Fulbright Grants

For more than 58 years, the U.S. government-sponsored Fulbright U.S. Student Program has provided future American leaders with an unparalleled opportunity to study and conduct research in other nations. Visit the Fulbright U.S. Student Program Web site for more information.

Purpose

Fulbright student grants aim to increase mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchange while serving as a catalyst for long-term leadership development. The grants afford graduating seniors an opportunity to test their abilities, interests and professional plans through a research project and related study abroad or by spending a year teaching English abroad. The U.S. Student Program awards approximately 1,000 grants annually and currently operates in over 140 countries worldwide.

What the grant provides

Full grants provide round-trip international travel, maintenance for one academic year, health and accident insurance and tuition waivers, if applicable. Fulbright travel-only grants are also available to limited countries.

Eligibility

Applicants to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program must be U.S. citizens at the time of application and hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent by the beginning of the grant. In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement. Alumni of the University of Richmond may also apply. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program does not require applicants to be currently enrolled in a college or university, nor are there restrictions as to field of study. Applications from young professionals interested in an international experience are encouraged. Except for those who apply for the English language teaching positions, applicants must have sufficient proficiency in the language of the host country to conduct the proposed study or research. In several countries, only English is required.

Affiliation with a university abroad

It is important to name an institution with which the applicant will be affiliated, and to have a letter of support from that university. The University of Richmond has more than more than 70 university/program affliations around the world; students may wish to consider these and the contacts they made while studying abroad. An advisor in the Office of International Education or the student’s faculty advisor can help in this regard.

Examples of successful proposals

In recent years Richmond graduates have received Fulbright grants for projects in Turkey (Middle Eastern studies), Kenya (conservation biology) and Canada (environmental studies). They have also researched the participation of the private sector in community development in Chile, the government’s role in public transportation in Argentina, and “Textual and Visual Depiction of Colombian Street Children” in Colombia.  To read about the Fulbright experience of some recent Richmond graduates in the Richmond International click here.

Additional information

For a Fulbright application planning timeline, click here. 

The Fulbright brochure and application are available at the Office of International Education and online at the Fulbright website. University of Richmond students and UR alumni may contact campus Fulbright Program Advisor, Dr. Uliana Gabara. To obtain additional information and to reach current or former Fulbright students, contact the Office of International Education at international@richmond.edu. Applications must be submitted in full, to Dr. Gabara by the campus closing date, which is in late September in order to meet the national deadline.

Now is the time to formulate projects and develop plans.

When you return, share your Fulbright experience

...with the University of Richmond:

• Speak to student classes, student interest groups, or arrange to speak with the next group of students preparing to apply to Fulbright (contact the UR Office of Intl. Education)
• Discuss the different educational practices and new teaching techniques which you learned abroad with faculty and staff

...with your professional colleagues (at work or in graduate school, for example):

• Join professional associations
• Participate in conferences at local, regional, and national levels
• Conduct joint research with coworkers/faculty/fellow graduate students at home and abroad
• Publish articles about your Fulbright experience in journals and newsletters

…with your students (if you are teaching while attending graduate school, for example):

• Speak to your class
• Introduce new teaching techniques in your classroom
• Revise course content and develop new course work

...within your home community:

• Speak to students, faculty, and staff about Fulbright at neighboring schools and universities
• Speak to civic groups about your experience abroad
• Get involved with ethnic/cultural organizations or other special interest groups
• Volunteer with international visitor organizations

...within your host community:

• Exchange materials with your host institution or organization
• Remain in contact with your host institution or organization, as well as your friends and colleagues after returning home

...with the United States Department of State, Public Affairs Sections of U.S. Embassies, Fulbright Commissions, and Fulbright cooperating agencies:

• Disseminate information about Fulbright grant opportunities
• Remain in contact with Fulbright staff in the United States and abroad
• Assist with application reviews and candidate interviews
• Participate in orientation programs and enrichment seminars

Other suggestions for sharing your Fulbright experience:

• Join your local Fulbright Alumni Association (Contact the Fulbright Commission or Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy.)
• Form an informal alumni group on campus or in your community
• Develop other exchange programs, such as a student exchange program between your home and host communities

This information was originally compiled by LASPAU.