Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Fulbright Program Top ProducerThe Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers over 2,000 opportunities for students to study, research, or teach abroad while promoting cross-cultural interaction and mutual understanding. Candidates looking to study or conduct research abroad will need to develop an independent program proposal and secure an in-country affiliation. Grants will fund project and living expenses for an 8-12 month period.

Students apply to a specific country for a specific proposal. You may only apply to one country to do one thing. Thus, the first step is to select where you'd like to go and what you plan to do there. Each country has their own number of grants, selection criteria, and eligibility qualifications. You should carefully review the requirements for your country of interest! Country descriptions are available on the Fulbright website.

Students planning to apply for the 2022-2023 grant cycle must file a registration form by June 1, 2021. UR’s Campus Fulbright Deadline for the 2022-2023 application cycle is 8:00 a.m. on August 23, 2021.

Fulbright Deadlines:

  • Attend an information session - January-May 2021
  • Complete an advising appointment - March-May 2021
    • Sign up for an individual advising appointment here. Advising appointments should be scheduled after attending an online info session.
  • Attend a workshop - May-June 2021
    • Essay Basics: Monday, May 17, 5-6pm ET -- Register here
    • Personal Statement: Friday, May 21, 12-1pm ET -- Register here
    • Statement of Grant Purpose for ETAs: Tuesday, May 25, 5-6pm ET -- Register here
    • Personal Statement: Thursday, May 27, 6-7pm ET -- Register here
    • Statement of Grant Purpose for Study/Research: Thursday, June 3, 5-6pm ET -- Register here
    • Personal Statement: Friday, June 4, 12-1pm ET -- Register here
    • Statement of Grant Purpose for ETAs: Tuesdsay, June 8, 5:30-6:30pm ET -- Register here
    • Peer Review: Thursday, June 10, 5:30-7pm ET -- Register here
    • Securing Strong References: Wednesday, June 16, 5:30-6:30pm ET -- Register here
    • Peer Review: Wednesday, June 23, 6-7:30pm ET -- Register here
    • Peer Review: Thursday, July 8, 5:30-7pm ET -- Register here
    • Peer Review: Wednesday, July 21, 6-7:30pm ET -- Register here
    • Peer Review: Thursday, August 5, 5:30-7pm ET -- Register here
  • File a registration form with a resume by June 1, 2021
  • Attend virtual workshops hosted by fellowship advisors - Summer 2021
  • Meet periodic draft deadlines set by fellowship advisors - Summer 2021
  • Complete application due by 8:00 a.m. on August 23, 2021
  • Campus Evaluation Process – September 2021
  • National Deadline – October 2021

Types of Grants

The Fulbright awards two main types of grants: Study/Research Awards and English Teaching
Assistantships.

Study/Research Awards allow recipients to spend 8-12 months in a foreign country conducting independent research or studying at an academic institution.

English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) awards provide opportunities to spend 8-12 months in a foreign country teaching English language and conversation classes.

  • ETAs are only available in select countries and teach students from elementary school through the college level, depending on location (see country descriptions for specifics)
  • ETAs are not expected to be the primary English instructor in their classrooms; they serve as supplemental instructors focusing on teaching American culture and providing conversation practice with a native speaker
  • More specifics on the ETA program and available countries can be found here
  • The Fulbright also offers a handful of specialty grants, including field-specific awards, Fulbright mtvU, and Fulbright Nat Geo. More information on these can be found here

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Fulbright, students must meet the minimum requirements:

  • Have a baccalaureate degree by the start of the grant (usually graduating seniors or recent alumni)
  • Be a U.S. citizen at the time of application
  • Possess language skills commensurate with proposed project
  • Strong academic record (at least a 3.0)

To be competitive for the Fulbright, students will need to demonstrate:

  • Previous research experience (research grants)
  • Previous teaching/instruction experience (ETAs)
  • Strong letters of recommendation
  • Projects that correspond with educational/professional goals
  • Compelling reason to conduct project abroad in specific country
  • Interest in serving as a cultural ambassador abroad

Application

The Office of Scholars & Fellowships is here to help all eligible students with the application process. Our office will provide you feedback on your application materials, especially the two application essays; applicants should be prepared to revise these essays multiple times. For students applying for a research proposal, assistance from a faculty member within your discipline is also critical.

Students interested in applying must attend an information session and complete the Fulbright Registration Form by June 1, 2021. This will start you on the application path. If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss the Fulbright program, please call or email the Office of Scholars & Fellowship at (804) 662-3060.

How to Apply

For the 2022-2023 grant cycle, current UR students MUST apply through the Office of Scholars & Fellowships. Students must attend an information session, register online, and meet the August 23, 2021 campus deadline.

Recent alumni not enrolled in graduate studies may apply through UR and complete the campus evaluation process, or apply directly to the Fulbright "At-large." For alumni applying through UR, applicants must attend an information session in person or remotely, register online, and meet the August 23, 2021 campus deadline.

