“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 1,900 grants annually in all fields of study. Fulbright U.S. Student alumni populate a range of professions and include ambassadors, members of Congress, judges, heads of corporations, university presidents, journalists, artists, professors, and teachers.” – The Fulbright Website
Benefits
- Applicants are able to design their own program either a research project in the host country or teaching English in the host country along with a community or research projects that benefits the host community.
- Applicants can apply to more than 140 countries
For more information on the available countries and the requirements for each country please visit http://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants
Eligibility
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application
- Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent before the beginning date of the grant. In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional study and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement.
- Applicants should have sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken language of the host country to communicate with the people and to carry out the proposed study/research.
- Applicants must be in good health.
Application Process
This is an extremely competitive application process and it is important that applicants work with the Fulbright Advisor early and often to produce a quality application. Please speak with the Fulbright Advisor about what is involved and the deadlines for the Fulbright application.
Fulbright Program Advisor – Aurora Margarita-Goldkamp, amargaritagoldkamp@smcm.edu, 240-895-4202
Timeline and Deadline For Campus Fulbright Support
2025-6 Competition Opens – March 30th, 2024
Use this time from March through June to meet with the Fulbright Program Advisor on campus (the Director of International Education at SMCM) and articulate a plan and specific Fulbright opportunity of interest. During this period, essays should be drafted.
Optional Step: On-Campus First Draft Essay Submissions – June 15th, 2024
Share your essay drafts directly with the Fulbright Program Advisor for review if you would like assistance. Campus Committee Faculty may also be able to give some feedback and tips for revision at this time. This step is not mandatory, but is important for increased chances of success as Fulbright is a competitive and prestigious award.
On Campus Deadline – July 15th, 2024
Submit applications in full, including polished essays and recommendations directly to the Fulbright portal by this date. The Fulbright Program Advisor on campus will have access to each candidate’s application materials and will share them with the Campus Committee in preparation for campus interviews. Candidates will have a chance to re-submit final applications later to the Fulbright Portal.
On-Campus or Zoom Interview – August and early September 2024
All candidates who have submitted their complete applications to the Fulbright Portal by July 15th will be given an interview with the Campus Committee in early August. Interviews may be held online. Based on the interview and the state of the candidate’s application materials at this time, the Campus Committee members give final feedback to the candidate and can choose to submit a recommendation form to Fulbright. At this time, candidates have another chance to revise their application and re-submit by the National Deadline.
National Deadline – October 10th, 2024
We recommend submitting before October 9th to avoid any technical difficulties with submission. All candidates must submit or re-submit final drafts of their application materials on the Fulbright portal by this date for consideration.