Fulbright Awards for Study in the US

NOTE: Our eligibility criteria has recently changed. Please see updated information below.

Quick links:

Fulbright (Traditional) Postgraduate Awards
Alistair Cooke Award in Journalism
British Friends of Harvard Business School MBA Awards
Science and Technology PhD Awards NEW!
Fulbright-UK Film Council Film Award NEW!
Fulbright-BSUF Scholarship NEW!
General Selection Criteria
Notes on Placement and IIE

Fulbright Traditional Postgraduate Awards
Offered for Masters or PhD study in any discipline (see separate award categories for Journalism, Film, or for an MBA at Harvard) and at any accredited US university. The award covers up to $40,000 for the first year of study only, health insurance and university application and test fees. Successful candidates will work with the Fulbright Commission and the Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York to identify and apply to the university departments which offer the best academic fit for their purpose. For more information on placement please see below. The 2009-2010 competition is now open.
Application Deadline: Saturday, 31 May 2008.
Click here to apply.

Fulbright Alistair Cooke Award in Journalism
The award is offered for a Masters in Journalism or for specialist study (e.g. Middle Eastern Studies) leading to a career in Journalism at any accredited US university. The award, offered in the first year of study only, is for up to $40,000 plus health insurance and university application and test fees. Successful candidates will work with the Fulbright Commission and the Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York to identify and apply to the university departments which offer the best academic fit for their purpose. For more information on placement please see below.
The 2009-2010 competition is now open.
Application Deadline: Saturday, 31 May 2008.
Click here to apply.

Fulbright British Friends of Harvard Business School MBA Awards
Offered for MBA study at Harvard Business School. Up to 3 awards will be granted and may applied towards Harvard tuition fees for the first year of study only. Applicants for this scholarship can apply for admission to Harvard Business School in the November or January admissions round. After interview with the Fulbright Commission, a shortlist of names will be forwarded to BFHBS and a further interview will be required with the Trustees.

The British Friends of Harvard Business School was set up as a registered charity in 1990 with the specific objective of helping British students to attend the MBA programme of the Harvard Business School. Applicants earning less than £40,000 per year will be given preference, but this should not deter others from applying.

This award is made towards one year of tuition fees only. Loans to cover board and lodging are available from HBS. In certain cases the Fulbright Commission may decide to offer a stipend in addition.
The 2008-2009 competition is now closed. Please check back in June for announcement of the 2009-2010 competition.


International Fulbright Science and Technology PhD Awards
Offered to outstanding foreign students for PhD study at U.S. institutions in science, technology, or engineering. Sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State, the Science and Technology Awards have been designed to be among the most prestigious international scholarships in science and technology. Recipients will be chosen following a rigorous, multi-tiered, merit-based selection process consisting of in-country competition and review, field and discipline merit review by top-level U.S. academic leaders, and nomination by a blue ribbon Advisory Panel. Final selection is made by the Presidentially-appointed Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB). Placement of students will be handled by the Institute of
International Education (IIE). For more information on placement please see below.

Eligible fields include: aeronautics and astronomics/aeronautical engineering, astronomy/planetary sciences, biology, biomedical engineering, chemistry, computer sciences/engineering, energy, engineering (electrical, chemical, civil, mechanical, ocean, and petroleum), environmental science/engineering, geology/earth and atmospheric sciences, information sciences/engineering, materials science/engineering, mathematics, neuroscience/brain and cognitive sciences, oceanography, and physics.

Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from a UK university before the start of the programme. It is highly recommended that the applicant have received his/her bachelor’s degree in the same or a related field for which he/she plans to pursue Ph.D. study.

Science and Technology PhD Award Grant Benefits:
• Activities, tuition and fees;
• A monthly stipend for up to 36 months;
• Book and equipment, research and professional conference allowances;
• J-1 visa sponsorship for up to five years;
• Round-trip airfare from home city to the host institution in the United States;
• Health and accident coverage as per U.S. Government guidelines; and
• Specially tailored enrichment activities.

A complete list of past Science and Technology Award winners and their U.S. university placements can be viewed by clicking here.

Detailed information on the Science and Technology Awards programme, including a list of frequently asked questions, can be viewed by clicking here.

The 2009-2010 competition is now open.
Application Deadline: Saturday, 31 May 2008.
Click here to apply.

Fulbright-UK Film Council Film Award
One award is offered for a Masters in Film Directing, Screenplay, Production, Cinematography or Film Business at any accredited US institution. The award is open to all, but female and ethnic minority applicants are particularly encouraged to apply. The award, offered in the first year of study only, is for up to £35,000 plus health insurance and university application and test fees. Successful candidates will work with the Fulbright Commission and the Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York to identify and apply to the university departments which offer the best academic fit for their purpose. For more information on placement please see below.
The 2009-2010 competition is now open.
Application Deadline: Saturday, 31 May 2008.
Click here to apply.

