Fulbright Frequently Asked Questions

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General Information

• What types of awards does Fulbright offer?

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program funds several types of grants. There are two main categories of grants: Study and Research Awards (including in the Creative & Performing Arts) and the English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Award. An applicant may only apply for one type of award in one host country per application cycle.

Students applying for Research Award design their own independent research projects and typically work with supervisors at foreign universities. Students applying for a Study Award are planning to enroll in a degree-granting graduate program, usually a 1-year Masters program. Arts Research and Arts Study Award applicants develop their own artistic practice through a creative project or graduate study, respectively. Specific program requirements will vary by country.

Students who receive an ETA Award are placed in a classroom and assist teachers of English to non-native English speakers. Specific requirements of ETA grants also vary by country (see tables here for a summary).

• Should I apply for a Research/Study grant or an ETA grant?

If you are stuck between two seemingly equal options, we encourage you to review an Introduction to Fulbright workshop and then award-specific information sessions for the grant types that you are considering.

• Should I apply for a Partner Award to the UK?

Probably not, if you plan on applying to Imperial College London, London School of Economics, University College London, University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, or the UK Open Award. 

While we at the CCRF will encourage your ambitions in almost all instances, the Fulbright Partner Awards to the UK are hellaciously competitive -- to the point of it generally not being a very good idea to invest the necessary time and energy to apply for one. This is true for the following Fulbright awards in the UK: Open Award, Imperial College London, London School of Economics, University College London, University of Glasgow, or University of Edinburgh.

That said, there are many other Partner Awards available to top-flight UK institutions (Manchester! Sussex! Kent!) that are an order of magnitude more reasonable. In this singular instance, we will be cagey and encourage you to play the numbers game.

• How can I decide which country to apply to?

Applicants should offer compelling and specific reasons for their host country choice. Research/Study grant projects should present a rationale that necessitates completing a degree program or conducting research in the host country; ETA applicants should offer compelling reasons why they wish to teach English in the host country. Applicants should demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the host country's culture and should be able to demonstrate the requisite language skills through a formal language evaluation. 

If you're at the very beginning of the process, the CCRF encourages you to consider a handful of countries for which you are qualified. Reviewing Fulbright’s host country award pages can give you a sense of what the in-country experience might be like.

• When will I know if I get the grant or not?

The selection process occurs in two stages. In the first stage, the national selection committee designates applicants that it will "recommend" to the host countries. These announcements are usually made by the end of January each year. Finalists are then selected and notified by the host country selection committee. This final notification can come anytime between mid-March and June.

• I applied to Fulbright, but was not selected for the award. Can I reapply for Fulbright?

Yes, you are welcome to reapply to Fulbright if you were not selected.

Application Materials & Application Submission

• What material needs to be submitted for the final Fulbright application in SLATE?

Fulbright applications are submitted entirely online through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website using the SLATE application portal. A complete application includes:

  • Biographical Data (basic contact details, list of time spent outside the U.S., CV information, etc.)
  • Short Answer Questions
  • Statement of Grant Purpose (one- or two-page grant proposal)
  • Personal Statement (one-page motivation essay)
  • Recommendations. NOTE: All recommendations for the national application should be uploaded directly to the SLATE application system. Please do not send them by email to CCRF staff.
  • Official transcripts

Depending on the type of grant and the requirements of the host country, applicants may also need to submit additional documents, such as:

• How do my references submit their letters or forms to SLATE?

All final letters and recommendation forms must be uploaded directly into the SLATE application system. Once you enter in your recommenders’ details, an automated email will be generated for them with instructions.

• How do I get a Foreign Language Evaluation?

The Foreign Language Evaluation Form is part of the online application and should be completed by a professional language teacher. The University offers a wide range of languages, and applicants should be able to find a faculty member who can complete the evaluation form.

• What hard copy application materials do I need to submit to the College Center for Research and Fellowships office?

None. The entire application is submitted online.