Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Depends on your country. Some awards pay tuition, a monthly living allowance, return airfare and health insurance (Fulbright Philippines, for example); others are partial grants (Swiss awards are about US$20,000 for one year).

• Citizen of a country that runs a Fulbright Foreign Student Program (listed on the Foreign Fulbright site)
• Living in your country of nomination when you apply
• Equivalent of a US bachelor's degree with a good academic record by the programme start date
• Fluent English (recommended: TOEFL iBT 79–80, paper-based TOEFL 550 or IELTS 6.5)
• Not a US citizen; dual US citizens can't apply
• Clinical programmes such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nursing aren't allowed
• Any extra rules (level, field, work experience) set by your country's Fulbright office

For graduate students, young professionals and artists from the 160+ countries that run a Fulbright programme. You apply through the Fulbright commission or US embassy in your home country, and the rules (level, fields, work experience) vary by country. US exchange funding was trimmed for 2026 and the 2027 budget request proposes much deeper cuts to Fulbright, so check that your country's round is running.

1. 1

   Step 1: Find your country's Fulbright office

   Pick your country on the Foreign Fulbright applicants page to find the Fulbright commission, foundation or US embassy that runs your round. That office sets the rules, deadline and award terms for your country.

2. 2

   Step 2: Choose your placement route

   Ask your Fulbright office whether IIE will apply to US universities for you (IIE placement) or you will apply and secure admission and funding yourself (self-placement).

3. 3

   Step 3: Submit the online application

   Complete the application your office links to and upload your documents before your country's deadline. For 2027–28, for example, the Romanian and French commissions used IIE's form at apply.iie.org/ffsp2027, and you can apply for only one Fulbright award per cycle.

4. 4

   Step 4: Line up your recommenders

   Register your referees in the application so they can submit online. The Romanian and French guides ask for three letters, due by the application deadline.

5. 5

   Step 5: Interview if shortlisted

   Shortlisted candidates are interviewed in their home country. In Romania, for example, the 2027–28 interviews were held in September 2026.

6. 6

   Step 6: Take tests and await placement

   If you're nominated, you may need TOEFL, GRE or GMAT scores for US admission. If you're IIE-placed, IIE then applies to suitable universities for you.

• CV or résumé (up to 4 pages)
• Transcripts and diplomas from every university attended
• Study/research objective essay
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English test scores (TOEFL or IELTS)
• GRE or GMAT scores, if your programme needs them
• Writing sample or portfolio (PhD and some fields)

Deadline

Each country sets its own deadline: for 2027–28 study, Romania's round closed on 14 May 2026, while France's is open until 23:59 Paris time on 1 December 2026.

Set by each country, usually more than a year before you would start. For 2027–28 study, many rounds closed between April and August 2026 (for example, 30 April in the Philippines and 3 August in Switzerland), but some are later: France's closes on 1 December 2026.