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Fulbright Student Program

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers UHD students the opportunity to study, conduct research, or teach English abroad after graduation while serving as cultural ambassadors of the United States. Open to all majors, Fulbright awards support a wide range of academic and creative projects in over 140 countries, covering travel and living expenses for an academic year.

Participating in Fulbright can strengthen your academic and professional profile, deepen your global awareness, and build lasting international connections. Interested UHD students are encouraged to start planning early, speak with faculty mentors, and connect with UHD’s Fulbright Program Advisor for guidance on choosing a country, developing a competitive proposal, and completing the application.

If you are a graduating senior, current UHD graduate student, or recent UHD graduate you will work with our Fulbright U.S. Student UHD advisors to apply for the Fulbright US Student Program.

2027-2028 Fulbright Interest Form

 

How to Apply to Fulbright

Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and is the largest and most prestigious international educational exchange program in the world. Each year, it awards thousands of grants that promote the exchange of people, knowledge, and skills between the United States and countries around the globe. By joining this long-standing tradition of academic excellence and global engagement, UHD applicants become part of a distinguished network of scholars, researchers, artists, and teachers committed to fostering mutual understanding and addressing shared global challenges.

To be eligible to apply for an award through the Fulbright US Student Program through UHD, you must...

  • be a US Citizen, and
  • have a GPA above 3.0
  • have completed a bachelor's degree or equivalent by the start of your award period (i.e., graduating seniors are eligible to apply). Undergraduates should begin their applications in the spring or summer of their junior year. UHD alumni and master's students may also apply.

 

Award Types

The Fulbright US Student Program funds several types of awards. The two main types of awards are Study/Research awards and English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) awards. You may apply for only one type of grant to one country per application cycle. If you are unsure about which program is right for you, discuss your options with one of our advisors.

  • Study/Research  Awards support individually designed academic or creative projects that students carry out in collaboration with a host institution abroad. Applicants propose a clear plan that may include formal coursework, directed study, fieldwork, lab or archival research, and other forms of scholarly or artistic inquiry. In most cases, grantees work closely with faculty or other experts at a foreign university or research center, and may sit in on classes, participate in research groups, or engage with local communities as part of their project. Some awards allow students to pursue a full graduate degree overseas, while others are intended for one-year, non-degree study. Opportunities are also available in the creative and performing arts, where projects might involve composing, performing, choreographing, or producing new work in partnership with local artists and institutions. Because program structures and expectations differ by country, applicants must carefully review each country’s award description and tailor their proposal to the local context and resources.

  • English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Awards place grantees in schools, universities, or community settings to support English language learning while building meaningful cultural connections with local students and educators. Specific requirements of ETA grants also vary by country.

March 23, 2026: Fulbright Day at UHD (Info sessions)

  • Information session and panel discussion

March 31, 2026: Fulbright US Student Program Application Opens 

  • Online application available
  • UHD Canvas site available 

June 8, 2026 - Writing week.

  • Writing workshops and help are available daily.
  • Applicants may revise all summer with care to work diligently prior to the start of Fall semester.

July 27, 2026: Practice interview week

  • If needed or desired, the applicant can ask for a helpful interview.

August 24, 2026: two weeks for applicant preparation.

  • Student applicants need to ask for recommendations this week (latest).
  • Students should share their Statement of Grant Purpose and Short Answers with their recommenders to assist them in writing their letters.

September 7, 2026: Deadline for all UHD applicants to submit their materials in Canvas.

  • If the applicant misses the deadline, they will not progress through the UHD process.

September 15, 2026: Interview week.

  • All applicants that are currently enrolled at UHD will interview during the first half of the week. Interviews will be on Zoom.
  • These are to provide feedback to strengthen your application and to write the required Campus Committee Evaluation (not counted among the three recommenders).

September 22, 2026: Informing key people and obtaining letter of recommendation and/or UHD Campus Committee Evaluation.

  • Inform provost (or other source) of final candidates and obtain University letter of recommendation if needed (see Appendix A below).
  • Complete Campus Committee Evaluation

September 29, 2026: Final entry by program advisor and student applicant into the Fulbright system.

  • Time to enter information in the Fulbright Portal.

October 6, 2026: Official deadline.

The award catalogue and dates are announced each spring, and the deadline is typically the first week of October. 

Application Components

A complete Fulbright U.S. Student Program application typically includes the following components:

  • Online application form – Biographical information, educational background, proposed host country, and basic eligibility details. <Insert link to form.>
  • Statement of Grant Purpose – A focused, project-specific essay that explains what you will do abroad, why it matters, and how you will carry it out in your host country.
  • Personal Statement – A reflective essay that describes your background, experiences, goals, and how they have prepared you for a Fulbright grant.
  • Three letters of recommendation – Written by faculty, supervisors, or other professionals who can speak in detail to your academic, professional, and personal strengths.
  • Transcripts – Academic records from all post-secondary institutions attended.

