Applications are reviewed holistically against the requirements set forth by the host country and the preferences of the program. 

Initial screening of applications  for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards are made based on the below three categories:

• Project Proposal & Grant Purpose: 
  • Quality and feasibility of the proposal as described in the Statement of Grant Purpose.
  • For Academic Study/Research applications: Plan, timeline, and methodology of proposed project; appropriate in-country affiliation and resources; strong connection between proposed project and host country
• Qualifications:
  • Academic and/or professional record.
  • Relevant training, accomplishments, and extracurricular activities
  • Language preparation (if required by host country or for project)
• Contribution to the Fulbright Mission & Personal Attributes:
  • Preference factors as established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) and the Fulbright Commissions/Foundations.
  • Extent to which the candidate and the project will help to advance the Fulbright aim of promoting mutual understanding among nations through engagement in the host community, among other activities. 
  • Desirability of achieving wide institutional and geographic distribution.
• Additional selection factors:
  • Ability of the supervising agencies abroad to arrange/confirm supervision and facilitate research clearance, if necessary.
  • Requirements of the program in individual countries. In some countries, advanced-degree candidates are preferred, and in some countries, certain fields of study are not recommended.
    • Refer to the award description before beginning an application to understand the requirements of your chosen award and confirm with IIE if you do not meet country specifications. 

Note: It is the policy of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board that reasons for non-recommendation and non-selection of applications are not given.

Overview of the Selection Timeline

After the national deadline, submitted applications move through the following stages of the selection process:

• Technical Review: All applications are screened for eligibility and completeness by IIE staff before being moved forward to the National Screening Committee. Application that are deemed ineligible or do not meet the award requirements for their host country are not moved forward in the selection process.
• National Screening Committee (NSC): In November and December, applications are reviewed by National Screening Committee panels. Reviewers on the NSC are full-time faculty members of U.S. institutions who have discipline or region-specific experience. Reviewers read and rate applications ahead of a full-day meeting, where they discuss applications and make recommendations for further consideration by the host country.
• Host Country Review & FFSB Approval: By the end of January, recommended semi-finalists are forwarded on to the Fulbright Commissions or Posts in the host countries for final selection. The host country review process may include applicant interviews, requests for additional application materials, or other action items depending on the country’s requirements and review process.
  • All selected applications are approved by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board prior to the release of final decisions.
  • IIE staff are unable to comment or advise on the host country selection process.

The following apply to all types of Fulbright U.S. Student Awards:

Departure from the United States - Departure dates usually correspond to the academic calendar of the host country. Approximate dates of the academic years in the various countries can be found in the Award Descriptions for each country. Requirements for attendance at orientation programs in the host country, where applicable, are indicated in the Award Descriptions.

Grant period - In most cases, award dates must correspond to the academic calendar of the host country. Exceptions may be made for grants with full-time research projects. In any case, grants must begin by March 31, 2026 for the 2025-2026 academic year. Research applicants are expected to provide a feasible timeline for their project in the Statement of Grant Purpose.