If you’re an American recent graduate or early-career professional interested in English teaching, graduate study, or conducting a research or creative project abroad, you’ve probably heard of the Fulbright U.S. Student Award for Study and Research. The Fulbright U.S. Student Award is a well-known fellowship program sponsored by the U.S. State Department that provides funding and support for Americans to work and study abroad in more than 140 countries. What you may not know is that there are dozens of international fellowships that can serve as Fulbright Award alternatives, which will give you similar opportunities to immerse yourself in a new culture or country while challenging yourself academically or professionally.
This list of alternatives to the Fulbright U.S. Student Award includes international fellowship opportunities for recent college graduates to pursue a research project, continue their academic studies, complete an internship, or teach English as a second language to learners of all ages in a foreign country. The deadline to apply for a Fulbright U.S. Student Award as an enrolled student or at-large candidate typically falls in early October for grant awards beginning the following academic year. Other fellowships have deadlines generally ranging from September to February for awards beginning the following academic year (so be sure to research and bookmark these awards to your ProFellow account!)
Fulbright Awards and other international fellowship programs can be highly competitive, but you can increase your chances of receiving one by doing thorough research on what each program offers in order to find the best fit for you and your professional goals. Get started today by reviewing this list of 40 Fulbright alternatives for recent graduates! You can bookmark any of the international fellowships that appeal to you to your free ProFellow account.
If you’re a mid-career professional, terminal degree holder, or scholar, you can check out our list of 30 Alternatives to the Fulbright US Scholar Grant for Faculty and Professionals.
Princeton in Asia
Princeton in Asia (PiA) offers year-long, service-oriented fellowships in 22 countries and regions of Asia in the fields of education, public health, economic development, environmental sustainability, and peace and justice. PiA fellowships are open to graduates or graduating seniors of any university.
Princeton in Africa
Princeton in Africa (PiAf) offers highly selective year-long fellowships to recent college graduates to work in a professional capacity with organizations across the African continent. Fellows work in a variety of sectors, including monitoring and evaluation, teaching, communications, research, and more. Learn more about this opportunity in The Ultimate Guide to Winning a Princeton in Africa Fellowship.
Princeton in Latin America
Princeton in Latin America (PiLA) connects recent college graduates with one-year, service-oriented positions at NGOs and community-based service organizations in Latin America. For all positions, basic professional competency in Spanish or Portuguese is required. In addition to Spanish, French may be helpful for some placements in the Dominican Republic for projects serving the Haitian immigrant population. Application interviews are conducted partly in Spanish or Portuguese, and a language-competency evaluation is part of the application. Applications to PiLA are open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are recent graduates of U.S. and Canadian universities.
VIA Global Community Fellowship
The Global Community Fellowship is a 13-15 month program for graduating seniors and young or established professionals. Fellows work at NGOs and schools across Asia to support community development and youth education programs. The fellowship provides a living and housing stipend, medical insurance, Intra-Asia travel, and language study grants.
Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme
The JET Programme enables recent college graduates and young professionals to assist in teaching English to youth in Japan while promoting international exchange at the local level. Participants are assigned to be either Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) who provide language instruction in elementary, junior, and senior high schools; Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) who work in communities on international exchange activities; or Sports Exchange Advisors (SEAs) who promote international exchange through sports.
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX)
This one-year fellowship allows Americans age 18-24 to explore everyday life, education, and professional training in Germany. The Fellowship package includes 2 months of language training in Germany, 4 months of study at German university, and a 5-month internship in a German-speaking work environment. Learn more about this opportunity from program alumna Meghan Leinbach.
Blakemore Freeman Fellowships
Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded for one academic year of full-time, intensive language study at the advanced level in East or Southeast Asia in approved language programs. Applicants must have a well-defined career objective involving Asia in which regular use of the language is an important aspect; the potential to make a significant contribution to a field of study or area of professional or business activity in an Asian country; prior experience in the Asian country or involvement or participation in activities related to the country; and a good academic, professional, or business background appropriate to the career program. The fellowship covers tuition or tutoring fees, plus a stipend for travel, living, and study expenses.
Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program
Leland Fellows are placed with international development organizations, including international and local NGOs, U.S. government agencies, and multilateral organizations. Fellows work on a variety of food security issues, such as agricultural development, nutrition, natural resource management, agribusiness development, and women’s empowerment. CHC provides each Fellow with a financial package designed to support living expenses and help offset the costs of housing, relocation, and acquisition of public market health insurance.
