Thinking about applying for a Fulbright U.S. Student award? There are many exciting new awards and enhanced opportunities in every region around the world. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which comprises the English Teaching Assistant (ETA) grants as well as academic and arts-based study and research awards, will offer more than 2,150 funding opportunities throughout 140 countries for the 2018-2019 academic year. Grants typically last between 8 to 10 months and are available for recent graduates, master’s and doctoral candidates, and young professionals. Learn more about new awards offered this year, as well as countries and regions seeking more applicants.
This year, the final deadline to apply is October 6, 2017, but be sure to check with your university for internal deadlines that may be as early as August. For more details about country-specific opportunities and application components, check out Fulbright’s recorded webinars.
East Asia-Pacific
The East Asia-Pacific region includes 20 countries offering awards this year.
Timor-Leste is now offering 2 English Teaching Assistant awards.
Due to the expansion of ETA opportunities in this region, some applicants may gravitate toward ETA awards. However, this region, particularly Brunei, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Thailand are seeking more study/research applicants. Laos and Mongolia are also seeking more ETA applicants. Also, more Creative Arts applicants are desired in this entire region.
Be sure to check out opportunities in the South Pacific Island Nations. Some nations have not had a Fulbright fellow in several years due to a very small number of applications.
Europe and Eurasia
The United Kingdom is offering one new award to Bangor University to pursue a one-year taught or research Master’s (or to provide funding for the first year of a Master’s or PhD degree program that is longer than one year) in either Celtic or Ocean Studies. Also, more applications are desired for the University of Stirling, the University of Aberdeen, and the Royal Veterinary College Awards. Note, the University of Essex Award and the Oxford University Award have been canceled this year.
Bulgaria is offering a new study/research award in Archeology/History. The program will be in partnership with the Balkan Heritage Foundation.
The Fulbright Anniversary in Europe Award is new and exclusive for the 2018-2019 academic year to celebrate the 70th year of the Fulbright program in Europe. The award is available for a U.S. student or young professional to carry out an independent study/research project on migration studies in Belgium, France, Greece, Italy and the UK. Applicants must propose a project that could include research in all five of these countries. The award is for 10 to 12 months. At least two months must be spent in each of the participating countries.
In Europe and Eurasia, more study/research award applicants are needed to Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Estonia, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia.
More study/research and ETA applicants are also needed in all countries in Eurasia (excluding the English Teaching Assistant program in Russia). The most undersubscribed countries in this region include Moldova, Ukraine (study/research) and Russia (study/research).
Middle East and North Africa
In the Middle East and North Africa, English Teaching Assistant awards are now offered in Algeria and the Palestinian Territories/West Bank. ETA teaching positions here are available at the university level.
Countries seeking more applicants include Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
Please note that Egypt is listed as a participating country but has not been able to accept any Fulbright awards for four years due to safety reasons. Applications for the 2018-2019 year will be accepted in the hope that safety conditions improve, but there is no guarantee that the suspension will be lifted.
South and Central Asia
In South and Central Asia, there are seven countries offering awards this year.
The English Teaching Assistant program in India will expand this year to include 5 to 7 different cities throughout the country.
The U.S. Student Program in Bangladesh has been suspended due to the current political situation. It is uncertain whether proposals will be accepted for the 2019-2020 application cycle.
More study/research and ETA applicants are desired for Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Sub-Saharan Africa
There is no pre-determined grant number for most Sub-Saharan Africa countries, but traditionally 70 to 80 awards total are available in this region each year.
English Teaching Assistant awards will be available in Benin, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa. Study/research grants will be available to all 28 countries in the region.
Some countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo have degree restrictions and only accept those with a master’s or doctoral degree – check country sites for more details.
Western Hemisphere
Fulbright’s Western Hemisphere region includes countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Canada.
The first year of the English Teaching Assistant program in Honduras will begin in Fall 2017 and the program is taking applicants for its second cohort of ETAs. It’s also useful to note that in Spring 2017, new ETA programs began in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Peru.
Brazil, Chile, and Colombia are seeking more Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) study/research applicants.
Sixteen Binational Internship Grants will be available to Mexico for those looking to pursue an internship at a private for-profit company or NGO based in Mexico City. Unlike traditional study/research grants, applicants do not seek their own affiliation and are instead assigned positions by the Fulbright Commission in Mexico (COMEXUS).
More resources
Applications for this year’s Fulbright U.S. Student Program are due by October 6, 2017. If you’re interested in applying, make sure to reach out to your university’s Fulbright Program Advisor (if you’re currently an enrolled student) and check out our recent articles on Fulbright application tips written by former Fulbright fellows, including:
Everything You Need to Know About Fulbright Creative and Performing Arts Awards
The Top 10 FAQs for the 2018-19 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Award
The Top 10 FAQs for the 2018-19 Fulbright U.S. Student Program for Study/Research
How to Create Your Summer Fulbright Application Plan: 2018-19 U.S. Applicants
Tips for Fulbright Applicants: How to Choose the Right Grant
© Victoria Johnson 2017, all rights reserved.