Fulbright Frequently Asked Questions

Please note: As of January 28, 2023, CCRF is no longer accepting Fulbright Pre-Application materials

Students in the College and College alumni who are interested in applying for the 2024-2025 Fulbright award, but who are not invited to be part of the 2023 Fulbright Cohort, may choose to apply on their own. Information about the application can be found on the Fulbright website. However, CCRF staff are not able to provide Fulbright draft review, application support, advising, campus interviews, or campus endorsement for Fulbright applicants who apply outside the campus process.

 (2020, 2021 & 2022 Fulbright Cohort members, please read the FAQ below for specific instructions and deadlines.)

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First Steps and General Information

• If I am thinking about applying for a Fulbright grant, what are my first steps?

Before beginning the application process for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, interested students are expected to have thoroughly reviewed the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/. Visit the Fulbright Tutorials for a comprehensive introduction to the various aspects of the Fulbright program. Prospective applicants should also carefully read the Country Summaries for their host countries of interest.

Please note: As of January 28, 2023, CCRF is no longer accepting Fulbright Pre-Application materials. Students in the College and College alumni who are interested in applying for the 2024-2025 Fulbright award, but who are not invited to be part of the 2023 Fulbright Cohort, may choose to apply on their own. Information about the application can be found on the Fulbright website. However, CCRF staff are not able to provide Fulbright draft review, application support, advising, campus interviews, or campus endorsement for Fulbright applicants who apply outside the campus process.

 (2020, 2021 & 2022 Fulbright Cohort members, please read the FAQ below for specific instructions and deadlines.)

• What types of awards does Fulbright offer?

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program funds several types of grants. There are two main categories of grants: Study and Research Awards (including in the Creative & Performing Arts) and the English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Award. An applicant may only apply for one type of award in one country per application cycle.

Students applying for Research Award design their own research projects and typically work with advisers at foreign universities. Students applying for a Study Award are planning to enroll in a degree-granting graduate program, usually a 1-year Masters program.  Specific program requirements will vary by country.

Students who receive an ETA Award are placed in a classroom and assist teachers of English to non-native English speakers. Specific requirements of ETA grants also vary by country.

• Should I apply for a Research/Study grant or an ETA grant?

If you are stuck between two seemingly equal options, we encourage you to attend the Introduction to Fulbright Workshops in January 2023 (or review the recorded versions in the CCRF Resource Library) for the grant types that you are considering.

• Should I apply for a Partner Award to the UK?

Probably not, if you plan on applying to Imperial College London, London School of Economics, University College London, University of Edinburgh, or the UK Open Award. 

While we at the CCRF will encourage your ambitions in almost all instances, the Fulbright Partner awards to the UK are hellaciously competitive -- to the point of it generally not being a very good idea to invest the necessary time and energy to apply for one. When we say "hellaciously competitive," we mean, "statistically, two or three times more selective than the Rhodes Scholarship." This is true for the following awards: Open Award, Imperial College London, London School of Economics, University College London, or University of Edinburgh. That said, there are many other Partner Awards available to top flight UK institutions (Manchester! Sussex! Kent!) that are an order of magnitude more reasonable. In this singular instance, we will be cagey and encourage you to play the numbers game.

• How can I decide which country to apply to?

Applicants should offer compelling reasons for their host country choice. Research/Study grant projects should present a rationale that necessitates completing a degree program or conducting research in the host country; ETA applicants should offer  compelling reasons why they wish to teach English in the host country. Applicants should demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the host country's culture and should be able to demonstrate at least the requisite language skills through a formal language evaluation.  A "strong desire" to visit the country or a "passion" for the culture is insufficient.

If you're at the very beginning of the process, the CCRF encourages you to consider a handful of countries for which you are qualified. Reviewing Fulbright’s region and country-specific pages can give you a bit more of a sense of what the in-country experience might be like.

• When will I know if I get the grant or not?

The selection process occurs in two stages. In the first stage, the national selection committee designates applicants that it will "recommend" to the host countries. These announcements are usually made by the end of January each year. Finalists are then selected and notified by the host country selection committee; this final notification can come anytime between mid-March and June.

2023 UChicago Fulbright Campus Process and Cohort

• What are the benefits of being a part of the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Cohort?

CCRF staff are committed to supporting and advising members of the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Cohort who are engaging seriously with the Campus Process. Staff will provide group workshops, individual advising and draft review, and application support throughout the application process (January - October 2023). 

Additionally, members of the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Cohort after May 1, 2023 will be eligible for a campus interview, campus endorsement, and periodic individual advising and draft review appointments over the summer.

• Should I apply through the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Campus Process or apply at-large?

