Fulbright U.S. Student applications for 2025-2026 continue to be reviewed as stated on Competition & Selection webpage. Any updates about application status will be communicated to the applicant over email.

2026-2027 Competition Deadline: Tuesday October 7, 2025 at 5 pm Eastern Time

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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Award Benefits

Award Benefits

 

Funding Level: The Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant numbers are subject to the availability of federally-appropriated funds. The U.S. Department of State reserves the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, numbers of awards, terms of agreement, and allowances.


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

  • Accident & Sickness Health Benefits
  • 24/7 support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
  • 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
  • A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to cover to room, board, and incidental costs during the grant period. 

Additional grant benefits for Fulbright U.S. Student grants to Post countries:

  • round-trip transportation to the host country
  • pre-departure and/or in-country orientations

Additional grant benefits for Fulbright U.S. Student grants to Commission countries:

  • please review the website of the appropriate Fulbright Commission as benefits may differ significantly.

Based on award and country, some grants may also include:

  • book and research allowances*
  • mid-term enrichment activities
  • full or partial tuition
  • language study programs

*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.

Grantees may not receive duplicative funding:

  • Fulbright grant benefits may be reduced if they are duplicated by another grant.
  • Grantees may, however, retain those benefits not specifically covered by another grant (e.g. international travel).
  • No deduction will be made from a Fulbright grant for benefits provided by another grant, but not by a Fulbright grant.

All English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) receive an additional grant benefit: 60-hour online TESOL Fundamentals Course

  • This course must be completed prior to the pre-departure orientation in the United States for participants in Post countries or the in-country arrival orientation for participants in Commission countries.
  • Those ETAs who already have TESOL certification or equivalent coursework are exempt from completing this online course.

Renewal or 2nd-year English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) receive an additional grant benefit: 120-hour online course and 20-hour teaching practicum

  • This course must be completed during the grant period.
  • Those ETAs who already have TESOL certification are exempt from completing this course.

Accommodation for Grantees with Disabilities

As part of the pre-departure process, the Fulbright Program has developed a protocol to work with disabled grantees, on a case-by-case basis, as requested, to provide reasonable accommodations to facilitate the success of their exchange experience.

Please review the relevant Award Description for specific details about award benefits.