REFERENCES
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING REFERENCES References submitted in the Online Application System, must also be submitted in hard copy.
ETA APPLICANTS: It is important that you tell your referees that the Fulbright Program requires the submission of FORM 9B: ETA REFERENCE FORM and not a general letter of reference. The Fulbright Program will ONLY accept the Form 9B: ETA Reference Form. When you register your referees in the Online Application (see below), they will be sent instructions which allows them to complete Form 9B electronically.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REFEREES
Applicants should provide their referees with the instructions. You can print them out and give a copy to the referee when you discuss your reference request. Or, you can send the referee the URL for the type of reference you wish them to complete.
Instructions for the Referee: Applicants for Research/Study Grants
Instructions for the Referee: Applicants for English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Grants
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS
In this section, there are four steps to obtaining references. Be sure to review all four. STEP 1: Choose your referees
Three (3) references are required. - Graduating seniors and recent graduates will not be expected to have all their references from professors in their major field, but can have a mix of faculty or others who know them well and can refer to their abilities/skills relative to the proposed project.
- ETA applicants should request references from those who know them well. Referees may include academic instructors, academic advisers, or supervisors in teaching or tutoring situations.
- Advanced graduate students, should select referees from professors in their major field and/or fields directly related to the Fulbright project.
- Applicants in creative and performing arts or professional fields may select referees who can address their skills/talents in the field, relative to the proposed project. However, it is also advisable to provide at least one or two academic references.
In addition, consider the following:
- Ask for references from people who have some knowledge of the field and/or host country. Referees should comment specifically on the feasibility of the project in terms of resources available abroad, your preparation to carry out the proposed project, and your ability to adapt to a different cultural environment. They are free to comment on any other factors that they believe may have a bearing on a successful overseas experience. For arts candidates, letter writers should discuss the potential for growth in your field.
- It may not always be possible to include all three references from professors or other field specialists. You will need to use your best judgment as to who can provide the best reference for your application. References may come from supervisors or employers. We recommend trying to obtain as many letters as possible from people who meet our guidelines, but, ultimately, you can submit a reference letter from anyone that you wish.
- Do not use reference letters from university placement services. Fulbright reference writers must address the specific issues that we ask about in the Instructions for Referees. These issues are related to the goals of the Fulbright Program and references that address them will be more beneficial to an application. Letters from a placement service will be general and will not be an asset to an application.
- If you have attended more than one academic institution, references may be included from professors at the prior institutions.
Step 2: Ask the person to be a referee It is advisable to ask your prospective referees well in advance of the application deadline if they will prepare a reference for you. - Provide them with a copy or summary of your grant project or the ETA program and a copy of the Instructions for Referees for the type of grant for which you are applying.
- Discuss your project or grant activity with the referee. Referees should also indicate their belief as to the merit or validity of the project itself.
- Request that referees submit the references electronically. In the online application, go to Step E: References/Report. From there, you can register up to three referees and one Foreign Language Evaluator. Once registered, the referee/evaluator will receive an email with a login and instructions on how to complete the form.
- Remind them that they need to print the hard copy version of the reference, sign it, and give it to you in a sealed envelope, signed across the back flap. After the referee submits the letter electronically, they can still access it to print, but they can not edit it.
- Give them a self-addressed, stamped envelope for them to return the reference to you.
Step 3: Instructions for Registering Referees
In the Fulbright Online Application System, you can register your referees and language evaluator so that they can submit the reference or language evaluation electronically. Encourage your referees to submit this document online. There are advantages to you if they do so. At several stages of the application process, reviewers only have access to the Online Application and electronically submitted materials. Steps for handling your references when using the Online Application: - Name your referees in question 35 of the online application (Step B: Application Form). This information will print on your application.
- Register your referees. This will allow them to complete the form online and have it submitted with your online application. Click the “Register Referee/Evaluator” button in Step E. Reference/Evaluation and complete contact information for each referee. Referees may complete and submit references at any time prior to the October 19 application deadline.
- Make sure that your referee knows that you have registered them for online submission of the reference. Encourage them to submit the reference online. Be sure to remind them that you will need a hard copy of the reference in a sealed envelope with their signature on the back flap to submit with your application.
- To facilitate receiving the hard copy of the reference, provide the referee with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
- Check the status of your references frequently. You may view the status of the references from registered referees at any time by logging into the online application and going to Step E: Reference/Evaluation. You will be informed by email when a registered referee submits an online reference on your behalf.
- If the referee did not receive the registration email or loses their login information, contact the Technical Support via email from the Online Application.
- If the referee cannot or does not submit a reference online, you can delete the referee and register a new referee.
You will note that the referees are registered based on the type of grant for which you are applying—Study/Research or ETA. It is important that you take care and register the referee for the correct form. If a referee cannot or will not submit a reference electronically, we will accept references in hard copy. Remember, whether completed online or only in hard copy format, be sure to tell your referees they will be asked to complete a fill-in form and may not submit a standard reference letter.
Step 4: Submitting the References If the referees are completing the references online, make sure that they have SUBMITTED it electronically. See #5 in Step 3. You will collect or receive from the referee a hard copy of the reference in a sealed envelope with the referee’s signature across the back. If you are an enrolled student, give the references to your FPA by the campus deadline date. Note that FPAs may request that campus referees send the referees directly to them, the FPA. This is acceptable. The FPA will then send the references to IIE with the student’s complete application packet. If you are applying At-Large, submit the references, in their sealed envelopes to IIE with the complete application packet. |
