Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Fulbright U.S. Student ProgramCampus Deadline:
Monday, September 8, 2025
Who Should Apply?:
Seniors, graduate students, UMass Amherst alumni, U.S. citizens
- Get started by filling out the undergraduate student/alumni Fulbright Pre-Application.
- Complete the pre-application anytime in the Spring semester (on rolling basis) before June 1 to have access to the full range of application support for current undergraduate students, which includes workshops, advising, and individual application feedback.
- Students who do not submit this pre-application by the June 1 deadline can still apply but may not be eligible for application development support or feedback on application essays.
Are you a current UMass graduate student? Contact the Office of Professional Development for information on application support for these individuals.
What It's For:
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program supports research, English teaching abroad, or graduate study in more than 140 countries worldwide. Grant lengths and dates vary by award. Please consult the specific award description for details on opportunities in a specific country.
Fields of Study:
Any field
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides an unparalleled opportunity to teach, study, and conduct research in over 140 countries worldwide. As envisioned by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright, the program is designed to:
- promote mutual understanding through a commitment to the free flow of ideas and people across national boundaries,
- expand, through this understanding, the boundaries of human wisdom, empathy and perception,
- create true and lasting world peace through cooperation in constructive activities among people of different nations.
Eligibility:
- Seniors, recent graduates, current graduate students, or alumni
- U.S. citizenship required
- Language proficiency in non-English-speaking countries commensurate with the proposed project (varies by country and grant type)
Types of grants:
- Study/Research grants, which allow recipients to conduct independent research or study in over 140 countries. Applicants develop an independent project proposal, which may include university coursework, independent library, lab, or field research, or special projects in the social sciences, life sciences, or visual and performing arts. Applicants must identify a contact in their host country and procure a letter stating that he or she will serve as the applicant's institutional affiliation during the student's stay. In the majority of cases, students applying for study/research grants do so to fund a research experience. Students applying for study/research grants in the creative and performing arts must submit supplementary materials in addition to their application.
- English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) grants are available in select countries and provide recipients with the opportunity to teach English as a second language to students from elementary school through university level, depending on the country. ETAs serve as supplemental instructors in a classroom, generally providing conversation practice and teaching American culture for approximately 20 hours per week. Unlike research/study grants, for which an applicant must identify a specific location within the host country, ETAs simply apply to a country, and those awarded grants are assigned a location based on need. Applicants cannot request specific assignments.
Candidate Profile:
General
- Strong academic record
- Compelling rationale for study, research, or teaching in your chosen country
- Demonstrated ability and desire to foster mutual understanding and cultural exchange
- Explanation of how the Fulbright experience will support your future goals
- Demonstrated preparation, maturity, and adaptability
- Knowledge of your host country, including its language and culture
Relative to Study/Research Grants
- Feasible project proposal with clear purpose, methodology, and timeline
- Previous research experience and demonstrated preparation for proposed project
- Description of the significance and/or innovation of your research/study
Relative to ETAs
- Previous teaching/instruction experience (e.g., mentoring, tutoring, classroom teaching, or related experiences)
- Description of the pedagogical theory and/or practices you will bring to a classroom in your host country
- Well-developed, specific ideas for engaging second-language learners
Application Components:
- Online application
- Statement of Grant Purpose essay (2 pages)
- Personal Statement (1 page)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official transcript (or transcripts)
- Letter of affiliation (for research grant applicants) from an appropriate contact in your host country (e.g., professor, lab or archive director, etc.)
- Foreign language forms (when specified on your host country's profile page)
- Supplementary materials (for research/study grant applicants in the creative and performing arts)
Click here for more Fulbright application resources ...
Application Procedure:
All applicants currently enrolled at a university MUST be reviewed and nominated by their university.
Detailed campus application information is provided directly to applicants once they submit their Fulbright Pre-Application.
Fulbright Application Timeline
Fulbright Application Timeline- SUBMIT your Fulbright Campus Pre-Application by June 1.
- CHOOSE your host country carefully after reading the country specifics and preferred candidate profiles online.
- CREATE a project statement following Fulbright proposal guidelines.
- CONSULT faculty, at least one with discipline-specific expertise and one with country specific knowledge.
- Whether applying for an ETA or study/research grant, create a plan for culturally engaging with your host country.
- DEVELOP a personal statement. What in your personal and academic life has led you to your proposed plan of study in your proposed country?
- IDENTIFY three faculty members to serve as references. Provide them with a copy of your essays. All three should be able to address your project.
