Fulbright Foreign Student Program – Funded Graduate Study in the USA

Last reviewed: September 28, 2026, against the official scholarship sources listed below.

Current status: There is no single global deadline. Each Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy sets its own application window, eligibility rules and award terms, so start by finding the page for your country on the official Fulbright website.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is one of the most well-known and respected international exchange programmes in the world. It enables graduate students, young professionals and artists from around the globe to study and conduct research in the United States, usually for one year or longer.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program aims to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

What the Fulbright Scholarship Typically Covers

Full or partial tuition
Living stipend
Airfare
Health insurance
Other allowances depending on the country programme

The exact benefits package varies by country because each Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy designs its own programme within the overall Fulbright framework.

Eligibility

Eligibility differs from country to country. In general:

You must have completed undergraduate education and hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree
In countries with a Fulbright Commission, you must meet the citizenship requirements of the agreement between that country and the United States. In countries run by a U.S. Embassy, you must be a citizen, national or permanent resident qualified to hold a passport issued by that country
You cannot hold citizenship or permanent residency of both a partner country and the United States
You cannot apply for programmes with clinical requirements, such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or nursing. Fields such as public health and nursing administration are allowed
Your country’s programme may add academic, professional, language or work-experience requirements

Applicants are expected to show leadership potential, academic excellence and a commitment to building mutual understanding.

Application Process

Applications are submitted through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your country of citizenship or permanent residence. There is no single global application portal for the Foreign Student Program.

Typical steps include:

Check the official Fulbright website or your country’s Fulbright Commission / U.S. Embassy website for current opportunities and deadlines.
Review the specific eligibility rules and required documents for your country.
Prepare your application materials (academic transcripts, study objective statement, personal statement, letters of recommendation, etc.).
Submit your application by the national deadline.
If shortlisted, you may be invited for an interview.

Ask your national Fulbright office how university placement works. Some programmes place candidates through the Institute of International Education, while others expect candidates to arrange placement themselves.

Official global information: https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/

Disclaimer: Because the Fulbright Foreign Student Program is administered at the country level, eligibility criteria, benefits, fields of study and deadlines vary widely. Always consult the official website of the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your country for accurate and up-to-date information.