Fulbright Foreign Student Program: Study, Research or Teach Abroad

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables graduate students, young professionals and artists from abroad to study and conduct research in the United States. The program operates in more than 160 countries worldwide, and approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year. Grants support graduate study, independent research or English teaching positions overseas.

Universities, academic institutions and organizations in 140 countries around the world.

All fields are welcome, including interdisciplinary work. The different award types are listed here.

Students cannot apply for programs with clinical requirements such as dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, nursing. Fields of study such as public health and nursing administration are permitted.

Approximately 4,000 grants annually.

Graduate students, young professionals and artists from abroad (non-U.S. citizens).

Every Fulbright U.S. Student grant carries accident and sickness health benefits, a 24/7 support line for urgent and non-urgent situations, 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government, and a stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. Grantees may use the stipend for room, board and incidental costs during the grant period.

Grant lengths and dates vary by award.

Award benefits include J-1 visa sponsorship, funding support, health benefit plan, and enrichment activities.

• You must be a citizen or national of the United States of America at the time of the application deadline. Permanent residents are not eligible. Check the Award Description for how dual citizenship affects eligibility.
• You must hold a conferred bachelor's degree or equivalent before the grant period starts.
  • In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement. If you are an Arts applicant without a BA, email fbstudent[at]iie.org with your professional experience and educational history to confirm eligibility before you begin an application.
• You must meet the language requirements of the award you apply to and show enough competency to complete your project and adjust to life in the host country.
• You may hold a J.D. at the time of application.
• Doctors of Medicine may receive grants for advanced academic study, but not for internships or residencies. Scholars with an M.D. degree who have completed formal postgraduate training and propose attachment to a hospital or clinic for independent or collaborative research should apply to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Grants shall not authorize activity for which a license to practice medicine or nursing is required. The Fulbright Program cannot authorize proposals for medical research that involves clinical training, patient care or patient contact.

For the Fulbright Foreign Student Program: Reside in the country of nomination at the time of application. At the time of program start date, possess the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree with a good academic record. Be fluent in English, as demonstrated by a recommended recent score of no less than 550 (Paper Based TOEFL), 79-80 (Internet Based TOEFL - IBT), or 6.5 (Overall Score International English Language Testing System - IELTS); test scores can be submitted to IIE by indicating the institutional code 2326 on the day of the test. Do not hold U.S. citizenship; dual citizens are not eligible for the program participation. Additional eligibility requirements differ by country of citizenship.

View the full eligibility requirements.

Applications are submitted online. Eligibility, US university admission and placement, and selection procedures differ widely from country to country. To find eligibility requirements and application guidelines for the Fulbright Program in your home country, pick your country from the dropdown list on the official website.

The application and selection process is administered by binational Fulbright Commissions/Foundations or U.S. Embassies. All Foreign Student and FLTA Program applications are processed by these offices.

There are two placement models: IIE-Placement and Self-Placement. In IIE-Placement, candidates submit their Fulbright application and all supporting documents to their respective Fulbright office per established country/award deadlines; the Placement Team applies to institutions on behalf of each candidate, manages admission decisions and negotiates funding. In Self-Placement, candidates apply to universities directly and manage their applications with universities directly, including submitting materials and test scores per each university deadline and application requirements, including any associated fees or deposits; IIE is not involved in the application process for self-placed candidates.

Visit the official website (link below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.