The Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has awarded more than 400,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. 

Fulbrighters address critical global issues in all disciplines, while forging lasting connections, and building relationships, knowledge, and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States. Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many fields, including 61 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 89 who have received Pulitzer Prizes, and 40 who have served as a head of state or government. 

Below we provide additional information on a range of programs.

For more information, contact our Columbia College Chicago Fulbright Scholar Campus Liaison: Elio Leturia, (eleturia@colum.edu) Associate Professor of Communication.

The Fulbright Program is comprised of several awards, such as the Fulbright Scholar Program, (U.S. academics and administrators to do research, teaching and projects abroad,) the Fulbright U.S. Student Program (U.S. recent graduates and graduate students to do research, study or teach abroad,) the Fulbright Foreign Student Program (foreign graduate students, young professionals, and artists to research and study in the U.S.,) the Fulbright Teacher Exchanges Program  (international exchange between K-12 U.S. and foreign teachers,) the Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship (for U.S. early and mid-career professionals/practitioners to serve in placements in a foreign government ministry or institution abroad,) the Fulbright Specialist Program (U.S. scholars and professionals and their counterparts at host institutions overseas,) the Fulbright-Hays Program (short term grants to individual U.S. K-14 pre-teachers, teachers and administrators, pre-doctoral students and postdoctoral faculty, as well as to U.S. institutions,) The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program (foreign scholars to conduct advanced research and university lecturing in the U.S.,) among others.

For more information on these and other awards you can visit the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA,) the Institute of International Education (IIE) or contact the Fulbright Scholar Liaison, Associate Professor Elio Leturia. 

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

This program offers approximately 800 teaching, research, or combination teaching/research awards in over 135 countries. Opportunities are available for college and university faculty and administrators as well as for professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars, and many others. In addition to several new program models designed to meet the changing needs of U.S. academics and professionals, Fulbright offers flexible awards including multi-country opportunities.

To find an award according to country, field of study, duration and requirements please visit the awards catalog. The application deadline is September 15, 2023.

The Fulbright Scholar Program supports activities and projects that recognize and promote the critical relationship between educational exchange and international understanding, in addition to the intellectual merit of the proposals. Applications with broad multiplier effects are particularly welcome, as are projects that are conducive to candidates sharing their experiences and knowledge with colleagues, students and, ideally, with the general public in their host country and, upon return, in the United States.

Awards are usually granted in three areas or a combination of them: Research, teaching, and professional project. Conditions for the award vary from country to country (letter of invitation, terminal degree, language proficiency, length of the award, stipends and benefits) are established by the host institutions abroad, so it’s important to review the awards catalog for specific requirements.

Successful applicants possess the training, credentials, active professional standing, as appropriate for their project, discipline, and career path; demonstrate experience teaching the subject(s) and reflect innovative and effective pedagogical approaches; research is clearly designed with sound methodology and demonstrates the need to be undertaken in the specified location; shows considerable engagement with the host institution and community; meet the language proficiency requirements necessary to achieve their goals or adequately addresses alternative(s) and maintain an appropriate record of service to their academic/professional community and home institution/employer. Also, applicants display ability to be adaptable, culturally sensitive, collegial, and can serve as a cultural ambassador for the U.S.

U.S. citizenship is required. Opportunities are open to people regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Other programs for U.S. Institutions

Fulbright offers other opportunities for international exchange through local programs.

Outreach Lecturing Fund 

The Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF) provides funding for campuses to host Fulbright Visiting Scholars, already in the United States, for short-term speaking engagements. To see a list of current Visiting Scholars in the U.S. please visit the Scholar Directory. The OLF travel award is designed to enrich both institutions and Visiting Scholars through lectures that will promote academic disciplines and cultural understanding. It also seeks to build relationships and partnerships with institutions that are currently underrepresented within the Fulbright Program to promote future opportunities. These Priority Institutions include: Minority Serving Institutions, Community Colleges, Small Liberal Arts Colleges, Women’s Colleges and Art Colleges, and geographically underrepresented institutions.

For more info on eligibility and application visit the Outreach Lecturing Fund page or email OLF@iie.org

Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program

The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (S-I-R) Program assists U.S. higher education institutions in expanding programs of academic exchange, by supporting non-U.S. scholars through grants for teaching at institutions that might not have a strong international component and/or serve minority audiences. Both the U.S. institution and the scholar grantee benefit from this experience.

The S-I-R Program gives preference to minority-serving institutions, community colleges, small liberal arts colleges. Institutions who may not fall under these classifications are still welcome to apply by partnering with these institutions. 

For more info on eligibility, deadlines and application visit the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program page or email sir@iie.org