TESOL Fellowships at the American University in Cairo
Fellowships in teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) are offered annually to full-time students who wish to pursue a master’s degree in TEFL and acquire language teaching experience at The American University in Cairo. Fellowships are offered in the Department of English Language Instruction for two academic years and the intervening summer session. The award includes a waiver of tuition fees, monthly stipend, accommodation, and one-way home travel. Fellows pursue degree study and teach eight hours of English per week.
DAAD Study Scholarship in Germany
The DAAD Study Scholarships offer a fully funded Master’s degree program at a German university. Graduating seniors, graduate students, and recent graduates who have completed their Bachelor’s degrees no longer than six years before the application deadline are welcome to apply.
Global Health Corps Fellowship
Global Health Corps is mobilizing a global community of emerging leaders to build the movement for health equity. We place talented individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds in paid, high-impact roles in NGOs and government agencies in sub-Saharan Africa and the US for one year. During the fellowship year, Fellows collaborate, innovate, and create sustainable and impactful change.
Samuel Huntington Public Service Award
The Samuel Huntington Public Service Award provides a $15,000 stipend for a graduating college senior from a U.S. university to pursue one year of public service anywhere in the world. The award allows recipients to engage in a meaningful public service activity for one year before proceeding on to graduate school or a career. To apply, please develop a proposal for public service in this country or abroad. The proposal may encompass any activity that furthers the public good. It can be undertaken by yourself alone or by working through established charitable, religious, educational, governmental, or other public service organizations.
Boren Fellowships
Boren Fellowships provide up to $24,000 to U.S. graduate students to add an international language component to their graduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency. Boren Fellowships support study and research in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East, with a focus on studying less commonly taught languages. Boren Fellowship range from 12 weeks to 24 months. Learn more about how Fellowships (like the Boren) Can Launch Your International Affairs Career.
AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship (Formerly William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India)
The AIF Banyan Fellowship pairs young professionals from the U.S. with under-resourced NGOs and social enterprises in India in order to support projects that are replicable, scalable, and sustainable. Applicants must be U.S. or Indian citizens or U.S. permanent residents between the ages of 21 and 34 and have completed a Bachelor’s degree. AIF provides a living stipend, insurance coverage, and program-related travel to each Fellow.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
NIF/Shatil Social Justice Fellowship
The NIF/Shatil Social Justice Fellowship is a 10-month immersive experience in Israel, where fellows work on cutting-edge social justice issues alongside veteran activists. Fellows spend four days per week working on the front lines of social change in Israel at a premiere Israeli social change organization. In addition to monthly seminars, fellows will learn about the coalition and movement building from experts. Fellows should have strong Hebrew language skills or proficiency in Arabic.
International Innovation Corps
The International Innovation Corps (IIC) is a unique opportunity for graduates to play an active role in building and implementing innovative solutions to some of India’s toughest social problems. Fellows will work at Indian public sector enterprises for paid, one-year assignments that tackle important social challenges. Each IIC fellow receives a stipend, health insurance, and round-trip airfare to India.
Rotary Peace Fellowships
Rotary selects individuals from around the world to receive fully funded academic fellowships at a Rotary peace center in Australia, England, Japan, Sweden, or the U.S. Two types of fellowships are available: (1) 15-24 month master’s degree fellowships at premier universities in fields related to peace and conflict prevention and resolution and (2) 3-month fellowships for experienced professionals working in peace-related fields at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.
Rotary Global Grant Scholarship
Rotary Global Grant Scholarships fund international coursework or research at a graduate level or its equivalent for a term of one to four academic years. The field of study must align with one or more of the following areas of focus: Peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy and economic and community development. Learn more about this grant in The Ultimate Guide to Winning a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship.
Consular Fellows Program
The Consular Fellows Program offers candidates a unique opportunity to serve their country, utilize their foreign language skills, and develop valuable skills and experience that will serve them well in follow-on professions. Using their language skills in Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, or Arabic, their primary duty is to adjudicate visas for foreign nationals. Duties and responsibilities are similar to those of entry-level career Foreign Service Officers. This fellowship lasts from 12-60 months and can be ended at any time with 30 days’ notice.
