Alistair Cooke Award in Journalism

Please be aware that our application procedure and timeline has changed significantly from previous years, please review all information carefully.

The Fulbright Awards Programme is the only organisation that offers scholarships for academic work in any subject, at any accredited US university. This postgraduate-level award is named in honour of the great trans-Atlantic journalist and commentator, Alistair Cooke, and is given to one UK citizen each year seeking a Master's in Journalism or in a specialist subject leading to a career in Journalism (eg Area Studies). Candidates choose and apply to US university departments directly and independently.

Read on for more information about the benefits of the Alistair Cooke Award, eligibility and selection criteria, the application process and timeline. We also provide profiles of current and past scholars, as well as a list of FAQs, to help you learn more about the Fulbright Programme.

Award Benefits

Fulbright Awards offer generous financial support for one year of study in the US. However, Fulbright is much more than a scholarship – we offer scholars the opportunity to have a transformative cultural and academic experience and provide unrivaled support both during and after their Fulbright year.

Scholarships cover tuition fees and provide a living stipend for one academic year*. They are paid in instalments directly to the grantee, the first of which is typically given just prior to departure from the UK. A number of memberships, sickness and accident benefit coverage, and visa sponsorship are also included. There is substantial pre-departure support, including a Finalists Workshop (March) and a 3-day Orientation Programme (July). Once on-the-ground in the US, further support is offered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

While a Fulbright Award is one year in length, the benefits do not end there. Receiving a Fulbright Award opens many doors and provides unparalleled global networking opportunities. Over 300,000 Fulbright Awards have been given since the Programme’s inception, and alumni have the opportunity to stay engaged through our extensive alumni networks, including the British Fulbright Scholar Association (BFSA). Alumni also remain connected to the Programme through ongoing social and cultural events, volunteer opportunities, mentoring schemes and much more.

*Up to $10,000 may be subtracted from the first academic year and instead earmarked for a subsequent year(s). This may allow candidates to secure complementary scholarships from their US host universities. For more information about this option please read further.

Selection Criteria

The Fulbright Awards Programme is looking not only for academic excellence but also:

demonstrable ambassadorial skills with evidence of cultural sensitivity and a genuine desire to learn more about the United States and share with American citizens aspects of British culture,

experience and interest in a range of extracurricular and community activities,

leadership potential, and

a desire to further the Fulbright Programme and give back to your home country upon returning.

Selection committees and the interview panels will also be looking for clear reasons for selecting your US university preferences. As a publicly-funded organisation, the Fulbright Awards Programme expects candidates to conduct a thorough university search and to identify institutions which provide cost-effective study opportunities and are a strong fit for their academic, personal and professional goals.

Minimum eligibility for this Award category:

UK citizen* (resident anywhere except the United States), and

hold or expect to obtain a minimum 2:1 honours undergraduate degree or the equivalent prior to your anticipated enrolment with a US university.

As our aim is to foster cultural understanding between the US and UK, some preference will be given to applicants who do not have extensive experience in the US (6 months). If this applies to you, we still encourage you to apply and explain in your application how further experience in the US will fulfil the Fulbright mission and not be a duplication of prior visits.

Please read the Terms and Conditions and FAQs for this Award before making an application. Awards are not available for peripatetic visits or attendance at conferences only, nor for projects based outside of the United States.

*Non-UK citizens are encouraged to use our advisory service in the UK, but to apply for Fulbright scholarships through the office in their country of citizenship (see http://fulbright.state.gov/participating-countries.html). US nationals, those with dual US-UK citizenship and those resident in the US may not apply in this Award category.

Applying

The application process for a Fulbright Award is similar to that of US universities, both in terms of content and timeline. You will complete an online application and provide biographical information about yourself, your academic and extracurricular accomplishments and study plans. You will indicate one or more institutions (and specific degree programmes, if applicable) to which you have or will apply, and provide reasons for choosing these – if successful, your Fulbright Award will only be tenable at one of these institutions. Additionally, you will submit a personal statement and study objective statement, and arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent on your behalf.

Please follow these steps to apply for a Fulbright Award:

First, review the selection criteria [anchor to above] above to ensure you are eligible to apply for an Award.
Before beginning an application, read and follow the UK Country-Specific Online Application instructions. Each Commission sets its own policies and procedures and country-specific instructions for using the online application system, so it is critical that you follow the instructions in this document.
After you have read the instructions, you need to register with the online application site. You will be able to log in and out of your account and will not be required to complete the application in one sitting. In addition to biographical and academic data, you will submit a personal statement, study objective statement and your host institution preference(s).
Request three reference letters using the online system.
After completing the online application, you must print and sign a hardcopy and submit this, along with several supplemental forms. You must send the entire application, along with the supplemental forms, not just the final signature page.
Post your printed materials to the Fulbright Awards Programme. Your reference letters should not be posted as they will be delivered to Fulbright electronically via the online system.
Successful applicants will be invited for interviews on the date(s) listed below. Interviews will be held on the indicated date(s) only and may not be rescheduled. All interviews must be conducted face-to-face.

It is imperative that you follow the UK country-specific instructions; failure to do so will mean that your application may not be considered.

Timeline

1 August - Competition opens, applications available
29 September - Applicants encouraged to attend College Day to visit the Fulbright Awards booth with questions, and to see the breadth of the US education system with over 100 universities exhibiting on the day
16 October - Applicants encouraged to attend Grad School Day to learn about US postgrad admissions processes
15 November - Application deadline
November-January - Applications evaluated, short-list drawn up
mid-January - Short-listed candidates invited to interview
28 Jan-15 Feb - Fulbright interviews
late February - Notification, finalists invited to Fulbright Workshop
mid-March - Fulbright Finalist’s Workshop in London
March-June - Fulbright and J1 visa paperwork
week of 8-12 July - Fulbright Pre-Departure Orientation
From mid-July 2013 to 30 April 2014 - Independent departures, Your Fulbright Exchange begins!

Upon returning to the UK, candidates will be invited to participate in Fulbright alumni activities including our annual Returners’ Workshop as well as informal social events, soirees and other activities.