Fulbright Study/Research Award
The Fulbright Study/Research Award offers graduating seniors, graduate students, and recent alumni the opportunity to travel to countries all over the world to pursue graduate study and/or conduct research. Fulbright Students are offered round-trip transportation to their host country, funding to cover room and board, and potential tuition coverage based on the program and host country. In addition to academic study and/or research, Fulbright Students engage in cultural exchange and promote mutual understanding between the US and their host country.
The Academic Fellowships Team is here to support you through all steps of the application process. If you are interested in connecting with us to learn more, please contact us at fellowships@brandeis.edu.
Eligibility
- U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals.
- Must complete an undergraduate degree before the start of the Fulbright grant.
- Graduating seniors, graduate students, and alumni.
- Must meet language requirements of the award to which they are applying and demonstrate sufficient competency to complete their project and adjust to life in the host country.
Application Timeline
- Priority Intent-to-Apply Deadline: May 31, 2025
- Regular Intent-to-Apply Deadline: July 15, 2025
- Campus Deadline: August 30, 2025
- National Deadline: October 8, 2025
Award
- Round-trip transportation to the host country
- Funding to cover room, board, and incidental costs, based on the cost of living in the host country
- Pre-departure and/or in-country orientations
- Based on award and country, some grants may also include book and research allowance, mid-term enrichment activities, full or partial tuition, and language study programs.
Expand All
- Contact Academic Fellowships to set up a meeting to discuss the application process and strategy.
- Choose a host country, institution, and/or individual you would like to work with through a Fulbright grant.
- Abstract/Summary of the Proposal: Write a brief description of the what, where, and why of the proposed project.
- Host Country Engagement: Write a brief description of the ways in which you will engage with the host country outside of your grant activities to fulfill the mission of being a cultural ambassador
- Plans Upon Return to the U.S.: Write a brief description of your career and/or education plans following completion of the Fulbright grant
- Statement of Grant Purpose: Write a 2-page description of the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of what you are proposing for your Fulbright grant. Questions to help you write this statement are on the Fulbright website.
- Affiliation Letter: Request an affiliation letter from the institution or individual in the host country whom you are proposing to work.
- Personal Statement: Write a 1-page narrative that provides a picture of yourself as an individual related to your aspirations relative to the specific Fulbright Program to which you are applying.
- Foreign Language Forms: Language requirements vary by host country. Please see your specific program for additional information and materials needed for your application.
- Three Letters of Recommendation: Request three letters of recommendation from individuals who can best speak to your ability to carry your project or study being proposed, can discuss your intellectual and professional preparation, and your ability to represent the U.S. abroad.
- Transcripts: Upload unofficial transcripts to the application portal. Consult the Transcript Upload Instructions page for more detailed information.
- Ethical Requirements: If you are proposing a research project involving human beings or animals as research subjects, projects must be vetted by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Brandeis. Contact Academic Fellowships for more information.
In addition to the eligibility requirements, Fulbright has some preferred qualifications:
- Strong preference for those who have not previously held a Fulbright grant.
- Strong preference for those who earned their undergraduates at a U.S. college or university.
- Candidates who have not resided or studied in the country to which they are applying for more than six months, not counting undergraduate study abroad.
- Candidates who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Fulbright is seeking scholars who demonstrate the following qualities:
- Quality and feasibility of the proposal as described in the Statement of Purpose.
- Strong academic or professional record.
- Strong language preparation related to the host country.
- Your Academic Fellowships Team: Meredith and Elizabeth are here to help you through each step of the process, from exploring the different application components, to choosing your recommendation letter writers, to providing feedback on your essays. Email fellowships@brandeis.edu to schedule a meeting with us!
- Recorded Webinars: Fulbright hosts and records information webinars that can be accessed at any time, even if you miss a session!
- Affinity Communities: Follow these Fulbright affinity communities to learn more about Fulbright experiences and find a new community of scholars and students @fulbrightnoir, @fulbrightprism, @fulbrightlatinx, @fulbrightaccess, @fulbrightlotus, @fulbrightsalam.
- Peer Review Cohort: Academic Fellowships hosts an annual cohort experience for Brandeisians applying for Fulbright.