Past Fulbright U.S. Student Program Recipients

Emily Churchill, English Teaching Assistantship, Mexico, 2020

Ella Reed, Fulbright Community-Based Combined Award, Austria, 2020

Gabriela Telepman, Fulbright-Garcia Robles Binational Internship Program, Mexico, 2020

Mehreen Usman, English Teaching Assistantship, Malaysia, 2020

Justine Guan, English Teaching Assistantship, Kazakhstan, 2019

Griffin Trau, English Teaching Assistantship, Czech Republic, 2019

Emily Landon, English Teaching Assistantship, Tajikistan, 2019

Thomas Vanderbeek, English Teaching Assistantship, Germany, 2019

Racquel Francis, English Teaching Assistantship, Colombia, 2018

Jack Goodin, Research/Study: Ecology, Uruguay, 2018

Tim Gruber, English Teaching Assistantship, Malaysia, 2018

Rocío Posada-Castañeda, English Teaching Assistantship, Mexico, 2018

Gabrielle Robinson, English Teaching Assistantship, Panama, 2018

Soleil Shah, Research/Study: London School of Economics Award - Political Science, United Kingdom, 2018

Jackie Sirc, Research/Study: Political Science, Switzerland, 2018

Jessica Weaver, English Teaching Assistantship: Germany, 2018

Jacquelyn Pearlmutter, English Teaching Assistantship, Brazil, 2017

Ryan McEvoy, English Teaching Assistantship, Germany, 2017

Taylor Johnson, English Teaching Assistantship, Ukraine, 2017

Klarabelle Celine Ang, English Teaching Assistantship, Morocco, 2016

Dane Michael Harrison, Research/Study: Journalism, Slovenia, 2015

Kimberlee Maria Laney, English Teaching Assistantship, Kazakhstan, 2015

Gwendolyn Carrie Setterberg, English Teaching Assistantship, Argentina, 2015

Aleah Sterman Goldin, Research/Study: Interdisciplinary Studies, Mongolia, 2013

Nabila Rahman, English Teaching Assistantship, Malaysia, 2012

Jennifer Loughnane, English Teaching Assistantship, Indonesia, 2011

Nathan Bullock, Research/Study: Geography, Singapore, 2010

Rebecca Stewart, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea, 2010

Kyle A. Bell English Teaching Assistantship Spain 2009

John C. Calhoun, English Teaching Assistantship, Taiwan, 2009

Aaron C. Daugherty, English Teaching Assistantship. Indonesia, 2009

Jill E. Eisenberg, English Teaching Assistantship, Taiwan, 2009

Lauren M. Grewe, English Teaching Assistantship, Bangladesh, 2009

Kate F. Simma, English Teaching Assistantship, Peru, 2009

Emily C. Jenchura, Research/Study: Psychology, Trinidad & Tobago, 2008

Kara D. Schultz, Research/Study: History, Spain, 2008

Katelyn P. Reighard, Research/Study: Chemistry, Israel, 2008

Tori E. Foster, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea, 2008

Laurie P. Knies, English Teaching Assistantship, Hong Kong, 2008

Genevieve C. Goulding, Research/Study: International Relations, France, 2007

Jessica V. Loman, English Teaching Assistantship, Indonesia, 2007

Kathleen B. McKinney, English Teaching Assistantship, Germany, 2007

Nina Bhattacharyya, Research/Study: Biology, Trinidad & Tobago, 2006

Anne D. Johnson, English Teaching Assistantship, Spain, 2006

Caroline A. Weist, Research/Study: Drama, Germany, 2005

Anne M. Schwalbe, English Teaching Assistantship, Germany, 2005

Kevin C. Lingerfelt, Research/Study: Information Sciences & Systems, Ukraine, 2004

Ian M. Billard, Research/Study: East Asian/Pacific/Australian Studies, China, 2004

Michael G. Goff, English Teaching Assistantship, Germany, 2004

Joshua W. Walker, Research/Study: Middle Eastern Studies, Turkey, 2003

Danielle L. Joyce, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea, 2001

Erin M. Fleming, Research/Study: Business and Economics, Mexico, 1999

Craig M. Fagan, Research/Study: Transportation, Argentina, 1997

Jason B. Meyler, Research/Study: Latin American Languages & Literature, Colombia, 1997

Daniel J. Gertsacov, Research/Study: Economic Development, Chile, 1997

Jonathan D. Meade, Research/Study: Environmental Studies, Canada, 1996

Laly L. Lichtenfeld, Research/Study: Biology, Kenya, 1996

Jennifer L. Welsh, Research/Study: Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Germany, 1995

Mary A. Crowe, Research/Study: Economics, Germany, 1994

Robert Goodman, Research/Study: History, Austria, 1991

Hanson Peiffer, English Teaching Assistantship West Germany, 1990

Ann C. Bennighof, Research/Study: African Languages and Literatures, Cameroon, 1977

Gregory N. Daugherty, Research/Study: Classical Languages and Literature, Italy, 1970

Leonard J. Greenspoon, Research/Study: Italian Language and Literature, Italy, 1967