Fulbright U.S. Student Program

*Requires OSU Endorsement

http://us.fulbrightonline.org​

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers over 1,900 opportunities for students to study, research, or teach abroad while promoting cross-cultural interaction and mutual understanding. Candidates looking to study or conduct research abroad will need to develop an independent program proposal and secure an in-country affiliation. Grants will fund project and living expenses for an 8-12 month period. 

Students apply to a specific country for a specific proposal. You may only apply to one country to do one thing. Thus, the first step is to select where you'd like to go and what you plan to do there. Each country has its own number of grants, selection criteria, and eligibility qualifications. You should carefully review the requirements for your country of interest! Country descriptions are available online: http://us.fulbrightonline.org/countries/regions

Academic grants allow recipients to spend 8-12 months in a foreign country conducting independent research or studying at an academic institution. 

English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) grants provide opportunities to spend 8-12 months in a foreign country teaching English language and conversation classes.

• ETAs are only available in select countries and teach students from elementary school through the college level, depending on location (see country descriptions for specifics)
• ETAs are not expected to be the primary English instructor in their classrooms; they serve as supplemental instructors focusing on teaching American culture and providing conversation practice with a native speaker.
• More specifics on the ETA program and available countries can be found here. The Fulbright also offers several other grants. More information on these can be found here.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Fulbright, students must meet the minimum requirements:

• ​Have a baccalaureate degree by the start of the grant (usually graduating seniors or recent alumni)
• Be a U.S. citizen at the time of application
• Possess language skills commensurate with the proposed project
• Strong academic record (at least a 3.0)

To be competitive for the Fulbright, students will need to demonstrate:

• ​Previous research experience (academic grants)
• Previous teaching/instruction experience (ETAs)
• Strong letters of recommendation
• Projects that correspond with your educational/professional goals
• A compelling reason to conduct a project abroad in a specific country
• Interest in serving as a cultural ambassador abroad

Application

The Undergraduate Fellowship Office is here to help all eligible students with the application process. Our office will provide you feedback on your application materials, especially the two application essays; applicants should be prepared to revise these essays multiple times. For students applying for a research proposal, assistance from a faculty member within your discipline is also critical. 

Students interested in applying must complete the Fulbright Registration FORM. This will start you on the application path. If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss the Fulbright program, please use OnCourse to schedule a meeting with Corey Efron or Jasmine Stork by selecting “Student Success Services.” You can also email questions to the Undergraduate Fellowship Office at fellowships@osu.edu.

Where to Apply

For the 2020-2021​ grant cycle, current OSU undergraduates MUST apply through the Undergraduate Fellowship Office and must meet the campus deadline. 

Recent alumni not enrolled in graduate studies may apply through the UFO and complete the campus evaluation process. For alumni applying through the UFO, applicants must meet the August 2020 campus deadline.

Current graduate students must apply through their graduate institution. At OSU, this is through the Graduate School.

Past Fulbright Student Scholars