Fulbright Scholarship invites applications from international students to undertake postgraduate studies at USA universities for the academic year 2020-2021. These are the most prestigious and fully funded scholarships awarded to bright students. Fulbright scholarship covers tuition, a living stipend, airfare and health insurance.
Deadline: Varies per countries (Feb. to Oct. annually)
Level of Study: Masters, PhD
Institution(s): USA Universities and Academic Institutions
Study in: USA
Courses Offered:
All fields, including interdisciplinary courses.
Program Period:
Depends on the selected program.
Benefits of Fulbright Scholarship
Fulbright Scholarshipis a fully funded scholarship and provides the recipient with the following benefits:
- The scholarship covers tuition, a living stipend, airfare and health insurance, etc. The Fulbright program offers funding for the period of the study.
- Check the official website and country specific websites for the whole list of scholarship benefits.
Eligibility for Fulbright Scholarship
To be eligible for Fulbright Scholarship 2021, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Required Language: English
- Eligible Countries:International students from 155 countries around the world.
- Program eligibility and selection processes differ widely by country.
- Please check the country specific websites to get information about the Fulbright Program in your home country, as well as eligibility requirements and application guidelines.
How to Apply for Fulbright Scholarship
(1) Make Online Application
To apply to Fulbright Scholarship you need to pull together a variety of materials to help the USEFP evaluate your qualifications. All materials must be submitted with your application.
(2) Prepare Academic Transcripts and Degrees
Each and every transcripts and degrees from a 4-year undergraduate degree or its equivalent – equivalent programs include international three-year bachelor programs or ACCA. PhD applicants must also submit their MPhil or MS degrees and transcripts. You can also apply while in your last year of undergraduate education as long as you get your degree by December this year.
The USEFP checks your transcripts from a universal perspective – not just your GPA. They take into consideration where you went for your education, the courses that you did and your performance in each course. They also account for the fact that different universities have different grading systems. There is no minimum GPA to apply, although most successful Fulbright students have strong undergraduate records. Undergraduate studies are just one factor the Fulbright panel utilizes to evaluate a applicant.
(3) Take GRE General Test and TOFEL
While submitting your application, you can report the unofficial GRE score given on the day of the test, or your certified score if you have gotten it. All applicants must demand that ETS send a certified score report straight to USEFP using the code 9388. GRE general (international) test scores are obligatory at the time of application. A good score for Engineering and Sciences on the GRE is 315+ and that for other fields is 310+. GRE subject test is not required.
The least GRE score mandatory to apply for the Fulbright is 138 for verbal and 136 for quantitative. But generally, accepted applicants have a GRE score in the upper percentiles. If you take the GRE test multiple times, you may report your best score, and Fulbright will only look at that score. TOEFL is NOT needed during the time of the application submissions. You will have to write the TOEFL exam if you are summoned for an interview. IELTS is not acceptable.
(4) Prepare Two Essays
There are two essays for the Fulbright application. Each essay must be written in the space provided in the application form, which approximates to 800 words. Do not over load your essays; just write in a flawless language so that the Fulbright panel that doesn’t know your realm can comprehend you better. Before starting the essays you are going to need to figure out a marketing strategy for yourself. Successful candidates usually take 4-6 weeks writing and perfecting their essays.
(5) Three Recommendation letters are required
You will need to have three recommendations submitted with your application by the application deadline. You can ensure 3 academic reference letters, or 2 academic and 1 professional or 2 professional and 1 academic. Also, 1 academic reference letter is a must. Your referees must fill the reference forms provided in the application package and then sign, stamp and enclose them in an envelope. Once you submit your online application your referees will be sent an online form via email.
There is no mandatory formula for “who should write your references”. Occasionally, it is also not possible to seek your employer to write your recommendation – USEFP does not want to put at risk your current position for the application process. Just find people who know you well enough to answer them. It can be a previous boss, tutor or researcher.
(6) Prepare Academic Resume
A recent and most up-to-date resume must be added to the space provided on the application form. It is not necessary to have it in any special format.
(7) Submit Online Application
There is no application payment for the program. Applications must be submitted online.
(8) Interview
After your written application has been submitted and reviewed, you may be invited to a panel interview. Interview decisions are made by mid-September and interviews are conducted in October. If you do not get feedback from USEFP by October it inevitably infers that you have not been picked. The interview is a affirmative indicator of selection, but is not a warranty of admission. Interviews are 15 to 30 minutes and are conducted by a panel of 4 people. You have to take your TOEFL registration slip with you on the day of the interview and it is not mandatory to have taken the TOEFL exam by the interview date.
Fulbright Scholarship 2021 deadline varies per country. But generally it is between February to October annually.
To know more about Fulbright Scholarship 2021, please visit official website