Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Funds one academic year of study, research, or teaching assistantship experience in a participating country outside the U.S.

Fulbright Program: At a Glance

Eligibility:
  • U.S. citizens and nationals
  • Fourth-year students (application process starts in third year) and alumni. Applicants must have obtained a BA before the grant begins.
    • Please note that for the 2026-2027 award year, CCRF is only able to provide support and/or resources to those alums who graduated June 2022 or later and who have not started graduate school.
    • Other applicants are encouraged to apply "at large."
Selection Criteria: 

Extensive Description

Fulbright is considered the flagship program of the U.S. State Department with a diplomatic mission of cultural exchange through research, teaching, and postgraduate study. It is among the oldest and most prestigious of the major national fellowships available to college students, recent graduates, and alumni.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is also the largest and most competitive exchange program for U.S. citizens and sponsors 9- to 11-month experiences abroad. Grants may cover tuition, fees, travel, and a stipend. Applicants in all fields are welcome. Fulbright awards approximately 2,100 grants to U.S. students annually and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide.

The Fulbright Student Program is proud of its tradition of excellence, and its alumni have achieved distinction in government, science, the arts, business, philanthropy, and athletics (400,000+ alumni since 1946):

Deadline Information

National Application Deadline: October 2026 (date TBD)

Eligibility Requirements

  • Candidates must have completed a bachelor's degree by the start of the grant period; therefore, applications for Fulbright grants may only be submitted by fourth-year students (who will graduate before the start of the grant period) or recent graduates.
  • Applicants must be citizens or nationals of the United States of America at the time of application (likely October 2026, date TBD)
  • Please consult the Eligibility page on the Fulbright website for more information.

Application Process

The competition for the 2026-2027 Fulbright award year has closed.

Information sessions about the next application cycle (2027-2028 Fulbright award year) will begin in late Autumn Quarter 2025!

For more information on this opportunity, please contact: 
Johanna Best
bestjl@uchicago.edu
773.834.0794