Office of Fellowships Fulbright Overview

Who is eligible?

Applicants must:

• be citizens or nationals of the United States of America at the time of the application deadline (permanent residents are not eligible)
• have a bachelor's degree or equivalent before the start of the grant period (seniors and alums may apply)
• meet the language requirements of the countries (some countries have no language requirement) to which they are applying; demonstrate sufficient competency to complete their project and adjust to life in the host country

Does this application require endorsement by the college?

Yes. Fulbright asks us to conduct a campus interview (after the internal deadline) and to write an evaluation of  each candidate based on the interview and written materials. The Office of Fellowships staff uploads the evaluation before it goes to the Fulbright reviewers. All Amherst College students and alumni who select Amherst as the institution through which they are applying, follow the campus process requirements, and show that they meet the qualifications for the chosen grant and country will be endorsed.

What are the different grant types?

A research or study grant will fund independent research or a graduate degree (a one-year master's or the first year of a longer degree) abroad. In some countries, you can combine research and coursework, or (rarely) even an internship. 

An English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) will support you teaching English and U.S. culture to non-native speakers in a classroom (elementary, secondary schools, or universities) or community setting (American Corners and other educational-focused community centers). Many placements do not require extensive teaching experience or training, and all grantees are offered an online ESL training course. Consult this chart or this filterable search tool to find a good fit for you. 

Beyond these grants, applicants with some professional experience or graduate education may also be interested in one of the Business grants, Journalism and Communication grants, or Science & Public Health Grants or the National Geographic  Award. (Note that to apply for the National Geographic award, you must first apply as a regular research/study grant applicant.)

How much funding is awarded and how can I use it?

All grantees receive round-trip transportation the to host country, room, board, living expenses based on the cost of living in the host country, and health benefits; some grantees may receive a research allowance, and funding for enrichment activities, tuition, language study, and orientations. Funding details are provided on the grant description page for each country. It is important to carefully calculate the extent of the funding. For some countries, you will need to supplement the grant with funds of your own or other sources.

Who from Amherst has won this award?

Amherst College regularly appears on the list of colleges and universities that have produced the greatest number of U.S. student fellowship winners in the Fulbright Program. See our list of AC grantees from the past several years. 

What is the Fulbright U.S. Student Program’s history and mission?

In 1945, Senator J. William Fulbright introduced a bill in Congress to fund the "promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture, and science." Now, more than 75 years since its inception, the Fulbright program continues to create connections between people of the U.S. and more than 140 countries worldwide. The program is under the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is run by the non-profit, Institute of International Education (IIE).