Shwarzman Scholars Program
Schwarzman Scholars is a highly selective, one-year master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Students will live and study together on the campus of Schwarzman College, a newly-built, state-of-the-art facility, where all classes are taught in English. Students can pursue a degree in Public Policy, Economics and Business, or International Studies. Schwarzman Scholars receive tuition and a stipend, room and board, RT travel, and an in-country study tour.
LGT Impact Fellowship
The LGT Impact Fellowship allows a limited number of professionals to work full-time for one year with the organizations and companies supported by LGT Venture Philanthropy and Lightrock in Latin America, Africa, India, and Europe. Fellows work within the organization on various projects, share their know-how and help build organizational capacity. Since its inception in 2009, over 150 professionals from over 30 countries have joined the program to create an impact across the globe.
Institute of Current World Affairs Fellowship
The ICWA fellowship program aims to nurture deep expertise in foreign countries and cultures by supporting a Fellow who carries out a program of self-designed, independent study abroad for a minimum of two years. Fellowships are aimed at developing knowledge and professional skills, not awarding research or reporting opportunities to those who already have them. Candidates are expected to have the necessary language skills to carry out their proposed project.
Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
The Thomas J. Watson Foundation provides fellowships to graduating seniors nominated by a participating college or university in the United States to engage in a year of independent study and travel abroad following their graduation. The project must be one that can be pursued with independence and adaptability, and it cannot involve formal study at a foreign institution. It must involve travel to areas where the student has not previously lived or studied for a significant length of time. The fellowship offers a stipend of $30,000. Ask your campus advisor about internal deadlines. The national selection process begins in November.
English Language Fellow Program
The English Language Fellow Program promotes English language learning around the world and fosters mutual understanding between the US and other countries. It places talented, highly qualified US educators with Master’s degrees with a focus in TESOL or Applied Linguistics in all regions of the world for 10 months. Fellow projects typically combine direct English teaching and teacher training, plus secondary duties that may involve curriculum and materials development, and the development of cultural exchange projects. Fellows receive a $30,000 stipend, roundtrip travel, and other benefits. After the priority deadline of January 31, applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
Luce Scholars Program
The Luce Scholars Program is a nationally competitive fellowship program intended to enhance the understanding of Asia. The program provides a stipend, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia for 15-18 Luce Scholars each year, and welcomes applications from college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals in a variety of fields who have had limited exposure to Asia. Candidates must be U.S. citizens up to age 30.
French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship Programme
The French Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship Programme offers 10-month fellowships in the six Institutes of Aix-Marseille, Loire Valley, Lyon, Montpellier, Nantes, and Paris. It welcomes applications from high-level international scholars and scientists primarily in the fields of the social sciences and the humanities (SSH). The minimum requirement is a Ph.D. + 2 years of research experience at the time of the application.
Nantes Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship Program
The Nantes Institutes for Advanced Study Fellowship Program offers nine-month fellowships in Nantes, France. IAS Nantes awards fellowships to outstanding researchers of all career levels, from postdoctoral researchers to senior scientists. IAS Nantes offers 15 fellowship positions. Applications are expected from the fields of the social sciences and the humanities (SSH) and all research fields. Fellows benefit from the IAS’s support and conducive scientific environment, in an interdisciplinary cohort of fellows and close relation to the local research potential. IAS Nantes offers a living allowance, social security coverage, accommodation, a complete workspace, plus coverage of travel expenses.
Wellcome Trust Early-Career Awards
This fellowship provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline to develop innovative projects that will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health, and well-being. By the end of the award, Fellows will be ready to lead their own independent research program. The host organization should be based in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or low- or middle-income countries (apart from India and mainland China).
Kleinhans Fellowship for Community Forestry Research
The Kleinhans Fellowship provides a two-year stipend of US$20,000 per year to support research that addresses one of the following topics: markets for lesser-known species and non-timber forest products, biodiversity management practices, social organization, and governance, or multi-community enterprises. Fellows participate in workshops with community members and regional Rainforest Alliance staff and submit a final report. Researchers of any nationality are eligible, but the research must be conducted in Latin America.
