Previous Experience Abroad
1. I am applying to study in the same country where I did my junior year abroad, but I had to withdraw from the spring semester and move back home for personal reasons. I then returned in the fall for a semester of independent study. I am wondering if this extra semester will be considered as part of my junior year abroad, or if it will lower my chances for a Fulbright scholarship. Thank you
A. Depends. In your CV discuss the time that you spend in the country and the circumstances. Usually undergraduate study abroad will not negatively affect your application.
2. If you have worked for an extended period of time (i.e. 2 years) in the country to which you are applying, do you still recommend that students submit proposals? In my case, my project for my dissertation research would be very different from the work I was doing a few years ago. I would greatly appreciate your advice. Thank you!
A. Depends on the country. However, in most cases this length of time living and working in the host country would put you at a serious disadvantage for that country’s competition. I recommend that you contact the appropriate program manager for more guidance.
3. I studied abroad as an undergrad for five months in 1998. Does this disqualify me from receiving a grant to be a ETA in the same country?
A. No.
4. Does it put an applicant at a disadvantage to have done previous research or have spent time in the country where they are applying?
A. Depends on the amount of time and nature of the research (undergraduate vs. graduate).
Project Proposals/Personal Statements/CV
1. In her article about preparing her project proposal, (Fulbright Applicant Newsletter) Andrea Sims talks about getting help from her campus Fulbright advisor. Specifically, the advisor read and re-read her proposal. As an at-large candidate, and a fine artist not an academic, are their advisors available for me to contact for that kind of support?
A. Some Fulbright program advisers are willing to assist recent alumni from their campuses; so if you received your degree in the past year or so you might wish to contact your alma mater’s FPA. Otherwise, you might want to consult with employers, former professors or other people who could give you intelligent feedback and advice on your proposal. You should certainly communicate with the relevant IIE program manager (for the world area to which you want to apply), as well.
2. I am applying in filmmaking, and a recent Q.&A. response stated that the screening committee for applicants in this field would be composed of film oriented people. However, in the article "Writing for the outside world" the author writer makes a point of telling candidates that committee will most likely not be versed in their field of study. Are the arts an exception to this general rule?
A. While the US screening committee(s) that reviews filmmaking applications will certainly be comprised of people with expertise in this field, it is nevertheless possible that they may not know about the intended subject matter of your project. I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that your film samples should be high quality examples of your best work—and ideally connected in some way to your proposed Fulbright project. This will be critical as far as the US committee is concerned—as they more than likely won’t even bother to read your application if they don’t like your film sample. However, this does not mean that you shouldn’t take the time to make your application (and the proposal specifically) as strong as possible. For this, I would recommend using the tips given on pp.112-113 of the US Student Fulbright program handbook. These tips should also be available on our website.
3. Is it viewed positively or negatively if an applicant indicates s/he would work during the time of the grant? For my proposal, I would be completing a master's, and do not wish to work a lot while studying. But since I do not have a lot of personal funds or fellowships to help lessen the amount of money needed for my project, I thought it may be helpful to indicate I am willing to work during my stay.
A. Fulbright grantees are not permitted to work during their grants. Therefore, you should make no plans to seek employment while on a Fulbright grant, unless you receive specific permission to do so from the supervising agency in the host country.
Host Affiliation
1. Can letters of affiliation be in a foreign language? My hosts speak fairly good English, but I would prefer to make it easier on them to write the letters.
A. Letters of support/affiliation can be written in a foreign language, but an English translation must also be included. It is fine for the applicant to do the translation.
2. I am in the process of securing affiliations/letters of support from my potential host country - need the letter from the institution be in English? I am working with some Spanish-speaking professors who are not English proficient. Would they need to get the letter translated? Can I do that here?
A. See above.
3. I made contact with the professor I'd like to study with, however, our correspondence has been through email. I asked my campus advisor about this and he told me that it was perfectly fine to include a copy of the email with my application. This is a while back and therefore I did not pursue anything handwritten. In this issue, it states that emails are not acceptable forms of affiliation. It is now too late for me to pursue a written/signed letter from this professor since he is in Europe. A copy of the email would provide evidence of contact and positive response, right? Did my campus advisor give me the wrong info?
A. Emails from any source are unacceptable. There is no way to verify their origins and letters of reference and affiliation must be signed. You still have ample time to obtain a signed affiliation letter before the October 21 deadline.BR>
4. Is there a list available of organizations who have sponsored Fulbrighters in the past? I've searched for publications listing overseas colleges and universities, but no luck....
A. Generally speaking, no. However, if the country has a Fulbright Commission, there may be information on the Commission’s website about individual grantees and projects.
5. I am still somewhat confused about what constitutes an affiliation. I have identified and contacted a professor with whom I want to work. Do I need a letter from him, or from his university, to demonstrate an affiliation? Also, my project is primarily independent research although I would like to take some classes at the university that are relevant to my project. Is that possible? Do I need to indicate that in my proposal?
