FULBRIGHT AWARDS
- For UK Citizens
- For US Citizens
Postgraduate Student Awards- All-disciplines Postgraduate Awards
- Bristol University Postgrad Award
- Coventry Automotive Design Award
- Alistair Cooke Award in Journalism
- Cardiff University Postgrad Award
- Essex University Postgrad Award
- Glasgow University Postgrad Award
- Leeds University Postgrad Award
- Liverpool University Postgrad Award
- Oxford Clarendon Scholarship
- Sussex University Postgrad Award
- Strathclyde University Research Awards
- Warwick University Postgrad Award
- Falmouth Postgrad Award in Media
- Edinburgh University Postgrad Award
- UCL Postgraduate Award
- York University Postgrad Award
- Scholars and Fellows Awards
- All-disciplines Scholar Awards
- Cardiff University Scholar Award
- King’s College London Scholar Award
- Liverpool University Scholar Award
- QUB Creative Writing Scholar Award
- QUB Governance, Public Policy and Social Research Award
- QUB Irish Writing Scholar Award
- Ulster Policy Studies Scholar Award
- University of York Scholar Award
- University of York Scholar Award in History of Art
- Police Research Fellowships
- Senior Specialists (2-6 week projects)
- Scotland Visiting Professors
- Distinguished Chair Awards
- Special Programmes
- FAQs
- Your Fulbright Year
Senior Specialist Programme
The Fulbright Commission has completed its Fulbright Senior Specialist allocation for 2009/10. We will not be considering new applications until September 2010 and are unable to submit applications until October 1, 2010.
The Fulbright Senior Specialist Programme (FSSP) brings US academic faculty and professionals to the UK to collaborate with British counterparts on curriculum, faculty development and institutional planning, conduct team research, lecture and/or engage in a variety of other activities. The programme offers grants for visits ranging from two to six weeks. Up to ten specialists may be supported in the 2010-11 academic year. The new allotment begins on October 1, 2010.
Award Benefits
Grant benefits include international economy fare travel and approved, related expenses, plus a $200 per day honorarium, payable upon completion of the grant and submission of online final and travel expense reports.
Costs for a Fulbright Specialists grant are shared by the host institution and the U.S. Department of State. Host institutions normally cover in-country per diem costs for lodging, meals and transportation and the US State Department funds the international economy fare travel and approved, related expenses, plus the $200 per day honorarium.
The Commission is unable to provide any funding for Senior Specialist visits.
Selection Criteria
Senior Specialist
Minimum eligibility for this award category:
- US citizen (residing in the US at the time they are approved for a grant and intend to return to the US after the grant's completion),
- Qualified scholar and/or professional in one or more of the approved disciplines
- For academics, a PhD or equivalent professional/terminal degree plus a minimum of five years of post-doctoral teaching or professional experience,
- For professionals and artists outside academe, recognized professional standing and substantial professional accomplishments plus a minimum of five years of professional experience.
Inclusion on the Fulbright Senior Specialist Roster is through a separate application process and is open to qualified US scholars and professionals in the approved disciplines. Applicants to the roster must be approved by a specialist peer review committee and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB).
Apply to be listed on the Roster
Host UK University or Institution
Preference will be given to applications from UK (host) universities outside the Russell and 1994 groups, and to single-visit projects.
In making these awards the Commission is looking not only for academic excellence but a focused application, a range of extracurricular and community activities, a desire to further the Fulbright Programme and a plan to work for the betterment of the home and host countries both during and after studies.
Applying
UK-based host institutions are responsible for submitting FSSP project proposals. If the host institution(s) have a specific specialist in mind, she/he may be named in the project proposal. Named specialists must be on the Fulbright Senior Specialist Roster at the time of proposal submission. If a specific specialist is not being requested, the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) will suggest names from those on the Roster.
The host institution requesting a Fulbright Senior Specialist should complete an application form and return it to the Fulbright Commission 3 months before the proposed grant period is scheduled to begin.
Applications will need to be emailed or posted to the Special Programmes Coordinator at the Fulbright Commission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review both the CIES website as well as the Fulbright Commission’s FAQs before submitting an application.
Download an application form .doc or .pdf
Project Details
All Fulbright Specialists Projects must consist of activities that directly benefit the potential host institution, such as:
- Conducting needs assessments, surveys, institutional or programmatic research
- Taking part in specialized academic programs and conferences
- Consulting with administrators and instructors of post-secondary, degree granting academic institutions on faculty development
- Presenting lectures at graduate and undergraduate levels
- Participating in or lead seminars or workshops at overseas academic institutions
- Developing and/or assess academic curricula or educational materials
- Conducting teacher-training programs at the degree granting level
The project request can be most effective if:
- Careful attention is given to the Project Description, Project Purpose, Project Impact and Project Potential to ensure adequate detail in describing the scope of work.
- Adequate lead-time is given for recruitment of specialists who best fit the program request. Please see the Timeline for more information.
- Flexibility in the time frame of the proposed project is allowed in order to accommodate the various schedules of potential Fulbright Specialists candidates.
See a selection of Fulbright Specialists stories about past grants on the CIES Web site at
www.cies.org/specialists/stories and the Specialist Newsletter at www.cies.org/specialists/download/ssNL.pdf
Visas
According to new UK Border Agency regulations anyone entering the UK for any reason other than tourism requires a visa. As such a Senior Specialist will require a visa to enter the UK, under Tier 5 Temporary workers - government authorised exchange. The Fulbright Commission are responsible for applying for the Certificate of Sponsorship and is able to assist with any enquiries about the Tier 5 visa process. However, the responsibility to complete the visa application is ultimately up to the Specialist and the final decision whether or not to approve the visa application rests with the UKBA. The US-UK Fulbright Commission cannot arrange visas on a Specialist’s behalf and has no say in issuing visas to come to the UK.
The Specialist will need to apply to the appropriate British Consulate for clearance to enter the UK. The visa application is £125, however the Specialist should be able to reclaim this cost from CIES.
Timeline
Project proposals and applications to the Fulbright Senior Specialist Roster are evaluated throughout the year and there is no set deadline. However it should be noted that once our allotment has been filled we cannot support any further applications for that financial year.
The US-UK Fulbright Commission may support up to 10 applications per year. Project proposal applications must be received in-full by the Commission 3 months before the proposed grant period is scheduled to begin. This is due to the lengthy Project Review Steps detailed below:
- A potential host institution downloads the Fulbright Specialists Project Request Form
- The potential host institution completes the form. The Commission can provide guidance and support to the institution as they prepare the proposal. Note: A potential host may at this point include the name of a preferred candidate on the proposal form.
- Once the form is complete, it is submitted to the Fulbright Commission for approval.
- The Commission approves the project and submits it online to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the U.S. Department of State for final approval.
- ECA reviews the project and may contact the Commission for clarification or revision. ECA either approves or rejects the project. Approved projects are forwarded to CIES for grants administration. This process can take between 4-6 weeks
- CIES processes approved requests by contacting potential Specialists Roster candidates to ascertain their availability and interest. For projects submitted with a requested scholar, the named scholar is contacted first by CIES to ascertain his or her availability. In such cases the named request is the priority candidate but is not guaranteed selection as the final grantee.
- All candidates are informed of their status. At this point the project moves into grants administration.
- Visa application can begin once the project has been approved. This process can between 4-6 weeks.
© US-UK Fulbright Commission 2008