:
Required: You are required to register
Foreign Language evaluator(s) in the application (even if you have fluent
speaker proficiency). |
Levels of proficiency
We recommend that applicants and evaluators
refer to the ACTFL “Can-Do Statements” to
inform self-evaluations and external evaluations.
Instructions For Your Language Evaluator
Please see these instructions for those providing language evaluations,
which includes a preview of the evaluation form.
Portfolio – required for Creative and Performing Arts,
Architecture, Journalism applications
If your project is in the arts, creative
writing, or journalism, and/or it will result in the production or performance
of creative works (including architecture, dance, film, media, music, and
theater), a portfolio must be submitted to aid in the evaluation of your
application, regardless of award activity. Files must be uploaded
directly to the application.
The portfolio should demonstrate your
technical skills, ability in the genre(s), and/or your artistic direction. The
portfolio should be a well-edited, representative collection of your
work/research and should support the nature of your proposed project.
To access the portfolio section in the
application, on the Award Details page, you must choose one of
the disciplines that requires the portfolio (see below). Then, once you select
your project discipline (and specialization), the section for the portfolio
should appear further below.
Disciplines requiring a portfolio:
- Architecture
- Arts
- Culinary Arts
- Dance
- Design
- Drama/Theater Arts
- Fashion
- Film/Cinema Studies (including film directing and production,
and screenwriting)
- Fine Arts
- Journalism
- Museum Studies
- Music (including composition, conducting, and performance)
- Writing (including creative writing and poetry, fiction and
non-fiction, playwriting, and screenwriting)
Note: If your project is in one of these disciplines but will focus on
translation, history, or the broader study of the subject (such as
ethnomusicology, film studies) and it will not result in the production or
performance of creative works, continue to select the appropriate discipline;
the portfolio section has an opt-out for these instances.
If the discipline for your project is not
in this list, check this indexed, searchable list containing all of the
disciplines and specializations available in the application.
File Requirements:
You may submit multiple types of
files. Do not submit additional media or
materials beyond what is required. Failure to follow these guidelines may
adversely affect your application. Files must be uploaded directly to the
application; links to websites will not be accepted.
You must provide relevant and appropriate
details for each work: title, year, size (dimensions), medium, and description.
Items should be your own work: anything
submitted that is not entirely your own work must be clearly identified as
such, including a description of your contribution to the piece. For
collaborative works, describe your contribution to the piece in the description.
- Images, pictures, and graphics, including artwork, graphic designs, photographs, prints,
drawings, sketches, photographs, maps, sculpture, etc. Up to 10 images.
Images may be uploaded as one PDF containing up to 10 images provided that
either format includes descriptive notes (e.g., dimensions, date of
execution, materials used, etc.), or as up to 10 separate images.
- Writing samples: up to 15
pages in total (not per document)
- Audio and video files: up to
30 minutes in total for all edited segments (not per segment)
Accepted file formats (no larger than 5
GB):
- Image/Slide: .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tif, .tiff
- Document: .doc, .docx, .odg, .odp, .odt, .pdf, .ppt,
.pptx, .rtf, .wpd
- Video: .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg,
.mp4, .mxf, .webm, .wmv
- Audio: .aac, .m4a, .mka, .mp3, .oga, .ogg, .wav
Note: The application proof will only show a preview of
the files uploaded. For documents, the first page will be shown in this
preview; for audio/video files, a screenshot will be shown in this preview.
Additional Application Information
The application will ask for information
regarding your:
- Academic and professional background, including your current
employment, and academic history.
- Previous Fulbright awards (if applicable): If you have
completed or undertaken a Fulbright Scholar award, you will need to
provide compelling justification for an additional Fulbright Scholar
award. The justification has a 1200-character limit where you describe the
accomplishments and contributions from your previous award(s) and how the
proposed project will build on your previous Fulbright experience(s).
- Personal and contact information, including dependents and
citizenship.
Signature page:
- Carefully review this section. Your electronic (typed)
signature attests to the authenticity and accuracy of the information
supplied in the application.
Review & Submit page:
This page checks for questions with missing
answers and uploads with too many pages. This page does not review
the content of the responses or uploaded documents.
- If no errors appear, then your application is ready for
submission.
- If Required Field or Error appears, you will
be unable to submit your application until this is resolved. These
typically refer you to the page but may not identify the specific
question(s) needing attention. Return to the indicated page or section to
correct the error; once corrected, return to this page. The review will be
conducted again. When all errors have been resolved, you will be able to
submit your application.
- Note: Warning: Missing Invitation Letter: This
warning will not prevent you from submitting your application without the
invitation. Invitation Letters may be submitted until September 25, 2026.
- Preview your application before submitting: You are responsible for reviewing your application to ensure
your responses and uploaded materials appear correctly. Click on Preview
Application Proof to view your application.
- When you are satisfied with your application, submit your
application.
- Once you submit your application, you cannot make any changes.
Make sure to click Submit
Application by the application deadline!
Once you submit your application, you
will land on the Application Status page.
This page confirms your application was
submitted. It also contains your application checklist, where you can monitor
the status of your recommendations and language evaluations, and more.
You will also receive an email
confirming your submission. Save this
email! It contains the link to your application and the review timeline. You can return to your application at
each stage of review to see its progress. If you do not receive an email
confirming submission within a few minutes, check your spam/junk folder for the
email, and login to your application to double check that you submitted your
application.
We recommend adding Scholars@iie.org and FulbrightScholarReview@iie.org to your address book to
prevent emails from landing in your spam/junk folder.
To view and save a copy of your application
after submission: Click Preview Application PDF on the Application
Status page.
