The Fulbright U.S. Student Program supports students for one year of graduate study, research, creative projects or teaching worldwide. The program is one of the largest academic exchanges in the world, providing over 2,000 grants annually in all fields of study and in more than 140 participating countries. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.

Fulbright Student grants provide recent BS/BA graduates, master's and doctoral candidates, young professionals and artists with opportunities for personal and professional development. During their grants, Fulbrighters meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences and gaining an appreciation of others’ viewpoints, behaviors, and cultures. By facilitating individual, cross-cultural interaction in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, the program aims to foster mutual understanding.

---

About Fulbright U.S. Student Grants:

• Fulbright Study/Research Grant: Research & Creative Arts
  These grants are available to students in any academic field plus the performing and visual arts. Students design a proposal for a project they want to conduct in a specific country - usually research, creative projects, community work, graduate courses not leading to a degree, or some combination. Applicants should have a well-developed project proposal and typically work with advisers at foreign universities or similar institutions in the host country. Creative and performing arts applicants are required to submit supplementary materials based on their disciplines.
• Fulbright Study/Research Grant: Graduate Degree Study
  These grants are to complete a graduate degree program (typically, a one-year master's degree) at a foreign university. Strong proposals demonstrate how the program of study will meaningfully advance the applicant towards specific career goals and highlight unique program strengths that justify doing the degree outside the US at the chosen institution. Generally, you must apply for the Fulbright before applying to university; those already enrolled overseas are not eligible.
• English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program
  The Fulbright ETA Program offers opportunities for students to serve in an English-language classroom, helping to teach English language and acting as a cultural ambassador for the United States. ETAs work 20-30 hours per week in the classroom, under the supervision of a classroom teacher and generally undertake a small project alongside their classroom responsibilities. This is a popular program for those with a passion for culture, language, teaching, and learning. Students apply to an individual country's ETA program, but do not choose where in the country they are placed.

---

Who Should Apply?

There is no “typical” Fulbright applicant. Drexel Fulbright finalists and recipients have come from a range of fields, backgrounds, and programs. Read more about recent Drexel Fulbrighters or watch interviews with other Fulbright recipients.

Eligibility

The Fulbright US Student Program is open to U.S. citizens, from graduating college seniors and recent alumni up to final-year PhD students, in any field of study. Language requirements and program details vary by host country and Fulbright program. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree at the time their grant commences (usually, the fall of the year after they apply) and cannot yet hold a PhD at the time of the national application deadline in October.

Please note: Faculty, staff, and postdocs may be eligible for other Fulbright Scholar Awards, administered by CIES and due in September. Please see the Fulbright CIES website for more information about these programs.

---

How to Apply

The Fulbright application opens at the beginning of April. Interested Drexel students and alumni should attend an info session in the Winter or Spring Terms or review our What is Fulbright? page, then fill out the Fulbright Interest Form to receive application support.

Drexel students and alumni can have their Fulbright applications endorsed by Drexel. This endorsement enhances the application, and applicants seeking endorsement receive additional guidance and support from Drexel Fulbright advisors, faculty, and alumni. To receive Drexel University's endorsement, applicants must submit a completed application by the campus endorsement deadline (see timeline below).

All candidates are advised to begin working with an advisor through our office well in advance of the campus deadline to receive the most robust and beneficial support.

Application Timeline

• Winter/Spring Term: Attend a Fulbright Info Session or review our What is Fulbright? page; fill out the Fulbright Interest Form
• March/April: Fulbright advising opens

Research & Creative Arts Grants:

• April-May: Schedule your first advising appointment
• June 2, 2025: Proposal development worksheet deadline
• August 1, 2025: Campus endorsement deadline

English Teaching & Graduate Degree Study Grants:

• April-July: Schedule your first advising appointment
• July 25, 2025: Proposal development worksheet deadline
• September 3, 2025: Campus endorsement deadline

All grants:

• October: National deadline

*Applicants who enter the process late are still encouraged to apply; contact UREP at fellowships@drexel.edu for more information on the resources available at later dates.

Additional deadlines and a detailed description of the process can be found on the Fulbright Applicant Resource Site. Access to the site requires a Drexel log-in; alumni can email fellowships@drexel.edu to request access.

---

More Information

More information on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, including application resources and sample applications, is available on our Fulbright Applicant Resource Site.

For official deadlines and information on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program (which supersedes any information provided here), please visit the Fulbright website.

---

Related Awards:

Boren Awards for International Study; Marshall Scholarship; Mitchell Scholarship; Schwarzman Scholars

Last updated: March 2025