- OBTAIN letters of affiliation if required for your project. Start your search now.
- TEST your language proficiency. Plan to upgrade your proficiency level as much as possible before your departure.
Timeline
MARCH — APRIL — MAY
- Attend campus information sessions and schedule individual meetings with ONSA advisors. Choose your host country, select project type, and determine your language proficiency.
MAY — JUNE
- Contact faculty members who have expertise in your research area to discuss your project. Research country affiliations.
- June 1: Submit your Fulbright Campus Pre-Application.
- By the end of June, write your first draft of project proposal and personal statement. Discuss and review your drafts with ONSA advisors.
JULY
- Create an online application account via the Fulbright national website. You can do this step at any time after June 1.
- Continue improving your draft of project proposal and personal statement. Discuss and review your drafts with faculty and mentors in your department.
- Establish your country affiliation.
- Secure commitment for letters of recommendation from three faculty members. Request official transcripts.
- Continue to review your drafts with ONSA advisors and the UMass Amherst Writing Center.
AUGUST
- Continue to review your drafts with ONSA advisors, your recommenders, and the UMass Amherst Writing Center.
- Ask three faculty members to write letters of recommendation for you. These letters are due by September 8th on the Fulbright application portal. Supply your recommenders with a copy of your project proposal, personal statement and any other relevant materials.
- Obtain your affiliation letter.
- Review final application procedures with ONSA advisor.
SEPTEMBER
- September 8: Submit your completed Fulbright application via Fulbright's online application portal. Letters of recommendation must be submitted by September 8 as well.
JANUARY
- Notification from the US Fulbright Commission as to whether your application has been selected to be forwarded to the country Fulbright Commission.
MARCH — JUNE
- Award notification from the country Fulbright Commission.
Fulbright Deadlines and Application Support
Fulbright Deadlines and Application SupportONSA supports Fulbright undergraduate students and alumni applicants who pre-apply by June 1 to prepare a competitive application and stay on track to complete all the applications steps by the September 8 campus deadline. ONSA offers summer workshops, advising, drop-in office hours, and feedback on application essays to keep applicants motivated -- join us to get your Fulbright journey off to a strong start!
Are you a current UMass graduate student? Contact the Office of Professional Development for information on application support for these individuals.
Fulbright Walk-in Advising, in person, no appointment:
- April 10, 10-11: 30 AM, CHC 206
- April 11, 10 -11:30 AM, CHC 313
- April 17, 3-4:30 PM, CHC 206
- April 24, 10-11:30 AM, CHC 206
- April 30, 2-3 PM, CHC 313
- May 1, 10-11:30 AM, CHC 206
- May 8, 3-4:30 PM, CHC 206
The Zoom link will be sent to all June 1 pre-applicants for all the sessions below:
- How to Write a Competitive Fulbright Application, June 4, 12-12:45 PM, virtual; (Must have submitted the June 1 pre-application to participate)
- How to Write a Competitive Fulbright Application, June 5, 11-11:45 PM, virtual; (Must have submitted the June 1 pre-application to participate)
- How to Write a Competitive Fulbright Application, June 6, 2-2:45 PM, virtual; (Must have submitted the June 1 pre-application to participate)
- Fulbright Focus Group on Letters of Recommendation: June 16, 12-12:45 PM, virtual
- Fulbright Focus Group on Foreign Language Evaluation, June 19, 12-12:45 PM, virtual
- Fulbright Focus Group on Letters of Affiliation, June 23, 12-12:45 PM, virtual
Fulbright Virtual Chats with ONSA advisors from June 23 until August 25 (bi-weekly Chat Sessions with ONSA advisors; schedule and the Zoom link will be provided to those who pre-applied by June 1)
Fulbright Essay Review Dates: In order to be nominated by ONSA, Fulbright pre-applicants must send their drafts for review to onsa [at] honors [dot] umass [dot] edu (onsa[at]honors[dot]umass[dot]edu) following this schedule:
- Deadline to submit personal statement: July 10
- Deadline to submit your ETA statement of grant purpose: August 4
- Deadline to submit your revised drafts of both essays for all applicants: August 20
SEPTEMBER 8: CAMPUS ENDORSEMENT DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICANTS, NO EXCEPTIONS
About the Fulbright
- Recorded Webinars
- Research the type of award you hope to pursue and in which country.
- Learn more about eligibility and the application components for Fulbright.
Submit your Fulbright Campus Pre-Application
Start your application via Fulbright's online application portal
Fulbright Application Timeline