Interested in teaching English or conducting research overseas for a year after you graduate? A strong Fulbright application requires a great deal of thinking, planning and writing. Summer is the perfect time to begin to prepare for the September deadline!
What is the Fulbright?
- Immediately after World War II, Congress created the Fulbright Program to foster mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchange.
- The U.S. Student Program awards approximately 1,800 grants annually and sends students to over 155 countries worldwide.
- Students participate in a self-designed program of study that can include research, university coursework, language study and more. Alternatively, students can also choose to assist in teaching English in one of over 70 countries, at various levels.
- Candidates must have US citizenship at time of application and a bachelor's degree before starting their service period. Bachelor’s holders are eligible to apply at any point in life after graduation.
Fulbright Full Grant vs. Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA)
- Full Grant: requires a proposal of study or research that would take 10-12 months to perform. Some countries require knowledge of the language, others are flexible. Programs of study can include classes, research projects, library work, observations, training in the creative arts, surveys, lab work - in short, anything that would help a student study or learn more about the proposed topic.
- ETA: offers students the chance to apply to teach English. In some countries ETAs teach in a high school, in others elementary and in others at the college level. Language requirements vary from country to country, and many countries have no requirement. ETAs are generally students who have some teaching experience and believe that the ETA experience will help to prepare them for what they are doing in the future.
What are the benefits?
- These grants generally provide round-trip transportation, language or orientation courses, maintenance for the academic year (based on living costs in the host country), and supplemental health and accident insurance.
- The Fulbright name is well respected in the U.S. and beyond. Past scholars have considered it an experience of a lifetime. They learn about new cultures or deepen their knowledge of one they already were acquainted with. They make new friends and engage in an in-depth teaching or learning experience that gives them depth of knowledge and skills in their chosen field, and helps set the stage for greater independence in their next career move. They develop a more sophisticated understanding of their host country, the U.S. and themselves.
Where can I find more information?
Interested? Contact:
Beth Powers, [bpowers@uic.edu, oversees Fulbright Full Grant applications]
Sheena Miller, [sheena@uic.edu, oversees Fulbright ETA applications]
