Fulbright Program
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by Institute of International Education (IIE). In partnership with more than 160 countries worldwide, the Fulbright Program offers international educational and cultural exchange programs for students, scholars, artists, teachers and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach or pursue important research and professional projects.
Various offices at UNC-Chapel Hill coordinate inbound and outbound Fulbright awards. Each year, UNC-Chapel Hill hosts dozens of visiting Fulbrighters and actively promotes the Fulbright U.S. student and scholar programs. In 2022, Carolina was named a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. student awards.
Info for faculty interested in hosting a Fulbright scholar VIDEO: What is Fulbright?Programs for U.S. Citizens
For undergraduate students, graduate students and recent graduates to pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach English abroad
Fulbright Study/Research Award
Design your own project at a foreign university or another institute of higher education. In addition to the standard award, Fulbright offers field-specific award opportunities and graduate degree grants.
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program
Work as an English teaching assistant in either primary and secondary schools or universities overseas to improve their students’ English language abilities and knowledge of the United States. The ETA Program also allows you to pursue individual study/research plans. The program prioritizes your language skills and knowledge of the host country.
Campus Deadline: TBD September 2024
For current faculty, retired/emeritus faculty, early career academics and postdocs to lecture or conduct research abroad
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers awards for scholars across different stages of their career:
• Early-career, mid-career and senior academics
• Postdoctoral scholars and retired/emeritus faculty
• Higher education administrators and executives.
National Deadline: September 15, 2023
For faculty and professionals to serve as expert consultants on curriculum, faculty development, institutional planning and other related subjects for a period of 2-6 weeks
The Fulbright U.S. Specialist Program is the short-term complement to the U.S. Scholar Program. Applicants may apply to join Fulbright’s Roster of Specialists for a term of 5 years; roster applications are reviewed 4 times per year.
Deadline: Rolling (six deadlines throughout the year)
For doctoral students to conduct research in non-Western foreign language and area studies for periods of 6-12 months
Proposed projects should seek to deepen research knowledge of the host country and help develop capabilities in areas of the world not generally included in U.S. curricula; projects focusing on Western Europe are not supported. Thanks to funding by Congressional appropriation to the U.S. Department of Education, Fulbright-Hays Program Awards also offer opportunities to faculty, teachers and administrators, and other U.S. institutions and organizations.
Campus Deadline: TBD (typically open Feb.-April)
Programs for International Students and Scholars
This program provides grants for foreign scholars to conduct post-doctoral research at U.S. institutions for periods of 3-6 months or 6 months-1 year. Applicants must have a doctoral degree or some equivalent professional training as well as sufficient proficiency in the English language to carry out the project required.
The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (S-I-R) Program is a unique Fulbright Scholar Program initiative that is specifically driven by the goals of U.S. institutions of higher education to enhance internationalization efforts on their campuses. Through the S-I-R Program, institutions host a scholar from outside of the United States for a semester or full academic year to teach courses, assist in curriculum development, guest lecture, develop study abroad/exchange partnerships, and engage with the campus and the local community.
The Fulbright FLTA Program is designed to develop Americans’ knowledge of foreign cultures and languages by supporting teaching assistantships in more than 35 languages at hundreds of U.S. institutions of higher education. The program offers educators from over 55 countries the opportunity to develop their professional skills and gain first-hand knowledge of the U.S., its culture, and its people.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program funds foreign graduate students, young professionals and artists to research and study in the U.S. It operates in more than 160 countries worldwide and is administered by a variety of different entities, including binational Fulbright Commissions/Foundations and U.S. embassies.
Participants in the Foreign Student Program can be selected to pursue graduate-level (master’s or doctoral) studies at a U.S. institution. To apply, interested students must have completed their undergraduate degree or hold a degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
Some awards in the Fulbright Foreign Student Program allow candidates to pursue non-degree guided research in the United States. Fulbright Visiting Student Researchers are typically current doctoral students who hosted by a U.S. institution for 6-10 months to advance their research. They seek an affiliation with a specific faculty member at a university, who will introduce resources available to the researcher and provide general guidance related to the research subject.
For more information about programs for international students and scholars, please contact Thomas Lasater at tlasater@email.unc.edu.