We strongly encourage all eligible College students and alumni to express their interest in becoming members of the 2023 Fulbright Cohort by submitting a 2023 Fulbright Pre-Application in Survey Monkey by the deadline on January 25, 2023 at 9:00 am CT.

Students in the College and College alumni who are interested in applying for the 2024-2025 Fulbright award, but who are not invited to be part of the 2023 Fulbright Cohort, may choose to apply on their own. Information about the "at-large" Fulbright application can be found on the Fulbright website. However, CCRF staff are not able to provide Fulbright draft review, application support, advising, campus interviews, or campus endorsement for Fulbright applicants who apply outside the campus process.

Alumni of the College who had their degrees conferred before June 2021 and are not enrolled in graduate school are encouraged to apply “at-large.”

College alumni who are (or were) in graduate school should contact the fellowships office at their graduate institution.

Please note: As of January 28, 2023, CCRF is no longer accepting Fulbright Pre-Application materials. Students in the College and College alumni who are interested in applying for the 2024-2025 Fulbright award, but who are not invited to be part of the 2023 Fulbright Cohort, may choose to apply on their own. Information about the application can be found on the Fulbright website. However, CCRF staff are not able to provide Fulbright draft review, application support, advising, campus interviews, or campus endorsement for Fulbright applicants who apply outside the campus process.

(2020, 2021 & 2022 Fulbright Cohort members, please read the FAQ below.)

• Is the UChicago Fulbright Campus Process course for credit? Does it cost anything to participate?

No, the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Campus Process course is not for credit. The course is free and open to all members of 2023 UChicago Fulbright Cohort.

We encourage all eligible College students and alumni to express their interest in becoming members of the 2023 Fulbright Cohort by submitting a 2023 Fulbright Pre-Application in Survey Monkey by the deadline on January 25, 2023 at 9:00 am CT.

Please note: As of January 28, 2023, CCRF is no longer accepting Fulbright Pre-Application materials Students in the College and College alumni who are interested in applying for the 2024-2025 Fulbright award, but who are not invited to be part of the 2023 Fulbright Cohort, may choose to apply on their own. Information about the application can be found on the Fulbright website. However, CCRF staff are not able to provide Fulbright draft review, application support, advising, campus interviews, or campus endorsement for Fulbright applicants who apply outside the campus process.

• I was a member of the 2020/2021/2022 Fulbright Cohort.  Can I join the 2023 Fulbright Cohort?

Yes, we welcome members of the 2020, 2021, or 2022 Fulbright Cohorts who are still eligible to participate in the 2023 Fulbright Cohort, meaning that they have not yet started graduate school and graduated June 2021 or later.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, please see specific instructions below.

  • 2020 and 2021 Fulbright Cohort members: You will start the Fulbright application process in January 2023. You should indicate your interest in joining the 2023 Fulbright Cohort by completing and submitting your 2023 Fulbright Pre-Application on January 25, 2023 through Survey Monkey. Please ensure that it reflects the new experiences, skills, and future goals that you have developed between the time you were a Cohort member and now.
  • 2022 Fulbright Cohort members:
    • If you did not submit an application for the 2023-2024 Fulbright award, please reach out to Johanna Best (bestjl@uchicago.edu) no later than February 22, 2023 to indicate an interest in joining the 2023 Fulbright Cohort. Upon joining the 2023 Fulbright Cohort, you must submit complete first drafts by the deadline and must complete all requirements of the 2023 Fulbright Cohort going forward. You are highly encouraged to submit a 2023 Fulbright Pre-Application by January 25, 2023 if you intend to make changes to your host country, award type, research project, and/or graduate program.
    • If you applied for the 2023-2024 Fulbright award and were not selected as a Fulbright semifinalist, please reach out to Johanna Best (bestjl@uchicago.edu) by March 23, 2023 to indicate an interest in joining the 2023 Fulbright Cohort. Upon joining the 2023 Fulbright Cohort, you are expected to submit complete second drafts by the deadline and must complete all requirements of the 2023 Fulbright Cohort going forward.
    • If you applied for the 2023-2024 Fulbright award, were selected as a Fulbright semifinalist, and were not selected as a Fulbright finalist, please reach out to Johanna Best (bestjl@uchicago.edu) as soon as possible after receiving your final notification to indicate an interest in reapplying for Fulbright and joining the 2023 Fulbright Cohort.

• If I am not meeting the requirements of the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Campus Process, will I be removed from the Cohort?

Yes, CCRF staff reserve the right to remove members from the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Campus Process course and the 2023 Fulbright Cohort if they are not meeting the Campus Process requirements. The requirements are clearly stated in the Campus Process course syllabus. 