The Fulbright-BSUF Scholarship
The Fulbright Commission is delighted to announce a new partnership with the British Schools and Universities Foundation, Inc. (BSUF). The new award will be made to a British recipient of a Fulbright Postgraduate award who demonstrates a commitment to the wider community and who has the potential to make a significant contribution to society. The award is not limited to particular disciplines and can be made for students across the academic spectrum, although students seeking professional degrees – MBA’s, JD’s and MD’s – will not be considered. Preference will be given to a candidate whose chosen academic programme is not readily available in the UK.

There is no separate application process for this award. The Fulbright Commission will submit the names of appropriate candidates for BSUF to consider. The BSUF funds will complement those awarded by the US-UK Fulbright Commission up to the maximum of £20,000.

About BSUF - The British Schools and Universities Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1961 and has been approved as a tax-exempt charitable organization by both the Internal Revenue Service and the State of New York. BSUF makes grants to public, private, sectarian and non-sectarian schools, colleges, universities and other educational, scientific and literary organisations in the British Commonwealth of Nations and has been awarding scholarships since 1967. A commitment to volunteerism is central to the BSUF mission. Since its foundation BSUF has given grants totaling more than $20,000,000.

General Selection Criteria

In making these awards, the Fulbright Commission is looking not only for academic excellence, but also evidence of leadership and initiative, a wide range of interests, a curiosity about the host country and culture and a clear plan to 'give back' upon returning home.

Candidates for these awards must be UK citizens, regardless of where currently resident. Non-UK citizens are required to apply through the Commission in their country of citizenship. Dual UK citizens must apply in the country in which they currently reside; if not resident in either country then applications must be made through the Commission in the country in which they have resided for the longest period of time.

Please note: EU nationals currently resident in the UK who began their applications prior to 12 March 2008 may submit finalised applications and will still be considered. From 12 March 2008 all non-UK citizens are required to apply through the country in which they hold citizenship. For more information on citizenship and eligibility for US-UK Fulbright Awards please contact us.

US nationals, those with dual US-UK citizenship and those resident in the US may not apply.

Candidates must hold, or expect to obtain prior to departing, a minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree from a UK university.

Because an objective of the Fulbright Programme is to provide an educational and cultural experience to those not previously afforded such an opportunity, preference will be given to candidates who have not had extensive (6 months or more) recent experience in the United States.

General Conditions:
Successful candidates are required to attend a 2-day orientation programme in London before departure for the United States, the aim of which is to introduce them to aspects of the social, political, economic and cultural issues of their host country. It is also an opportunity to meet the other Fulbright scholars in their award year.

In addition, recently selected candidates may be invited to attend a presentation in September given by our partner organsiation, IIE, regarding the university selection and application process ('placement').

Fulbright scholars are required to submit reports at specified times during or immediately after their stay in the United States.

All Fulbright scholars travel to the United States on a J1 visa which requires them, on completion of their study programme, to return to their home country for a cumulative total of two years before they become eligible for a temporary worker's visa or for permanent residence in the United States. Tourist travel during this time is not affected.

Fulbright scholars staying for a full academic year in the United States may travel outside the US for a maximum of 3 weeks. Travel beyond this limit – unless required by their academic course – may affect the amount of their grant.

Candidates will be considered without respect to race, colour, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual preference or gender (including gender reassignment).

Links to applications and deadlines for each award category are listed above.

Notes on Placement and IIE

(This information does not pertain to the Fulbright British Friends of Harvard Business School MBA Award.)

The Institute of International Education (IIE), based in New York, is contracted by the US Dept of State to provide a number of services for the Fulbright Commission and scholars. Once the Commission has made offers of a Fulbright award to UK candidates, IIE will begin the process of compiling and submitting applications to relevant US universities on their behalf. In addition to the university/ies selected by the scholar, IIE will recommend alternative programmes where there is a good or better academic fit.

IIE has unparalleled expertise in placing international students in US institutions of higher education. Their knowledgeable placement specialists, skilled negotiators who can often ensure special consideration for students, work with the full range of US colleges and universities. Their placement services are dedicated to matching each student with the best possible academic program.

Organized by field of study, University Placement staff members develop strong relationships not only with admissions officers but also with faculty and staff in academic departments. They keep abreast of the rapidly changing specialisations and trends within each field of study as well as the relative merits and quality of different university programmes both within the US and compared to top universities outside of the US. Through an annual review of admissions information and other advising resources, the placement advisors are able to identify the academic programmes that will best suit each student’s study plans.

IIE also offers guidance and advice on essay-writing for the application and pays all the application and required test fees.

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