How to Apply for a Postdoctoral Fulbright Fellowship for U.S. Faculty and Professionals

This Fulbright Grant offers scholars in the United States the chance to teach and/or conduct research in another country.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet Access
• Computers
• Word-processing Software

1. Make sure you're eligible: Be a U.S. citizen at the time of application; have a Ph.D. or equivalent professional degree; have teaching experience in your field at the postsecondary level; have an appropriate level of proficiency in the foreign language of the country you'll be visiting; and be of sound mental and physical health.

2. Get an application form. Either download it (cies.org) or request one by phone at [phone], or by e-mail from [e-mail].

3. Determine whether you're more interested in lecturing or in pursuing your own research.

4. Decide whether to apply for a "prescribed award," which is designed around the priorities of the host countries and universities, or an "open award," in which you design your own research or lecturing program.

5. Think about what sort of program you'd like to design for yourself and how you'd describe the project to the funding committee. Consider a program related to the theme of mutual understanding between nations, since this is what the program exists to promote.

6. Notify recommenders well ahead of time for any letters you need from them.

7. Prepare the following materials: the application form; a project statement; a select bibliography (for research awards only); curriculum vitae; samples of course syllabuses (for lecturing awards); a letter of invitation from the host institution; a teaching report and reference letters; a language proficiency form (if required); and additional materials if your field is journalism, writing, architecture or the arts.

8. Photocopy your application materials before sending them in, and keep a copy for your records.

9. Send in all the materials before the deadline, which for most (but not all) grants is August 1 of the year before the grant begins. Be sure to write the destination country on the application envelope.

Tips & Warnings

• The amount of money you'll receive will vary on a project-by-project basis, but in general will provide a base stipend, a monthly maintenance allowance and a travel allowance.
• If you're outside academia - for example, a professional or artist - you must have "recognized professional standing comparable to that associated with the doctorate in higher education."
• Europe and the Pacific usually attract the most applicants, so your chances may be better if you're applying to visit a country in some other region.
• You're not eligible if you've previously received a Fulbright scholar grant whose tenure ended less than three years before the tenure of the grant you're applying for.
• You're also not eligible if you've been living abroad (consecutively) for five or more of the past six years.
• The program requires you to report any convictions or current indictments for felonies, which may disqualify you from the competition.