UK Awards - Other Questions

Q: What are my obligations if I apply for a sponsored award?
A: If, after the interview, you meet the Fulbright criteria, your application will be forwarded to one of the sponsors. The sponsor may want to interview you as well. There is no obligation on the part of the sponsor to make an offer of short or long-term work, nor is there any obligation on the part of the Fulbright scholar to work for the sponsor.

Q: What happens if I am offered an award, but do not get a place at university?
A: We strongly advise you to apply to more than one university initially, especially if they are very competitive ones. If you do not get a place at a university on your application, the offer will be withdrawn.  For some postgraduate award categories, you will apply to approximately 5 universities following a period of consultation with Fulbright Commission and IIE staff.

Q: Can I defer the scholarship to the following year?
A: No. You will have to reapply.

Q: What if I defer my place at university for a year, can I defer my Fulbright funding too?
A: No. The awards are offered for a specific academic year and cannot be deferred. You will have to reapply for the award.

Q: Will my application be given preference if I have already been offered a scholarship by Fulbright?
A: No. We start the whole evaluation process afresh each year. (Note: if you have already received a Fulbright scholarship, 5 years must elapse before you are eligible to apply again.)

Q: How can I find other funding in case I don't get a Fulbright award?
A: The Fulbright Commission is just one of many independent foundations that can fund international students to study in the US. The university department to which one applies can also provide a significant source of funding in the form of teaching and research assistantships.  Additionally the Fulbright Advisory Service can help you investigate additional sources of funding.

Q: Why aren't there a set number of awards?
A: The Commission receives a varying sum of money each year from the UK and US governments, sponsors, and universities to put towards its Awards Programme. This means that the number of awards is not fixed and can change depending on tuition fees, inflation and the number of co-sponsored awards offered. Recently this has been approximately 10-20 UK Postgraduate Student Scholar awards, and 10-20 UK Distinguished Scholars and Fellows awards. 

Q: Can you provide me with specific feedback and/or reasons why I was or was not selected for a Fulbright Award?
A: No. It is the policy of the Commission not to give to individual applicants, to others inquiring on their behalf, or to the public generally, the specific reasons for selection or non-selection of applicants for awards.

Q: Which Fulbright grants does IIE help administer?
A: IIE  is only responsible for administering the Fulbright grants for Postgraduate Student Scholar Awards.  

Q: Are Fulbright grants awarded for study in a third country?
A: The US-UK Fulbright awards are intended to increase mutual understanding through educational exchange between the US and the UK.  This includes awards for study in a US or UK territory (such as Bermuda). US-UK Fulbright grants are not awarded for study in another country or country’s territory.

Q: Under which U.S. visa category do persons participate in the Fulbright program?
A: All non-US Fulbright grantees are required by the US Department of State and the FSB to be on "J" visas under Exchange-Visitor Program Number G-1-1 only for the duration of their financial sponsorship including in many cases travel.

Q: I was wondering about the possibility of applying for a Fulbright Scholarship in the US for the next academic year? Since I am close, could I arrange an appointment to meet with someone at your office?
A: All information applications can be found on our website. Should you have any specific unanswered questions please see our contact page. If you wish to pop by for general information regarding the various Fulbright awards categories, feel free to speak with any educational advisor during the advisory service’s opening hours.
The best source of regularly-updated information is our website: www.fulbright.co.uk

Q: At the age of 33, am I too old to apply?
A: We have no age restrictions on our Awards.  Our minimum eligibility requirements are that you are a UK citizen and that you have obtained a minimum 2:1 (or equivalent) in your first degree.

Q: Can dual US-UK citizens apply?
A: Unfortunately, if you hold dual-citizenship, you are ineligible.

Q: Is the application deadline ever extended?
A: Application deadline cannot be extended for individual applicants and/or to accommodate personal circumstances. On rare occasions, factors which may impact the entire applicant pool (eg. a significant postal strike) may result in an extension of the deadline

Q: Can you provide me with specific feedback and/or reasons why I was or was not selected for a Fulbright Award (grant)?
A: ‘It is the policy of the Board not to give to individual applicants, to others inquiring on their behalf, or to the public generally, the specific reasons for selection or non-selection of applicants for awards…’

Q: Do I have to undertake my research at a college or university or am I free to situate my research in another site?
A: In addition to schools and institutions of higher learning ‘grantees…may study or undertake research in libraries, museums, or undertake private voice or musical studies, etc., without being formally sponsored by or associated with educational institutions over seas’.

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