All submissions are final, applications
cannot be unsubmitted. Applications cannot be
updated once the review and selection process are underway. This includes
changing awards, updating the CV/Resume (title, institution/employer, etc.),
changing award details (start date, host institution, etc.). Recommenders may
be changed until the September 15, 2026 (5:00pm Eastern) deadline. Invitations
may be uploaded after submission until the September 25, 2026 (5:00pm Eastern)
deadline.
Withdrawing Your Application
If you need to withdraw your application
from consideration for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, please email FulbrightScholarReview@iie.org from the primary email
address associated with your application. Include your full name, host country,
and a brief explanation.
Review Criteria for Peer Review for U.S.
Scholars
If you are a non-U.S. citizen, please
review the Non-U.S
(Visiting) Scholar programs.
The Fulbright Scholar Program supports
activities and projects that recognize and promote the critical relationship
between educational exchange and international understanding, in addition to
the intellectual merit of the proposals.
Reviewers consider the basic objectives of
the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program; applications are evaluated with the
criteria below.
Applications must at minimum sufficiently
address each of the review criteria in order to be recommended or ultimately
selected. Applicants should ensure materials they submit address the
requirements clearly. Reviewers are asked to base their evaluation solely on
the information provided in the application.
Training, background, and experience
- Application demonstrates training, credentials and active
professional standing in the discipline necessary to complete the project,
as appropriate for the applicant’s career stage, home institution/employer
type, and teaching and administrative load (if applicable).
- For applications in the creative and performing arts and
journalism: Portfolio material(s) should demonstrate the
applicant’s technical skills, ability in the genre(s) and/or artistic
direction.
- Application demonstrates the language proficiency needed for successful
completion of the project, or adequately addresses alternative(s) to
language proficiency – if required or recommended in the award.
Quality of project
The project is feasible, innovative,
intellectually rigorous, and well-written, with sound, appropriate methodology;
the project demonstrates adaptability to any local and/or political, or
cultural contexts. In addition, the project can be understood by individuals in
other disciplines. Application demonstrates the need for the project to be
undertaken in the specified location.
- Teaching projects: Application
demonstrates teaching experience, effective pedagogical approaches, and
thoughtful, clear syllabi/course outlines. (Syllabi are not required to be
tailored to award content or the proposed host institution, unless
specified by the award description.)
- Research projects: Project is
clearly designed and will contribute to the existing body of work on the
topic. Research plan and method of analysis are detailed, and addresses
aims and objectives.
- Professional Project: Project
demonstrates professional experience, relevance to the host country, and
is designed clearly.
- Teaching/Research, Flex, Multi-Country (if applicable): Project demonstrates appropriate plans and rationale for
allocation of time for each activity and/or grant segment.
Project’s potential impact, outcomes,
and benefits
- Application demonstrates relevance of project to the
discipline.
- Project statement clearly describes plans to feasibly
disseminate results (if applicable).
- Proposed project exhibits potential for impact, which is
significant, broad, and can be sustained after the project. Project
statement demonstrates engagement with the host institution and community
as well as the benefit to the discipline, the applicant’s home institution
or employer, and their own professional development. Project should seek
to benefit the host country(ies) and the U.S.
Cultural Preparation
- Application demonstrates the ability to be adaptable, flexible,
culturally sensitive, and collegial.
- Application demonstrates the ability to serve as a cultural
ambassador for the U.S., their community, and their institution/employer.
Previous Fulbright Scholar Awards
Applicant provides compelling justification
for prior Fulbright Scholar award(s), including International Education
Administrator awards. Preference will be given to candidates who have not had
previous Fulbright Scholar awards, especially within the past ten years. View
the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship
Board’s policies on previous Fulbright Scholar grants. (This does not
apply to the Fulbright Specialist Program or the Fulbright Student Program.)
Veteran status
Preference is given to veterans of the U.S.
armed forces when other factors are equivalent.
In-Country Selection:
Please visit the
timeline page for more details on the next phase of selection.
Common mistakes in applications
- Application is not well developed: vague or generic,
methodology lacks specifics; project is not contextualized in existing
work
- Application does not clearly demonstrate the benefit to being
physically present in host country(ies)
- Application does not clearly demonstrate why Fulbright, and why
now
- Feasibility and timeline are overly ambitious or not well
defined
- Impact, outcomes, and benefits are ambiguous or partially
addressed
- Connection between expertise and project is not apparent
- Not proofread; materials are confusing, hard to follow
Frequently Asked Questions
Applications cannot be updated once the
review and selection process are underway. This includes updating the CV/Resume
(title, institution/employer, etc.), changing award details (start date, host
institution, etc.), and adding letters of invitation. Should an application be
selected, the applicant can communicate any updates and requests to the
respective Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy and IIE advisor upon selection,
but please note that any changes to proposed project, including grant length
and start date, are subject to approval by the host country and the Department
of State.
The Program appreciates the enthusiasm
shared by applicants and host institutions to engage and collaborate on your
proposed project. Please note that applications must first go through the peer
review process. Those that are recommended for further consideration are then
forwarded to the host country, U.S. Department of State, and the Fulbright
Foreign Scholarship Board for review and selection. Some host countries work
with host institutions in this process (typically awards where the host
institution is specified in the award title). Following peer review, applicants
are welcome to let their proposed host know if their application was
recommended. Applicants should not ask the host country or proposed host for
updates on the status of their application.
Application Feedback and Reapplying
Fulbright program policy does not authorize
implementing partners (including IIE) to provide reasons for an application to
be not recommended or not selected.
Applicants may reapply for a future
competition and we can work with you to do so. Applications are reviewed
individually, on their own merit each year. Please see the
Application page for instructions on how to reapply.
Source: https://fulbrightscholars.org/us-scholar-awards
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