The video opens with a panel containing four pictures of students and alumni on the Fulbright program, and the Fulbright logo positioned vertically on the left.
The top left panel shows two women in coats and scarves smiling, the top right shows a group of several students posed together and holding a Fulbright sign, the bottom left picture shows a Fulbright fellow surrounded by young kids in a classroom setting , with the kids all holding up 2 fingers, and the bottom right image shows a man wearing a Brandeis hoodie in front of a bridge by the woods.
A bubbly instrumental melody plays in the background.
We hear Elizabeth Rotolo speak: “Operating in over 140 countries, the Fulbright US student program is designed to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding around the world. There are many types of grants available open to any major for U.S. citizens who have a bachelor's degree.”
Video cuts to the next panel with a mosaic transition, showing four new images with the Fulbright logo on the left, positioned vertically.
The top left image shows two women in traditional Thai clothing with their hands clasped together and smiling. The top right photo is the same as before, showing a group of Fulbright fellows holding up a Fulbright sign. The bottom left image shows four women holding a thumbs up and smiling at the camera, and the bottom right shows a woman perched near ancient ruins and with a handheld camera closeby.
Rotolo: “The Office of Academic fellowships is here to help you learn about the different grant types. Discuss specific eligibility requirements that vary by country and reflect on how you might serve as an ambassador from the United States while abroad. The Fulbright website is an excellent resource to learn about the different available opportunities.”
Slide to another panel, this time with the Fulbright logo positioned on the right. The top left image shows two women smiling and taking a selfie. The top right shows several young women in a group. The bottom left image shows a group of men and women posing for a picture, and the bottom right image shows two elderly people sitting on a couch, with a younger woman smiling to their left.
Rotolo: “Each country provides a country summary page that outlines the available grant types in that location, any country-specific eligibility criteria, and additional information about placement types and expectations. By reading carefully, you can learn a lot about what the country is looking for in a successful applicant.”
Slide to black, then cut to the Fulbright home page. Cursor moves to “Countries,” then “East Asia-Pacific.” The “East Asia-Pacific” page shows a map highlighting participating countries in orange, with a list of the countries underneath.
Rotolo: “Let's walk through an example together.”
The cursor clicks on “Indonesia” and is taken to its page, which lists the available grants there.
Rotolo: “Indonesia offers both teaching, English teaching assistant (or ETA) grants, and study research grants.”
The “English Teaching Assistant Awards” tab is selected, opening the page to one with more information on the grant. As the page scrolls down, we see information on eligibility, grant period, the award profile, and more.
Rotolo: “If you click on the link for the ETA awards, you will see that the ETA Grant in Indonesia would begin in July, and that those who will have earned a bachelor's degree or master's degree by that date are eligible to apply. A careful read of the following information will give you important insight. For example, the award profile explains that most Indonesian ETA placements are in rural areas.”
The page continues to scroll down and shows information covering program orientation and candidate profiles.
Rotolo: “Further down, the candidate profile explains that candidates with degrees in English education and certifications for teaching English as a second language are given preference, but candidates from all majors are welcome to apply.”
The page scrolls to the section regarding “Foreign Language Proficiency,” where links to language-learning sites and applications are listed.
Rotolo: “One important section to note is foreign language proficiency. Some countries require beginner, intermediate, or advanced knowledge of the local language, while others, like Indonesia, do not require any language fluency beyond English. Regardless of the minimum listed fluency to be eligible, we always recommend that Brandeis applicants familiarize themselves with local culture, including language, as you prepare to live abroad for the duration of the grant.”
The page scrolls further down, to the “Placement Type” and “Eligibility” sections.
Rotolo: “Finally, we would like to highlight the placement type and eligibility sections. The placement section will give you additional information about the locations of the schools. Some countries place ETAs in rural locations, while others are in major cities. Or perhaps they have multiple sites and requests that you express a preference in your application. They also list the grade levels you would be working with. In Indonesia, ETAs are placed in rural high schools. In other countries’ summaries, you might find placements teaching students as young as kindergarten age or as advanced as university students.”
The page scrolls back up, and then selects “Countries” > “East Asia-Pacific” > “Indonesia” > “Open Study/Research Awards.” The page displays an expanded award profile, and as it scrolls down, sections for grant period, orientation, candidate profiles, and more are visible.
Rotolo: “Now let's compare the country summary for the Study Research Awards in Indonesia. At the top of the page, you'll notice that PhD students are invited to apply, in addition to those who have earned a master's or bachelor's degree. The grant start date is also flexible, compared to the ETAs–who all start at the same time. For Indonesian Study Research Awards, a novice level of language proficiency is explicitly preferred. If you have questions about the recommended language level for your selected country, or are looking for ways to increase your proficiency, the Academic Fellowships team is here to help you explore different formal and informal options for pre-departure language study.”
The page scrolls down to the section titled “Affiliation.”
Rotolo: “One important section to note for all study research applicants is the affiliation section. Applications must include a letter of affiliation from an in-country contact. This section of the country summary will provide details about eligible affiliates and advice for securing a letter. For Indonesia, the Fulbright Commission requests an affiliation with an Indonesian institution, and NGOs are not eligible. Toward the bottom of this country summary, there are sections specifically for research permits, geographical restrictions, and a note about publications.These guidelines are helpful to consider as you design your research project and methodology to ensure you are proposing a project that will be feasible within the rules of the grant.”
Fade to a new page showing a picture of Meredith Monaghan, the Director of Academic Fellowships, holding a Brandeis pennant, and Elizabeth Rotolo, the Assistant Director of Academic Fellowships, holding a pamphlet about their office. The screen has a blue background and the Brandeis Academic Fellowships logo is seen in the top left corner.
“The Academic fellowships team supports graduating seniors, graduate students, and alumni through every step of the process. From choosing your grant type and country, to providing feedback on your application essays, to helping you consider the best people to ask for letters of recommendation, we are here to help you put forth the most compelling application possible.”
Fade to a blue screen containing information about the Academic Fellowships Office. It lists an email (fellowships@brandeis.edu) and the office location (which has now been moved to level 1 of Kutz Hall).
“Whether you are just learning about Fulbright for the first time, or already have your destination in mind, we are excited to meet with you. Email fellowships@brandeis.edu to schedule an appointment and let's begin the conversation.”
Fade to black.