Depending on the type of award and the requirements of the host country, applicants may also need to submit the following:

  • Language evaluation(s), if required – An assessment completed by a qualified language evaluator when the host country or project requires proficiency in a language other than English.
  • Affiliation letter(s), if required – A letter from a host institution or mentor abroad confirming their willingness to support your proposed study or research project.
  • Supplementary materials for arts applicants, if applicable – Portfolios, recordings, writing samples, or other creative work demonstrating your artistic practice.
  • The application essays are the most important component of your application - plan to write several drafts of each essay and have them reviewed by UHD Fulbright advisors. Most applicants spend several weeks preparing their applications.

 

Contact

The UHD Fulbright Program Advisor (FPA) 
Dr. Jeffrey Jackson 
Professor of Philosophy
Department of History, Humanities, and Languages 
One Main Building N1007C
One Main Street 
Houston, TX 77002 
713-221-2793 
jacksonjef@uhd.edu

FAQ

Start by thinking about the kind of work you most want to do abroad and the skills you want to use and strengthen. Study/Research awards are best for students who are excited to design and carry out an academic, professional, or artistic project under the guidance of a host institution. ETA awards are ideal for applicants who want to support English language learning, work closely with students, and build community through teaching and cultural exchange. Consider your background, your future plans, and which grant type will let you both draw on your existing strengths and develop new ones that fit your long‑term goals.

UHD students are strongly encouraged to apply through the UHD campus process. Applying through UHD connects you with advising, feedback on your essays, and (when applicable) a campus interview and institutional evaluation that are submitted with your application.

Alumni may apply at large directly through Fulbright.

Fulbright reviewers look for a clear connection between your goals and your proposed host country.

  • Study/Research applicants should propose projects that make sense in that specific national context.

  • ETA applicants should show thoughtful interest in the country’s educational system and culture, and, where required, adequate language skills. Beyond simply “wanting to travel,” you should be able to explain why this country is an appropriate and meaningful setting for your work and how you will engage respectfully with local communities.

Please reach out to us if you want help thinking through country choices.

There are approximately 2,000 awards to U.S. students through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

Strong Fulbright applications typically grow out of multiple rounds of feedback. UHD applicants are encouraged to work with:

  • The UHD Fulbright Program Advisor for overall strategy and fit
  • Faculty mentors in your discipline or region of interest
  • Writing tutors or a writing center for clarity, structure, and style

Be sure to give your reviewers time, ideally several weeks, to read your drafts and provide meaningful comments.

Study/Research applicants are expected to identify a host institution or organization in their proposed country, and many awards require a formal Affiliation Letter at the time of application.

Typical steps:

  1. Research potential hosts (universities, research centers, NGOs, cultural institutions, etc.) that align with your proposed project.

  2. Reach out directly, well before the deadline, with an email describing who you are, your proposed project, why you are contacting them, and what kind of supervision or collaboration you envision.

  3. If they agree, request a brief letter on official letterhead, in English or with an official English translation, signed (digital signatures are accepted) by the faculty member or staff member who will host you.

Affiliation requirements and deadlines vary by award, so it is critical to read the country/award description carefully on the Fulbright site and follow those instructions.

 

Language requirements depend on the country and award. Many Fulbright grants have no language requirement, while others require intermediate or advanced proficiency. Always check the specific award description first.

For awards that require language skills:

  • You must complete the Language Self Evaluation in the online application.

  • You must also register a Foreign Language Evaluator (typically a professional language instructor), preferably a university faculty member, for the Foreign Language Evaluation Form which is submitted online through the Fulbright system.

  • For less‑commonly taught languages, a college‑educated native speaker may be acceptable if a professional instructor is not available (the evaluator cannot be a family member).

UHD students should contact the relevant language department or the UHD Fulbright Program Advisor early to identify an appropriate evaluator.

Yes. After the UHD campus deadline, your application is typically unlocked so that you can revise materials based on feedback from the campus committee or your Fulbright Program Advisor. You may continue to edit your essays and other components until the final submission deadline set by UHD (usually shortly before the national Fulbright deadline in October).

Once the national deadline passes, no further changes are allowed.

Fulbright selection happens in stages:

  1. National screening: After the October national deadline, applications go through an eligibility and completeness review, followed by evaluation by the National Screening Committees.

  2. Initial notification: By around late January, applicants are notified whether they are “Recommended” (semi‑finalists) or “Not Recommended.”
  1. Host country and final review: Recommended applications are then reviewed by host‑country partners, the U.S. Department of State, and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Final decisions are released on a rolling basis, typically from late winter through late spring; timelines vary by country. You will receive an email when your status is updated in the Fulbright application portal.