How to Apply

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program awards approximately 4,000 grants annually to foreign students to study for a Master’s or Doctorate degree and conduct research on campuses across the United States. 

Award Benefits Include:

• J-1 visa sponsorship 
• Funding support
• Health benefit plan
• Enrichment activities

Eligibility Requirments:

• Reside in the country of nomination at the time of application. 
• At the time of program start date, possess the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree with a good academic record. 
• Are fluent in English, as demonstrated by a recommended recent score of no less than 550 (Paper Based TOEFL), 79-80 (Internet Based TOEFL - IBT), or 6.5(Overall Score International English Language Testing System - IELTS); test scores can be submitted to IIE by indicating the institutional code 2326 on the day of the test .
• Do not hold U.S. citizenship; dual citizens are not eligible for the program participation.
• Additional eligibility requirements differ by country of citizenship. Please use the drop-down menu below to find information about the Fulbright Program in your home country, including eligibility requirements and application guidelines. 

Placement types for the Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Program eligibility, U.S. university admission & placement, and selection procedures vary widely by country. You may find information about the Fulbright Program in your home country, including eligibility requirements and application guidelines by finding your country in the drop-down below.

Please discuss the U.S. university admission and placement approach with the Fulbright office in your home country.

In the United States, the Institute of International Education (IIE) as well as AMIDEAST administer the Fulbright Foreign Student Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. 

IIE administers the Foreign Fulbright Program for Africa, Eurasia, Europe, East Asia and Pacific, South and Central Asia, part of the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere. IIE is the longest running administrative agency and has been administering the program since its inception in 1946. AMIDEAST administers the Fulbright Foreign Student Program for most of the Middle East and North Africa.

There are two placement models for IIE’s Fulbright Foreign Student Program: IIE-Placement & Self-Placement.

IIE-Placement

IIE Placement:  IIE’s Placement service works to secure degree and non-degree opportunities on behalf of Fulbright candidates. Candidates are required to submit their Fulbright application and provide all supporting documents to their respective Fulbright office per established country/award deadlines. The Placement Team will use the information shared in their Fulbright application to apply to institutions on behalf of each candidate.  The Placement Team will manage admission decisions and negotiate funding.  The Placement Team will accept and decline on behalf of candidates once a final placement decision is made.  The Placement Team is the first point of contact to U.S. institutions during this process and candidates are only in touch directly with U.S. institutions on an as needed basis.

Self-Placement

Candidates apply to universities directly and manage their applications with universities directly. Candidates are responsible to submit materials and test scores per each university deadline and application requirements including any associated fees or deposits. IIE is not involved in the application process for self-placed candidates. Candidates secure their own admission, possible university funding and tuition awards independently.

Note: Students cannot apply for programs with clinical requirements such as dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, nursing. Please note that fields of study such as public health and nursing administration are permitted.