fulbright u.s. student program

Xiao Li Tan, China 2005

Andrew Lee, Singapore, 2006. John Reuter, Ukraine, 2004

Aajar Zaman, Bangladesh, 2004

June 1, 2009

Program OverviewThinking of ApplyingGrants and BenefitsFulbright ApplicationApplication ProcessSelection ProcessOnline ResourcesFinal Suggestions

Outline for today

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The BasicsWhat is a U.S. Student Fulbright Grant?

An award to support self-designed study or research in 150 countries; English language teaching assistantships in over 40 countries

Who should apply?Highly-motivated, open-minded individualsThose who can contribute to and benefit from cultural exchange

Recent BA/BS graduates

Master's and doctoral candidates

Young professionals, including writers, journalists, and those in law, business, and other professional fields

Artists and musicians Rosanna Brilliantes – Philippines

The U.S. Student Program is designed for:

University coursework

Independent library or field research

Professional training in the arts and other fields

Assistant English-teaching

Invaluable opportunities to meet, work, and live with the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences

A Fulbright allows for:

Rebecca Tyroler-Cooper - China

A Fulbright allows for:Opportunities to promote mutual understanding through engagement in the community

Appreciation of other’s viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think, through direct interaction with them

Lydia Boyd - Uganda

Program is seeking universities traditionally under-represented in the Fulbright Program

Institutional, ethnic & geographical diversity

1,500 grants awarded representing all facets of American society (institutional, ethnic, & geographical diversity)

Diversity

Number of institutions submitting applications / Awarded:

Small – 191 / 113Large – 329 / 182

THINKING OF APPLYING

U.S. Citizens

Those with Bachelor’s degrees, equivalent training or professional experience by grant start

Sufficient language ability as required by host country and in keeping with the Fulbright mission

Able to pass simple physical exam (no conditions which would interfere with your ability to complete your project)

Who is eligible?

Non U.S. citizens (including permanent residents)

Ph.D. degree-holders

Previous U.S. Student Fulbright grantees

Dual citizens or residents in some host countries (check website country descriptions)

Who is NOT eligible?

Phuong Do - Vietnam

Strong academic and/or professional preparation

Demonstrated leadership ability

Less than six months spent in host country (excluding undergraduate study abroad)

Focus on community involvement

A A Fulbrighter has… has…

GRANTS AND BENEFITS

Types of awardsBasic Grant Types

Full GrantsEnglish Teaching AssistantshipsTravel-Only Grants (Germany or Hungary only)

Special Fulbright Programs (within the full grant structure)

Business Grant (Mexico or Spain)Internship Grant (Taiwan) Critical Language Enhancement AwardsFulbright-mtvU Awards

Fulbright Full GrantIndividually-designed academic, research, or artistic project

Projects may include university coursework, research, or professional training in the arts

Guidelines may vary by country – check the website for details

“Thinking of Applying” “Participating Countries”

English Teaching AssistantshipGrantees assigned to teach conversational English in

schools or universities throughout host country

Grantee-designed project emphasizing community engagement

Over 40 countries offer Fulbright ETA grants

Critical Language Enhancement InitiativePre-grant training covering language study in Arabic,

Chinese, Korean, Russian, Turkish and other specific languages for Full Grant applicants

Funding is only available to grantees who demonstrate need for training and have completed one year of language training

Language training occurs prior and during the grant term or for projects focusing on language acquisition training

Fulbright-mtvU Awards

Fulbright-mtvU AwardsGrants focus is on international contemporary or

popular music as a cultural force of expression

Explores the use of music as a global force for mutual understanding

Special ‘Documentation and Outreach Plan’ must be submitted in addition to Fulbright application (https://us.fulbrightonline.org/thinking_mtv.html)

Grant BenefitsRoundtrip airfareMonthly stipend (for room, board, incidental costs)Health insurance

Benefits may also include (varies by country):Dependent supportResearch allowanceEnhancement activitiesTuitionLanguage lessons Lisbeth Garassino – Romania

FULBRIGHT APPLICATION

Application ComponentsApplication form (can be found online at https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/usa/22/ )

Must submit online and in hard copy to OGS by September 11

Two-page statement of proposed study/researchBe aware of formatting specifications

Personal Statement (one page)Tell them something about you they won’t see

anywhere else in the application

Application Components (cont’d)Three references

Professors, mentors, people who can speak about your ability to research/study/thrive in a foreign country, etc.