European University Institute Policy Leader Fellowship
The European University in Florence offers 3, 6, or 9-month-long fellowships for early or mid-career professionals in public policy, politics, civil service, media, and non-governmental organizations. Fellowes will live in Florence, Italy, and participate in workshops, training, and skills-development sessions and conferences. Fellows are excepted to contribute to peer discussions and have a strong interest in policy issues, especially related to transnational governance.
Fellowships at CHRM2
The Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism, and Migration (CHRM2), University of Jember is offering paid internships to promote research and collaboration in the specialized area of human rights. Working at the University’s centers in East Java, Indonesia, interns will spend a minimum of 3 months in the roles of English teacher, outreach coordinator, field researcher, or research assistant. There are a variety of other roles that are also available. Interns will be required to have an undergraduate or master’s degree, or work equivalent in human rights, multiculturalism, and/or migration and will have the ability to extend the intern position up to one year.
Mike Mansfield Fellowship Program
The Mansfield Fellowship Program was established to build a corps of U.S. federal government employees with proficiency in the Japanese language and practical, firsthand knowledge about Japan and its government. Through their placements, fellows develop networks of contacts in Japan and an understanding of the political, economic, and strategic dimensions of the U.S.-Japan relationship. The fellowship is for 1 year, beginning with a 7-week course of intensive language study and followed by 10 months of full-time work in Japanese government offices. Fellows are required to serve at least 2 years in the federal government after the fellowship.
ACMS Field Research Fellowship Program
The American Center for Mongolian Studies is inviting applications to conduct field research in humanities, sciences, and social sciences, for at least 6 weeks in Mongolia. Fellows must be US citizens with at least a bachelor’s degree and currently enrolled or employed at a university or college. The goal of the fellowship is to assist as many researchers as possible to participate in a field research experience in Mongolia.
HBNU Fogarty Global Health Training Program
The Fogarty Global Health Training Program offers opportunities in global health research training for pre and post-doctoral candidates from the US and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), sponsored by the Fogarty International Center (FIC) and several collaborating Institutes and Centers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The program supports specific areas of interest in HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases, mental health, maternal and child health, and nutrition. The fellowship is 12 months in length and has location assignments throughout Africa and Asia.
The Belgian American Educational Foundation (B.A.E.F.) encourages applications for fellowships for advanced study or research during one academic year at a Belgian University or institution of higher learning. The B.A.E.F. will award up to ten fellowships as outright non-renewable grants carrying a stipend of $27,000 for Master’s or Ph.D. students and $32,000 for Post-doctoral Fellows. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Applicants must also either be registered in a graduate program towards a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in the U.S., plan to register in a graduate program (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Belgium, or currently hold a Master’s, Ph.D., or equivalent degree.
Rhodes Scholarships
The Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards supporting outstanding all-around students at the University of Oxford, and providing transformative opportunities for young leaders. Established in 1903 under the will of Cecil Rhodes, the Rhodes is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international graduate scholarship program in the world. A class of 83 Scholars is selected each year. Please review the website for country-specific citizenship, age, and academic eligibility requirements and deadlines.
USA to Australia Fellowship Program
The Association awards Fellowships each year at the graduate level of up to $40,000 USD for US scholars undertaking advanced research or study in Australia. Fellowships are available for Americans who will benefit from doing research in the fields of biophotonics, engineering, environmental and marine sciences, mathematics, medicine, sciences, sustainability, and technology. Applicants must make their own arrangements for university affiliation and have a confirmed placement by the time the Fellowship is awarded.
ASF Fellowships for Americans in the Nordic Countries
The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) offers year-long fellowships of up to $23,000 and short-term (1-3 months) fellowships of up to $5,000 to graduate students (preferably conducting dissertation research) and academic professionals interested in pursuing research or creative-arts projects in the Nordic region (Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sámpi, and Sweden). ASF’s award program for study and research abroad has been the Foundation’s most long-standing commitment to educational exchange. Awards are made in all fields.
The Black Sea Research Fellowship
The Black Sea fellowship program aims to strengthen U.S. expertise and understanding of Black Sea countries while facilitating mutual connections between Americans and their regional counterparts. The fellowship will ultimately produce alumni capable of developing rigorous expertise that can meaningfully contribute to U.S. foreign policy. Fellows will complete research projects, including field research, that provide new insights into their chosen topic and tangibly contribute to advancing American understanding of the region.
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