A. A letter from the professor indicating support for your project and willingness to work with you will suffice. Most countries allow grantees to include some coursework as part of their project plan. However, in some countries, there may be tuition costs or fees for which the grantee will be responsible.
1. I am an undergraduate student who will be graduating June 2005. Is it preferred that the referrers of undergraduate students all be professors? I realize that a similar question was already asked, but since the inquirer was a masters student, I thought I would ask about undergraduate students. I am considering asking the manager of the student co-cop store where I have been working for 2 years to write one of the recommendations. As I think he can comment about me and my ability to accomplish my project, I thought he would be an ideal referrer, but I thought I would make sure this was okay in advance first.
A. This advice applies to ALL degree levels. Recommendations are to address the applicant’s academic background and preparation relative to the project that is proposed. For this reason, academic references are preferable. In some cases, references from a work supervisor may be appropriate when the job functions are directly related to the project activities.
Language
1. I have found that the best way to learn a foreign language is to study in that country. Does Fulbright offer assistance to students wishing to expand their foreign language skills in this manner?
A. Depends on the country. Many countries expect the applicant to have sufficient languages skills to complete their projects so support for language learning would not be available. Some countries offer language courses prior to the start of the grant. In very rare circumstances could an applicant’s actual project solely involve language study. These kinds of projects are generally not very competitive.
2. I have previously lived and worked in several Spanish speaking countries and while I am fluent in Spanish, I have not taken a formal language course since highschool. For my language report form would it be appropriate to have a professor who has worked with me in the field and knows my language capabilities fill out the form rather than a traditional language instructor?
A. That would be adequate.
Others
1. I am currently enrolled as a Masters student but will be graduating this fall and do not know as of yet where I will be attending school for my PhD Fall 2005. Does this mean I have to apply unaffiliated with a university? Will applying independently affect the chances of obtaining a Fulbright?
A. If you will be enrolled in a US college or university at the time you submit your application, then you would need to apply as an enrolled candidate through that institution. And while “At-Large” candidates are usually not at any disadvantage compared to enrolled applicants, you might wish to confirm this with the IIE program manager for the specific country(s) in which you are interested.
2. I am currently taking time off from my Graduate School; officially it's called "inactive status." Should I still apply through the school, or should I submit an "at-large" application?
A. If you’re simply taking time away from school but will still be enrolled in some capacity, then you should apply through your school. Otherwise, your status would be “At-Large.” Overall, I’d suggest contacting your campus Fulbright program adviser for the final word on this.
3. I graduated this May and I am applying for the Fulbright grant as an at-large candidate. In the application where I am asked for my academic/professional rank what should I put? I had an internship over the summer, will work part-time as a substitute teacher this semester and as an RA next semester, how should I classify myself?
A. Since it sounds as though you will be a substitute teacher at the time you submit your application, you should indicate this as your current academic/professional rank.
4. Will it work with or against me if I am a non-traditional student who is just now completing my BA at the age of 35?
A. NO, this will not work against you. We welcome applicants from of all ages for all programs except for the Swiss Government Grants and the French ETAs. Unfortunately, these programs have age limitations enforced by the host governments who sponsor these programs.
5. The online application includes two sections for "Fellowships, Honors, Publications, Extracurricular Activities" etc. The first such section on Page 2 provides only 6 lines in which to respond, while the second section, on Page 3 Question #23, allows for up to 30 lines of text. What is the difference--aside from the size of the response space--between these two questions? Should the 6-line text just be a shorter, distilled version of the longer 30-line text? Thanks in advance.
A. There really is no difference between the two sections except what you’ve already alluded to. The space limitations on Page 2 mean that you can only list your most important “Fellowships, Honors, Publications, Extracurricular Activities, etc.” in that section (and in a fairly condensed fashion.) Since you have more space on Page 3, you can list more of these activities and honors here, and elaborate on them when necessary.
6. I am a US citizen studying at a Canadian University and applying for an at large Fulbright grant. Am I at a disadvantage applying from outside of the United States?
A. No. Applying “At-Large” from outside of the US should not be a disadvantage—unless you plan on applying to Canada. (If this is the case, you should contact the IIE program manager for the Western Hemisphere for advice.)
7. I am applying in the creative arts. I am primarily a sculptor, and some of my work (but not all) has a kinetic component. I have slides of all my work, and additional video of the kinetic work. I hear rumors that the committee might just choose one form of documentation to see, in which case I'd much prefer they look at my slides. Should I skip the video entirely and just send slides to make sure they see all my work, even though the video definitely gives a much better sense of one or two particular pieces?