TranscriptsFrom ALL UG/Grad institutions where you received a

grade for coursework

Language Evaluation (if necessary) - varies by host country

Affiliation in host countrySomeone who can “mentor” you in host country

Applications in the ArtsSupplemental materials must be

submitted:Photographs, Slides, PortfoliosCDs, DVDsWriting Samples (Creative Writers only)

See website for eligible arts fields and specific requirements -artists don’t necessarily need to have earned a BA by the time of grant start Randin Graves - Australia

More information about the Fulbright can be found at: https://us.fulbrightonline.org

APPLICATION PROCESS

Two page essay that answers the questions: what, where, how, when, and why

Demonstrates knowledge of the field of study

Demonstrates awareness of needs in host country

Any potential concern about project feasibility or your ability should be addressed directly

Statement of Proposed Research/Study (Full Grant)

One page essay that explains how you will reach your goals as an English Teaching Assistant, and why you would like to be an English Teaching Assistant.

Description of a small, supplemental research project (focused on community involvement)

-Should not be location-specific

Demonstrates sincere desire to teach English to non-native speakers

Statement of Proposed Research/Study (ETA Grant)

Letters of AffiliationFrom a host contact willing to advise/mentor you while conducting

your Fulbright project

Can be a professional at a university, laboratory, library, community organization

Provides a signed letter on institutional letterhead indicating their support

Check country summary for specifics before requesting letter

ETAs DO NOT make affiliations

Things to ConsiderIs your project feasible?

Do you have/can you secure a solid affiliation?

Do you have requisite language skills?

Have you demonstrated your ability to carry out your proposed project?

Justin A. Ryan - Netherlands

UCSD Application ProcessDeadline will be September 11, before the quarter starts.

Before 4:30pm on day of deadline, turn in hard copy on the fourth floor of the Student Services Center and hit submit button online.

Wait for further information about your interview.

After your interview, you may make changes and resubmit hard and electronic copies by the final due date.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

Deadlines

Enrolled candidates submit applications to campus committee by campus deadline for review.

Campus Deadline

IIE Application Deadline

September 11

October 19Online submission deadline: October 19

Campuses send enrolled students’ applications to IIE at deadline, at-large applicants submit directly to IIE.

Applications are processed at IIE and sent to National Screening Committee members.

Selection TimelineNational Screening Committees Nov/Dec

Screening committees review applications for a given country/field. They recommend candidates for selection.

Fulbright Commissions/Embassies Jan-MayThe Fulbright Commissions and U.S. Embassies in the host countries select principal and alternate candidates

J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB) Feb-MayThe presidentially-appointed FSB makes the final selection of candidates.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Current Grantees Directory

Fulbright tools onlineThe Fulbright online application (

https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/usa/22/)

Fulbright blog – replaces the old applicant newsletter (http://usfulbrightstudent.blogspot.com/)

Podcasts and webinars (https://us.fulbrightonline.org/podcast.html)

PDF versions of application forms (http://us.fulbrightonline.org/applynow_formsandinstructions.html)

Fulbright contact informationWorld Regions/Areas

General Inquiries

East Asia and the Pacific Region

South and Central Asia

Europe (except Germany) and Eurasia

Africa and the Near East

South America, Mexico and Canada

Central America (except Mexico) & the Caribbean Regional Program

External Relations/Outreach

Relevant Program Managers

Walter Jackson (wjackson@iie.org)

Jonathan Akeley (jakeley@iie.org)

Charles Restrepo (crestrepo@iir.org)

Rachel Holskin (rholskin@iie.org)

Jermaine Jones (jjones@iie.org)

Jody Dudderar (jdudderar@iie.org)

Cara Wollinsky (cwollinsky@iie.org)

Tony Claudino (tclaudino@iie.org)

Schuyler Allen (sallen@iie.org)

FINAL SUGGESTIONS

Spring:Start thinking about possible project, identify people for letters of rec, become familiar with country specifications, identify country affiliation

Summer: Write, revise, and refine proposal and personal narrative

Fall: Apply (by UCSD internal deadline of September 11), interview, and wait Caleb Kim – South Korea

Suggested UCSD Timeline

Spend the summer thinking about your projects, setting up affiliations, and writing/refining your proposal and personal narrative.

Get input on your project from professors, mentors, colleagues and peers.

Email Linda Vong (lkvong@ucsd.edu), the UCSD Fulbright Program Adviser, if you would like to set up an appointment to go over questions, concerns, proposals, etc.

Final Thoughts

Good Luck!