The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S.
government and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the
people of other countries.” With this goal as a starting point, the Fulbright Program has provided almost
310,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study,
teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by then-Senator J. William
Fulbright of Arkansas. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The Fulbright Program awards approximately 8,000 grants annually. Roughly 1,600 U.S. students, 4,000 foreign students, 1,200 U.S. scholars, and 900 visiting scholars receive awards, in addition to several hundred teachers and professionals. Approximately 310,000 "Fulbrighters" have participated in the Program since its inception in 1946. Currently, the Fulbright Program operates in over 155 countries worldwide.
The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the United States
Congress to the Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions in foreign countries and in
the United States also contribute financially through cost-sharing and indirect support, such as salary
supplements, tuition waivers and university housing.
The Congressional appropriation for the Fulbright Program in fiscal year 2010 was $253.8 million. Foreign
governments, through binational commissions or foundations abroad, contributed approximately $60 million
directly to the Program.
The Fulbright Program is administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States
Department of State under policy guidelines established by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board
(FSB) and in cooperation with a number of private organizations.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs develops policies to ensure fulfillment of the purposes of the
Fulbright Program and administers the Program with the assistance of binational commissions and foundations in 50 countries, U.S. embassies in more than 100 other countries and a number of cooperating agencies in the
The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, composed of 12 educational and public leaders
appointed by the President of the United States, formulates policies for the administration of the Program,
establishes criteria for the selection of candidates and approves candidates nominated for awards.
Binational commissions and foundations abroad propose the annual country programs, which establish the
numbers and categories of grants based on input from local institutions. In a country without a commission or
foundation, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy develops and supervises the Fulbright Program.
Currently, 50 commissions are active, 47 of which are funded jointly by the United States and the respective
government. Each commission or foundation has a board, which is composed of an equal number of Americans
and citizens of the participating nation.
Some Fulbright programs are administered directly by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Others
are administered with the assistance of cooperating agencies. (Contact addresses and telephone numbers for
each cooperating agency are provided on page five of this fact sheet.) Foreign citizens interested in the
Fulbright Program should contact the Fulbright Commission or Foundation in their home country or, where no
commission exists, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy.
The term "Fulbright Program" encompasses a variety of exchange programs, including both individual and
institutional grants. For further information, please visit http://fulbright.state.gov/.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends approximately 1,100 American scholars and professionals per year
to approximately 125 countries, where they lecture and/or conduct research in a wide variety of academic and
The Fulbright Specialist Program, a short-term complement to the core Fulbright Scholar Program,
sends U.S. faculty and professionals to serve as expert consultants on curriculum, faculty development,
institutional planning and related subjects at overseas academic institutions for a period of 2 to 6 weeks.
The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program provides grants to approximately 800 foreign scholars from over 95
countries to lecture and/or conduct postdoctoral research at U.S. institutions for an academic semester to a full
The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (SIR) Program enables U.S. colleges and universities to host foreign
academics to lecture on a wide range of subject fields for a semester or academic year. Preference is given to
institutions developing an international agenda and/or serving a minority audience, including Historically Black
Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges, small liberal arts colleges and
community colleges. Approximately 50 grants are awarded annually.
MENA - Middle East and North Africa Regional Short-Term Visiting Fulbright Scholar Program in Science and Technology
25 scholars from 12 countries in the Middle East and North Africa received grants to participate in one of the five discipline-based cohorts. The program’s purposes was to promote faculty development and to build higher education capacity in science and technology fields in the participants’ home countries.
The Fulbright Visiting Specialist Program: Direct Access to the Muslim World, was a component of the
Visiting Scholar Program that helped U.S. higher education institutions and communities enrich their understanding
of Islamic civilization and culture as well as the social, political and economic developments in the Muslim world.
Scholars were matched with U.S. institutions for a period of 3 to 6 weeks, lectured or
taught short courses, assisted with program and curriculum development, interact with students and participated in
public outreach programs with community groups, local schools and civic organizations.
The new Fulbright Interfaith Community Action Program was designed to foster the development of more
peaceful and productive dialogue and action across religious and cultural boundaries. The scholars engage in a
semester-long U.S. exchange experience that includesd collaborative learning centered on interfaith and
intercultural dialogue and collaboration.
The Fulbright New Century Scholars global program brought together groups of approximately 30 outstanding research scholars and professionals from the U.S. and other participating countries. Participants were selected through an open competition to conduct multi-disciplinary research on a global theme. Aimed at bringing new depth and visibility to the core program, the Fulbright New Century Scholar Program supported interdisciplinary, collaborative research across borders. As of November 2010, no new topic is planned. For more information, visit this web site at a later date or contact program staff.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students,
young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year.
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships (ETA) Program, an element of the Fulbright U.S. Student
Program, places U.S. students as English teaching assistants in schools or universities overseas, thus improving
foreign students’ English language abilities and knowledge of the United States while enhancing their own
language skills and knowledge of the host country. ETAs may also pursue individual study/research plans in
addition to their teaching responsibilities.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables graduate students, young professionals and artists from
abroad to research and study in the United States for one year or longer.
The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program, a component of the Fulbright
Foreign Student Program, provides young teachers of English as a Foreign Language the opportunity to refine
their teaching skills and broaden their knowledge of American culture and customs while strengthening the
instruction of foreign languages at colleges and universities in the United States.
The International Fulbright Science and Technology Award, a component of the Fulbright Foreign Student
Program, is for doctoral study at prestigious U.S. institutions in science, technology, engineering or related
fields for approximately 40 outstanding foreign students per year.
The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program is a direct one-to-one exchange of teachers
from primary and secondary schools between the United States and other countries.
The new Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program, a component of the Fulbright Teacher
Exchange Program, will send U.S. teachers abroad and bring international teachers to the U.S. for a
semester to pursue individual projects, conduct research, take courses for professional development, and lead
master classes or seminars for teachers and students. The program is open to teachers from Argentina, India,
Israel, Finland, South Africa and the United States.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program brings outstanding mid-career professionals from developing
and emerging countries to the United States for a year of professional development and non-degree academic
work at the graduate level. Grants are awarded in various social and public policy fields.
A portion of the Fulbright Program is a
Congressional appropriation to the United States Department of Education for the Fulbright-Hays
Program. These grants are awarded to individual U.S. K-14 pre-teachers, teachers and administrators, predoctoral
students and post-doctoral faculty, as well as to U.S. institutions and organizations. Funding supports
research and training efforts overseas, which focus on non-western foreign languages and area studies.
The U.S. Fulbright Association is a private, non-profit organization started in 1977 by U.S. alumni of the
Fulbright Program. It is one of approximately 70 national Fulbright alumni associations worldwide. For
additional information, contact the Fulbright Association at 202-347-5543. The U.S. Fulbright Association’s
website is www.fulbright.org.
U.S. Department of State (General info about all programs)
J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board
U.S. Student Program
Foreign Student Program (general information only)
Institute of International Education (IIE)
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017-3580
Website: www.iie.org; www.us.fulbrightonline.org;
Foreign students from the Middle East and North Africa America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc.
1730 M Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20036
Junior Faculty from Central and Latin America LASPAU: Academic and Professional Program for the Americas
25 Mount Auburn Street
Cambridge, MA 02138-6095
U.S. Scholar Program and Visiting Scholar Program
Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES)
1400 K Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program
Institute of International Education (IIE)
1400 K Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program
Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowships Program Institute of International Education Humphrey Fellowship Program
1400 K Street, NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 326-7701
Fulbright-Hays Programs United States Department of Education
International Education Programs Service
1990 K Street, NW, 6th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006-8521