Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The 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 2026-2027 grant cycle must attend an info session, complete an advising appointment, and register your intent to apply by June 1. If no remaining info sessions work with your schedule, please email fellowships@richmond.edu and we can provide you with a recording.
Students should expect to dedicate time to actively work on applications throughout the summer; drafts will be due approximately every two weeks in June, July, and August. All students must submit by the Campus Deadline of August 25; applicants will then undergo a Campus Committee Evaluation and essay feedback/review will be provided as resources allow.
UR's Campus Fulbright Deadline for the 2025-2026 application cycle is 8:00 a.m. on August 25, 2025.
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Fulbright Dates & Deadlines
- Attend an information session - April-May 2025
- Tuesday April 8, 5-6pm ET, Virtual Register here!
- Wednesday April 16, 4-5pm ET, THC 321 Register here!
- Monday April 21, 4:30-5:30pm ET, THC 202 (Think Tank) Register here!
- Monday May 12, 12-1pm ET, Virtual Register here!
- Complete an advising appointment and Register your intent to apply - June 1
- *Recommended! Priority Review Deadline: July 20
- Applicants who submit all drafts by July 20th will receive two rounds of detailed feedback before the campus deadline.
- Most successful applicants will apply by the priority review deadline
- Complete application due by Campus Deadline: 8:00 a.m. on August 25, 2025
- Campus Evaluation Process – September 2025
- National Deadline – October 7, 2025
- Attend an information session - April-May 2025
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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
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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 3.5)
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
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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 essays; applicants should be prepared to revise their writing 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 an advising appointment by June 1, 2025. This will start you on the application path. If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss the Fulbright program, you can do so here.
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How to Apply
For the 2026-2027 grant cycle, current UR students MUST apply through the Office of Scholars & Fellowships. Students must attend an information session, complete an advising appointment, register for our campus process, and meet the August 25, 2025 campus deadline. Students should be prepared to work on their applications and complete multiple drafts throughout the summer.
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, complete an advising appointment, register for our campus process, and meet the August 25, 2025 campus deadline.
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Past Fulbright U.S. Student Program Recipients
Eli Beech-Brown, Research/Study: Habitat Conservation, Santiago, Chile, 2024
Zazi Halla, English Teaching Assistantship, Taiwan, 2024
Jordan Jones, English Teaching Assistantship, Mexico, 2024
Lillian Tzanev, English Teaching Assistantship, Bulgaria, 2024
Marco Barcenas-Consuelo, English Teaching Assistantship, Portugal, 2023
Isabela Keetley, English Teaching Assistantship, Spain, 2023
Sandra Reyes, English Teaching Assistantship, Colombia, 2023
Cutty Ashley, English Teaching Assistantship, Morocco, 2022
Isabelle Drayer, English Teaching Assistantship, Spain, 2022
Meher Kaur, Research/Study: Development Studies, India, 2022
Alex Pistolesi, English Teaching Assistantship, Spain, 2022
Anna Tartline, English Teaching Assistantship, Mexico, 2022
Sarah Wagner, English Teaching Assistantship, Germany, 2022
Megan Wing, English Teaching Assistantship, Mexico, 2022
Caroline Fernandez, English Teaching Assistantship, South Korea, 2021
Jajsani Roane, English Teaching Assistantship, Netherlands, 2021
Gabriela Telepman, Fulbright-Garcia Robles Binational Business Program, Mexico, 2020
Mehreen Usman, English Teaching Assistantship, Taiwan, 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