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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.

Global Resources:

Health

Health is a major concern when traveling and living abroad. The processes of ensuring your health during your Fulbright grant start before you leave the United States. Adequate preparation before you leave can help prevent health emergencies during your Fulbright exchange.

Prior to departing, you should:

  • Complete the medical clearance form with your physician, and send to IIE or CIES;
  • Discuss the medical risks of traveling outside the U.S. with your doctor and how best to plan for your health care during your time abroad, particularly if you have a pre-existing condition requiring regular monitoring or treatment;
  • Get inoculations to protect yourself and your dependents from infectious diseases endemic in your host country;
  • Plan how you will obtain prescription medications in your host country;
  • Contact your personal health insurance provider to see what services will and will not be covered while abroad; and
  • Purchase travel or supplementary insurance that will cover medical evacuation, particularly if you have a pre-existing condition or accompanying dependents.

We strongly encourage you to watch the Global Health and Safety video linked here which details key steps that Fulbrighters can take to ensure a successful program experience from the health and safety perspective.  Three core principles are covered in this video: preparation and mindset; maintenance of health and safety while abroad, and emergency management.

Review the items below to further prepare yourself for a safe and healthy Fulbright experience.

Information to Review

Medical Clearance

Each Fulbright grantee is required to pass a medical clearance, which includes a medical report from the grantee’s physician. In order to meet this obligation, please work with your physician to complete and submit to IIE and CIES your completed medical forms. IIE and CIES will then forward the forms to the U.S. Department of State-designated physician for review and will notify you once clearance has been received. Medical clearance for accompanying dependents is not required.

Your physician should carefully review the medical form instructions on testing to ensure that appropriate medical tests are performed. Apprise your physician of health requirements of your host country and host institution(s), and health-related conditions in your grant country, such as altitude, climate, or air pollution, so that she or he will be able to evaluate their impact on your health. Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for specific vaccination information and other health information pertinent to the country of your Fulbright grant.

In order to avoid medical problems while abroad, your physician should precisely note on your medical form any pre-existing conditions, special medications, physical care or health-related equipment that you require. Medical facilities in your host country may be very different than those in the United States. If the facilities in your host country are inadequate for your medical condition, medical clearance is not recommended.

IIE and CIES will return the original medical form and notice of clearance to you. Please bring the medical form with you to your host country to serve as a medical history should you require care while abroad. 

Additional information for Students can be found on the Fulbright Finalist Resources website. Additional information for Scholars can be found on the password-protected CIES grantee website.

Grantee Health Care Benefit Program: Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE)

The Fulbright Program provides a health benefit plan (Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges/ ASPE) for the duration of the program. ASPE does not provide comprehensive insurance coverage, and it does not cover pre-existing conditions or personal travel outside of the grantee's country of assignment. ASPE is intended only to serve as supplemental coverage while in the country of assignment. ASPE is administered by Seven Corners. You can review ASPE coverage here: https://www.sevencorners.com/gov/usdos.

ASPE does not satisfy the minimum essential health coverage under the “individual shared responsibility” requirement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). It is the grantee’s responsibility to comply with the requirements of the PPACA. For more information and a complete list of exemptions, please visit: https://www.healthcare.gov.

For grantees to Embassy countries, IIE will email you information on accessing your ASPE identification card prior to your departure. For grantees to Commission countries, the Commission will issue your ASPE identification card prior to or upon your arrival.

It is strongly recommended, but not required, that grantees have or purchase comprehensive health insurance with international coverage during the program. Not all PPACA-compliant health insurance policies provide international coverage.

For details about ASPE, please review the booklet entitled Your ASPE Guide to Health Care Coverage. Read the guide thoroughly before beginning your grant to familiarize yourself with ASPE procedures, benefits and exclusions, and review the health care provider information on the Seven Corners website.

ASPE Quick Reference Guide - Know Before You Go

ASPE Administrator
Seven Corners, Inc.
P.O. Box 3724
Carmel, Indiana 46082-3724 USA
Email: usdosinfo@sevencorners.com
Website: http://usdos.sevencorners.com
Phone: 800-461-0430 to call toll free in the United States
+1 317-818-2867 to call collect from outside the United States

ASPE ASSIST

ASPE Assist is a benefit for all grantees in the Fulbright U.S. Student and Scholar Program while they are on their grants in their host countries. ASPE Assist is designed to augment the health benefits that are concurrently provided through ASPE. The ASPE Assist service is operated by The ANVIL Group.

ASPE Assist is accessible 24 hours a day and is available to provide support to Fulbright U.S. Students in urgent and non-urgent situations. ASPE Assist services include mental health advice and crisis support, and ASPE Assist can provide advice to grantees when they feel at risk or vulnerable, and can provide support to those who have experienced a traumatic incident of discrimination or harassment. The medical staff responding to grantee calls are trained to handle serious situations.

Phone: +1-833-963-1269
Worldwide: +44-20-3859-4463
Email: Anvil_aspesupport@everbridge.com

When contacting ASPE Assist for the first time, please be prepared to provide your full name and date of birth, ID card number, program name (Fulbright U.S. Student Program) and host country. This information will allow ANVIL staff to verify your status as a U.S. Fulbright grantee with the ASPE Health Benefits Plan.

Staying Healthy While Abroad

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Survival Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel includes tips on planning for a healthy trip, preparing for potential health emergencies while abroad, and preventing illness during your trip.

The U.S. Department of State maintains a page on Travelers with Special Considerations that includes special pages for student travelers, travelers with disabilities, and older travelers.

If you have a health emergency while abroad, contact the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your host country, and Seven Corners.

Sources of Health Information for Travelers

​​​​Mental Health

Your mental health is just as important as your physical well-being while abroad. The stress of a new environment can amplify existing mental conditions. Homesickness, jet lag, and culture shock can lead even the most well-traveled people to feel overwhelmed or depressed. For more information, download Staying Mentally Healthy While Abroad.

Traveling with a Disability

If you have a disability (or are traveling with a spouse or child with a disability), the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) maintains an extensive collection of resources for those interested in an international exchange experience, including preparing for departure, travel tips, and living abroad. You should also contact the Public Affairs Office at the U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission in your host country for more information and resources. Please also connect with your program officer at IIE or CIES so they can be prepared to help make reasonable accommodations for your travel.