Fulbright Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide. The program currently awards approximately 2,000 grants annually in all fields of study and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide.
About
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs. A candidate will submit a Statement of Grant Purpose defining activities to take place during one academic year in a participating country outside the U.S.
During their grants, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Through engagement in the community, the individual will interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding.
Grant lengths and dates vary by country.
Visit the Fulbright Alumni Ambassador page to learn more about the opportunity from those who have done it.
Eligibility
See the general eligibility requirements below:
- Citizens or nationals of the United States of America at the time of application. Permanent residents are not eligible.
- Conferred bachelor’s degree or equivalent before the start of the grant.
- In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement.
- Applicants must meet the language requirements of the award to which they are applying and demonstrate sufficient competency to complete their project and adjust to life in the host country.
Application Process
All application components are submitted online through the Fulbright Portal. Applicants do not submit anything directly to UNC Charlotte or EA.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with Brad Sekulich, Director of UNC Charlotte Education Abroad and UNC Charlotte’s Fulbright Program Advisor (FPA). Email for an appointment. Students should thoroughly read the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website to make the most of this meeting.
Applications submitted by the campus deadline (August 15, 2023 by 5:00pm Eastern) will be reviewed by the campus Fulbright U.S. Student Program Committee who will then interview the applicant. This interview offers additional guidance to applicants so they will have sufficient time to hone their applications before the national deadline in October.
Students who do not meet the campus deadline may still submit their application through the Fulbright portal by the national deadline (October 10, 2023 at 5:00pm Eastern) to be considered for a Fulbright award.