The 2025-2026 application is now closed. The 2026-2027 competition will open in Spring 2025.
Applications are reviewed holistically against the requirements set forth by the host country and the preferences of the program.
Initial screening of applications for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards are made based on the below three categories:
- Project Proposal & Grant Purpose:
- Quality and feasibility of the proposal as described in the Statement of Grant Purpose.
- For Academic Study/Research applications: Plan, timeline, and methodology of proposed project; appropriate in-country affiliation and resources; strong connection between proposed project and host country
- Qualifications:
- Academic and/or professional record.
- Relevant training, accomplishments, and extracurricular activities
- Language preparation (if required by host country or for project)
- Contribution to the Fulbright Mission & Personal Attributes:
- Preference factors as established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) and the Fulbright Commissions/Foundations.
- Extent to which the candidate and the project will help to advance the Fulbright aim of promoting mutual understanding among nations through engagement in the host community, among other activities.
- Desirability of achieving wide institutional and geographic distribution.
- Additional selection factors:
- Ability of the supervising agencies abroad to arrange/confirm supervision and facilitate research clearance, if necessary.
- Requirements of the program in individual countries. In some countries, advanced-degree candidates are preferred, and in some countries, certain fields of study are not recommended.
- Refer to the award description before beginning an application to understand the requirements of your chosen award and confirm with IIE if you do not meet country specifications.
Note: It is the policy of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board that reasons for non-recommendation and non-selection of applications are not given.
