Fulbright U.S. Student Program

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Program Purpose: 

The Fulbright Program, sponsored by US Department of State, is the largest US international exchange program. Its goal is "fostering leadership, learning and empathy between cultures." Each year more than 2,000 students receive a Fulbright US Student Grant to live and study, or work as teaching assistants, in one of more than 140 countries abroad. Fulbright awards are in nearly all fields and disciplines, including the sciences, professional fields, and the creative and performing arts.

Program Description: 

There are several US Student Fulbright grant types:

Full Grants. Grantees conduct independent study or research, work with local nonprofit organizations, study towards a degree, or conduct or other projects, including in the creative and performing arts.

English Teaching Assistantships. ETAs in about 75 countries assist in teaching conversational English to grade school, high school, or college students. ETAs assist in the classroom and lead conversation for 20+ hours per week. Some host countries prefer applicants who intend to become foreign language teachers; others encourage applicants of all majors, including those who do not speak the host country language. Applicants with more than five years teaching experience should consider other Fulbright and Department of State programs (see "More information" below).

Critical Language Enhancement Awards. Grantees receive 3-6 months of intensive language study in addition to the Fulbright full grant. Only select languages and host countries are available for this opportunity.

The Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship. The Fulbright-National Geographic provides an academic year of overseas travel and digital storytelling in one, two, or three countries on a globally significant theme, as well as a platform for the digital storytelling project, and mentoring by a National Geographic editor.

Country-Specific Awards. Look to host country pages for special opportunities for programs in the sciences, slow foods, deaf studies, public policy, water management, business and journalism.

Fulbright-Fogarty Awards,these awards were established to promote the expansion of research in public health and clinical research in resource-limited settings. For candidates who are currently enrolled in medical school or in a post-master's level graduate program and who are interested in global health. Offered in specific, under-resourced countries each year. For current countries offering Fulbright-Fogarty Awards, see: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/about/types-of-awards/fulbright-fogarty-…

Program Benefits: 

Fulbright grants include round-trip transportation to the host country, and a living allowance for an academic year, based on living costs in the host country. Limited health benefits are also provided. Depending on the host country, full grants may also include full or partial tuition, language study programs, book and research allowances, pre-departure and in-country orientations, and enrichment activities.

Application Process: 

Enrolled students must have "a first final draft" of their applications completed on the online IIE applicant portal by the campus deadline. Alumni who have not yet matriculated at another institution may apply either through the University or as "at large" applicants. Alumni applying through the University must submit complete applications to the Fellowships Office by the campus deadline. A campus interview is required for all applicants applying through the University. Interviews are by Zoom at this time. The Fellowships Office is available to provide feedback to applicants applying through the University on their application materials, including the personal statement and statement of purpose, and to assist in preparing for the campus interview.

Applicant Profile: 

Generally, applicants will not have spent more than six months in the host country, although certain exceptions apply. Applicants may be born in the host country to which they are applying, if they left that country in their youth, or they may have spent up to a year as a study-abroad undergraduate in the host country. Applicants must have minimum language proficiency required by the host country and language abilities appropriate to their proposed project. Graduating seniors and recent bachelor's degree recipients usually propose projects for which they have undergraduate coursework or direct work or internship experience. Graduate students generally propose independent study or research. Some ETA countries invite applicants to propose an independent project to work on when not assisting in the classroom. All applicants should demonstrate a strong knowledge of the host country, and must propose cultural or community activities that would facilitate engagement with the local community.

Eligibility: 

Graduating seniors and recent bachelor's degree recipients, master's students, those possessing a master's degree, students currently enrolled in a doctoral program, doctoral candidates, artists and musicians (4 years of study or experience required), young professionals (with up to 5 years experience), including writers, journalists, and those in law, business, and other professional fields.

Selection Criteria: 

Selection criteria include academic preparation for the project, feasibility of the project proposal, knowledge of the host country, and foreign language abilities appropriate to the proposed project.

Citizenship: 

US citizens only.

Program Deadline: 

The national deadline is usually in mid-October. Applicants currently enrolled at the University must apply through SF State by the campus deadline. Applicants who are SF State alumni may apply through the University or as "at large" applicants.

All applicants who apply through the University must apply by the campus deadline and participate in a campus interview. Interviews are by Zoom at this time.

University Deadline: 

Completed applications must be "submitted" on the IIE/Fulbright portal by Noon on September 8 (or the first working day thereafter). The application will then be "unsubmitted" so applicant can continue to revise until second campus deadline (two days before the national deadline) when finalized application must be submitted.

More information: 

• Fulbright's Award Search page allows prospective applicants to search for countries and programs that do not require foreign language skills, as well as by other criteria.

• A full list of Applicant webinars can be found on the Information Sessions page of the website. 

• All applicant webinars are recorded and can be accessed throughout the competition on the Recorded Webinars webpage. 

• Undergraduates may wish to apply for the short term Fulbright UK Summer Institute.

• Applicants with more extensive teaching experience should consider other U.S. Department of State programs, including:

  • English Language Fellow Program (at least two years TESOL or related teaching experience)

  • English Language Specialist Program (at least five years TESOL or English language teacher training experience)

  • Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program (at least five years teaching or academic support experience). The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Short-Term Program sends expert U.S. primary and secondary school teachers abroad for three to six months to support projects identified by U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions in schools, teacher training colleges, government ministries, and educational NGOs. Participants work on individual research projects on a topic relevant to education in the United States and the host country, take courses at a host university, and collaborate with colleagues on educational practices to improve student learning.

  • Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program (TGC) is a professional development fellowship for elementary, middle, and high school teachers from the United States to participate in a program aimed at globalizing U.S. classrooms. The fellowship includes an online professional development course, a Global Education Symposium held in Washington, D.C., and a two to three week international field experience. Participants create a global education guide that serves as a resource in their local community to share the skills, experiences, and resources they have developed throughout the program.

If you are an SF State alumnus/alumnae who has won a Fulbright award, we would love to feature you on our website.  Please contact the Fellowships Office to let us know about your accomplishment!

How To Apply: 

Currently enrolled students must apply through SF State by the campus deadline. Alumni may apply through the University or as "at large" applicants. Students—and alumni who elect to apply through SF State—are strongly encouraged to work with the Fellowships Office months in advance of the campus deadline — to perfect the project proposal, personal statement, and other aspects of the Fulbright application.

To learn more about the Fulbright program, or to receive feedback on your application materials, feel free to email Dr. Joy Viveros, Fulbright Program Adviser, and Director of the Fellowships Office, for an appointment.