CCRF staff will contact members of the Fulbright Cohort whose written work, workshop participation, and/or appointment attendance do not evidence serious engagement with the Campus Process before removing them from the Cohort.

Members of the Fulbright Cohort who are committed to remaining in the Campus Process may be given an opportunity to detail how they plan to make up missed workshops/appointments or, in rare cases, to submit written work after a Campus Process deadline. There is no recourse at the national level for missed deadlines or incomplete applications.

• I have decided that I don’t want to apply to Fulbright. Can I leave the Cohort and Campus Process?

Regardless of where you are in the Campus Process, the decision to apply or not to apply for a Fulbright grant is always up to you. If you are thinking of leaving the Cohort, please reach out to a CCRF advisor, so that we can understand your decision-making process and advise on next steps.

Application Materials, Campus Interviews & Application Submission

• What material needs to be submitted for a complete Fulbright application?

Fulbright applications are submitted entirely online through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website using the SLATE application portal. A complete application includes:

  • Biographical Data (basic contact details, list of time spent outside the U.S., CV information, etc.)
  • Short Answer Questions
  • Statement of Grant Purpose (one- or two-page grant proposal)
  • Personal Statement (one-page motivation essay)
  • Recommendations. NOTE: All recommendations should be uploaded directly to the SLATE application system. Do not send them by email to CCRF staff.
  • Official transcripts

Depending on the type of grant and the requirements of the host country, applicants may also need to submit the following:

• Who can help me with the application essays?

The 2023 UChicago Fulbright Campus Process has been designed to help students with the entire writing process, from brainstorming through to final drafts. Members of the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Cohort will receive group writing instruction as they draft and revise their application essays. Additionally, CCRF staff will provide individual draft review periodically throughout the application process. Members of the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Cohort should consult the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Campus Process course syllabus for more information about individual advising meetings and draft deadlines.

For the Statement of Grant Purpose, applicants are required to engage discipline and area experts, including their faculty and academic mentors.  

Another resource for gaining a preliminary understanding of the application materials is the Fulbright website, which provides ample guidance on how to approach the essays.  The IIE also holds several webcasts and tutorials throughout the application season.

• How do I get an affiliation letter?

Applicants for Research Awards and some Study Awards will seek affiliations from universities, although in some countries it is possible to affiliate with other types of organizations, such as research institutes or government ministries. The affiliation letter, which invites the applicant to conduct their research under the supervision of a mentor, should come from the institution/individual in the host country with whom the applicant is proposing to work. Affiliation requirements vary by country, so before starting the application, applicants should note the specific requirements for the proposed host country. The affiliation letter should be printed on official letterhead and should be signed by the author. There is no "secret" method for obtaining affiliation letters -- applicants should initiate direct contact with potential affiliates no later than the summer before the application deadline.

• How do my references submit their letters or forms?

All letters and recommendation forms must be uploaded directly into the SLATE application system. Once you enter in your recommenders’ details, an automated email will be generated for them with instructions.  Please advise your writers to submit their recommendations directly to SLATE by July 31, 2023. 

• How do I get a Foreign Language Evaluation?

The Foreign Language Evaluation Form is part of the online application and should be completed by a professional language teacher. The University offers a wide range of languages, and applicants should be able to find a faculty member who can complete the evaluation form. If you have not taken coursework in the language while at UChicago, you are encouraged to reach out to CCRF to discuss how to best approach making an inquiry to the relevant language department. If your language is not taught at the University, please contact Johanna Best (bestjl@uchicago.edu).

• What hard copy application materials do I need to submit to the College Center for Research and Fellowships office?

None. The entire application is submitted online.

• What are the campus interviews like?

The campus committee interviews are conducted virtually in late May or early June by interview teams comprised of three to four faculty members and professional staff.  The two main purposes of the interviews are to: 1) gather enough information to complete the campus endorsement form that will accompany your final application; and 2) provide constructive feedback to the applicant.

If you're looking for additional information on the process, please check out this article by Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors: https://blog.fulbrightonline.org/fulbright-alumni-ambassador-on-campus-interview-blog-post/.

Please note that only members of the 2023 Fulbright Cohort who have completed the requirements of the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Campus Process through May 1, 2023 are eligible for a campus interview, campus endorsement, and continued periodic Fulbright advising from CCRF staff through application submission in October. 

• Can I keep working on my application after the third draft/campus application deadline on May 1, 2023 and after the campus interview?

Yes, members of the 2023 UChicago Fulbright Cohort are expected to continue to revise their applications over the summer. In fact, an additional two drafts are due over the summer.