Fulbright Program

About

Fostering leadership, learning and empathy between cultures was and remains the purpose of the international scholarship program." —Senator J. William Fulbright

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. It was established in 1946 by the U.S. Congress to "enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries."

It provides many types of grants including:

• Study/Research Grants: The traditional award opportunity where a candidate designs a proposal for a specific country.
• English Teaching Assistant Grants: The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant programs place grantees in schools overseas to supplement local English language instruction and to provide a native speaker presence in the classrooms.

Eligibility

1. 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.
2. Applicants must have a conferred bachelor's degree or the equivalent before the start of the grant.
3. In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement.
4. Applicants must be in good health. Grantees will be required to submit a satisfactory Medical Certificate from a physician.
5. 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.
6. Applicants may hold a J.D. at the time of application.
7. Doctors of Medicine may receive grants for advanced academic study, but not for internships or residencies. Scholars with an M.D. degree who have completed their formal postgraduate training and propose attachment to a hospital or clinic for the purpose of independent or collaborative research should apply to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program through the Council for International Exchange of Scholars. Grants shall not authorize activity for which a license to practice medicine or nursing is required. The Fulbright Program cannot authorize proposals for medical research that involves clinical training, patient care or patient contact.

Application Procedure

1. Undergraduate students schedule an appointment to meet with Dean LaTasha Johnson, preferably during your junior year but no later than May 1 prior to your senior year, to discuss your goals and to see if there's a Fulbright program which would be appropriate. Current graduate students should contact Dean Lynmarie Hamel in the School of Graduate Studies.
2. Begin the Fulbright application online and select Case Western Reserve University as the endorsing institution. Dean LaTasha Johnson can be selected as the Fulbright Program Advisor for current undergraduate students, and Dean Lynmarie Hamel can be selected for current graduate students. Complete the full Fulbright application online (references included) by the campus deadline of Sept. 8, 2024.
3. Campus interviews are required for all candidates. Times will be identified for interviews based on your class schedule and committee availability. Interviews will take place in late September. (See schedule below.)
4. All materials should be submitted online on the Fulbright application portal by September 8, including all of your references.
5. Following the campus interview, applications will be returned to candidates for revision.
6. Complete final application by the national deadline. Campus endorsement will be included and forwarded onto Fulbright.

Value of the Award

Grant benefits for all Fulbright U.S. student grants include:

• round-trip transportation to the host country
• funding to cover room, board, and incidental costs, based on the cost of living in the host country
• Accident and Sickness Health Benefits

In some countries, grants may also include:

• book and research allowances*
• mid-term enrichment activities
• full or partial tuition
• language study programs
• pre-departure and in-country orientations

*Grantees with projects that require extensive research support, in-country travel, study materials, or equipment should explore additional funding from other sources to supplement the Fulbright funding.

Contact

Western Hemisphere contact:
Susan Muendl, Program Manager
212.984.5366
smuendl@iie.org

General inquiries contact:
Lora Seery
212.984.5327
lseery@iie.org

Past Undergraduate Winners

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