By | July 6, 2023

Are you an international student aspiring to study in the United States and broaden your horizons through an enriching cultural exchange? The acclaimed Fulbright Foreign Students Program is your best option. International students have extraordinary possibilities to pursue their academic goals in the United States thanks to this prestigious award. This page will go over the benefits, requirements, and application process for the Fulbright Foreign Student Program. Continue reading to learn how this programme can lead to a truly amazing educational experience.

What are Fulbright Foreign Students Program?

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program, sponsored by the US government, provides scholarships for international students from 160+ countries to study or research in the US, fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange.

The Fulbright Foreign Students Program offers fully-funded scholarships covering tuition, travel expenses, health insurance, and living costs. This comprehensive support ensures that scholars can focus entirely on their academic pursuits.

Benefits of Fulbright Foreign Students Program 

Financial Support

The program provides financial assistance for tuition, books, travel, lodging, and health insurance, reducing costs and allowing students to focus.

High-Quality Education

Fulbright scholars attend prestigious colleges in the US, benefiting from academic resources, research facilities, and global faculty, enhancing their subject knowledge and expertise.

Professional Development

The Fulbright program promotes academics’ professional development through collaboration, research, and attending conferences, workshops, and seminars, improving employment prospects and facilitating professional advancement.

Alumni Network and Continued Support

Fulbright scholars join a global alumni network that offers continuous assistance, opportunities for networking, and tools for professional development. They can meet others who share their commitment to global cooperation and understanding through this network. For lifelong study and participation, alumni can take advantage of funding opportunities, attend conferences and workshops, and maintain connections with the Fulbright community.

Cultural Exchange and Networking

Interacting with American students, academics, and communities, as well as getting a firsthand taste of American culture, are among things that Fulbright scholars participate in. Through this immersion, people from other cultures can better understand one another, form connections, and maintain those relationships over time. It broadens students’ horizons and encourages lifetime connections.

Fulbright Foreign Students Program Eligible Countries

  • Africa (Sub-Sahara)
    Angola
  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Cameroon
  • Cabo Verde
  • Comoros
  • Cote d’Ivoire
  • Djibouti
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eswatini
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • The Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau*
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • South Africa
  • Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • African Union Headquarters (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

East Asia and the Pacific


  • New Zealand
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Samoa
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tonga
  • Tuvalu
  • Vanuatu
  • Vietnam
  • Australia
  • Brunei
  • Burma
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Kiribati
  • Korea, South
  • Laos
  • Malaysia
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mongolia
  • Nauru

Europe and Eurasia


  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Moldova
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • Republic of North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Serbia
  • Slovak Republic
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Armenia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy

Near East (Middle East and North Africa)


  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Tunisia
  • United Arab Emirates
  • West Bank
  • Algeria
  • Bahrain
  • Egypt
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Morocco
  • South and Central Asia
    Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan**
  • India
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyz Republic
  • Maldives

Western Hemisphere


  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Jamaica
  • Mexico
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Saint Lucia***
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis***
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines***
  • Suriname
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Uruguay
  • Antigua and Barbuda***
  • Argentina
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Dominica***
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Grenada**

Eligibility Criteria for Fulbright Foreign Students Program 

  • Employed at a tertiary, research, or governmental institution.
  • High prospect of receiving study leave from applicant’s employer.
  • Have one of the following academic degrees
    • When applying for a Master’s degree: a 4-year Bachelors degree.
    • When applying for a Doctorate degree: a Master’s degree.
  • Proficiency in English/successful TOEFL and GRE exams (TOEFL scores of 90 and above are competitive for individuals applying for graduate school in the U.S.).

How To Apply For Fulbright Foreign Students Program 

1) Make Online Application

To apply to Fulbright program you need to assemble a variety of materials to help the USEFP assess your qualifications. All materials must be submitted with your application.

(2) Prepare Academic Transcripts and Degrees

Transcripts and diplomas from 4-year undergraduate programs, comparable degrees, and MPhil/MS degrees are required for PhD applicants. Final year undergraduates may apply.

(3) Take GRE General Test and TOFEL

To apply for Fulbright, applicants can include their unofficial GRE score or an official score. ETS must provide an official score report directly to USEFP. A good GRE score is 315 or higher for engineering and science, and 310 or higher for all other areas. A 138 score is required for verbal and quantitative portions, but most approved candidates have upper percentile scores.

(4) Prepare Two Essays

The Fulbright application requires two essays, each 800 words or less, to be completed in the designated area. Write clearly and concisely, and develop a marketing plan before starting. Successful applicants typically take 4-6 weeks to revise their essays.

(5) Three Recommendation letters are required

To apply for USEFP, you must include three academic reference letters by the application deadline. Referees must complete the reference forms and seal the envelopes. An online form will be delivered to referees. The choice of who should write references is not predetermined, and employers may not be able to request their references.

(6) Prepare Academic Resume

A current and most up-to-date resume should be added to the space provided on the application form. You do not need to have it in any special format.

(7) Submit Online Application

There is no application fee for the Fulbright program. Applications must be submitted online.

(8) Interview

Submit a written application and review it. USEFP will make interview decisions by mid-September, and interviews are conducted in October. Interviews are positive indicators of selection but not admission. They last 15-30 minutes and involve a panel of four. Bring your TOEFL registration slip and not the exam.

Fulbright Foreign Students Program Closing Date

  1. Applications usually open on March  and close on May
  2. Please do not call or email Fulbright to see if your application has been received or to inquire about your status. You will receive an automated confirmation once your application has been submitted. Winners will be notified by June, via the Fulbright website.

Fulbright Foreign Students Program Success Stories and Testimonials

Malala Yousafzai (Pakistan): Malala, Nobel laureate, and activist for girls’ education, received Fulbright Foreign Student Program, enabling her to study Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at Oxford, promoting gender equality.

Kandice Chuh (South Korea): Kandice Chuh, a Fulbright Foreign Student alumna, is a distinguished professor and scholar in American Studies, contributing to interdisciplinary scholarship and cultural understanding.

Amr Al-Azm (Syria): Kandice Chuh, a Fulbright Foreign Student alumna, is a distinguished professor and scholar in American Studies, contributing to interdisciplinary scholarship and cultural understanding.

Cristina Jiménez (Ecuador): Cristina, a Fulbright Foreign Student alumna, co-founded United We Dream, advocating for undocumented immigrants’ rights and fostering social justice through advocacy and grassroots organizing.

Dr. Sonia Qadir (Pakistan): Dr. Qadir, a Fulbright Foreign Student, pursued a Master’s degree in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, working to improve maternal and child health outcomes in underserved communities through clinics, education programs, and healthcare access.

The Fulbright Foreign Students Programme is a competitive, prestigious opportunity for international students to pursue higher education in the United States. It offers fully supported scholarships, academic performance, and cross-cultural engagement, enabling students to realize their dreams and immerse themselves in a stimulating intellectual atmosphere.

Source. scoutafrica.net

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