A. You should submit both the slides and the video if that will best represent your work.
8. I am applying for a grant in the creative arts, and my work falls somewhere between sculpture and installation work, with most pieces having elements of both. I'm wondering if I should list sculpture, since it's the slightly more conventional of the two, or installation art, since there are likely to be fewer applicants here and it may make me stand out - but does it really matter which of these I list as my area of study?
A. Both sculpture and installation art applications are reviewed by the same committee, so just choose whichever field seems more appropriate to you.
9. I am applying for a Fulbright to a country of which I am a citizen concurrently with my US citizenship. Although it is not asked on the application, is this something best made clear or ignored?
A. Actually, this is asked in the application. On Page 1A we ask for applicants to list all of their citizenships. You must include this information in this section. Some countries will not accept applications from dual citizens with that country so be sure to note any limitations in the country summary for your country of application. You should also note that if you receive a Fulbright award to a country where you are a citizen that you will be required to enter the country on your US passport. This may cause complications with regards to obtaining a visa as an American, and there are no exceptions to this rule. In addition, some countries have laws that require military service from its citizen. If you have not fulfilled this military service commitment, for a country for which you are a citizen, you could be conscripted to do so when you arrive to start your Fulbright grant.
10. I'm interested in a Master's program in Sustainable Development. Any suggestions as to which field of study this would fall under? Perhaps International relations ?
A. International Relations would be fine, but Economic Development may be a better option. It is entirely up to you. Also, you only need to use the numerical field of study code when it is asked for the code. To do this you will need to make an amendment to the printed application.
11. Are there any Fulbright opportunities available for students who are not U.S. citizens, but are permanent residents? If not, are there any similar programs a permanent resident would be eligible for?
A. I’m afraid that we can only accept applications from US citizens. Permanent residents are not eligible to apply. However, if you are a PhD candidate in non-Western studies, you would be eligible for the Department of Education's Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program.
12. If you have a spouse or significant other who will not be a dependant during the Fulbright year (they have their own income), how do they get a VISA to accompany the Fulbright Fellow for that year at the host country?
A. Your spouse will be considered your dependent if he/she accompanies you for the full duration of your grant regardless if they have their own income. It would be up to you to find out how to obtain a visa for your spouse and I can only recommend that you contact the appropriate host country’s embassy for more information. I’m afraid that a significant other is not considered a dependent under any circumstances. Whether or not your significant other could obtain a visa, as your dependent is again only a question that your host country’s embassy could answer.
13. Seeing as many grants are awarded in June, and many projects begin in August, should we find funding to assure our positions and projects before our grants are available to us? For instance, should I take out a loan if I need to cover foreign university expenses before June?
A. This is a decision that you would have to make based on your personal circumstances at the time.
14. I graduated with an MA in 1981 and am interested in applying for a research fellowship in the area of documentary photography. Is there an age limit that one must fall within in order to be considered? Also, would this type of research be considered under the creative arts category? Thank you.
A. We welcome applicants from of all ages for all programs except for the Swiss Government Grants and the French ETAs. Unfortunately, these programs have age limitations enforced by the host governments who sponsor these programs. Yes, documentary photography is considered a creative art.
15. When submitting a wind instrument demo cd is it okay to record the majority of works as solos, without the accompaniment parts? I would like to submit my most recent recordings, however, they are without the piano/harpsichord accompaniment.
A. Yes, this is acceptable.
16. I graduated in December 2003, and have the option of being an at-large applicant or apply through the university (Sept. deadline). Does it matter which route I choose (i.e., is one option more advantageous)?
A. The decision is entirely up to you, and in terms of how you will be screened there is no advantage to either option over the other. However, you may find that applying through a university gives you more resources to use in preparing your application. To some applicants this help is an advantage. Of course, if the university does not give you a good evaluation then this could also be a disadvantage.
17. I am applying to conduct an ethnomusicology research project and private music lessons are an integral part of the proposal. Should I include supplementary materials, as in a performing arts proposal, or is this unnecessary?
A. Applicants in Ethnomusicology are welcome to submit supplementary materials in addition to the Fulbright applications.
18. I am a recent college graduate and wish to conduct an independent research project with the assistance of a Fulbright grant. However, I am not currently enrolled in any graduate program and my research will not fulfill any degree requirements. Does this make me ineligible?
A. No, this does not make you ineligible and you are more than welcome to apply. Obviously you will need to justify how this research project will benefit you in terms of your professional, personal or academic development.
19. I am wondering about the exact policy concerning the use of additional grant funds aside from the full-fulbright grant. The reason being is that my proposed project is a specific component of a larger project, which will itself require additional funds. Is my understanding correct, concerning the use of other-than-fulbright-funds, that I may make of use of other funds as long as they do not equal the amount of my fulbright grant? Or, said another way, is it considered acceptable to make use of resources purchased by other project grants as long as they are not directly given to me as funds? In my case, the use of extra funds would pertain to the use of equipment unable to be purchased from the income of a fulbright grant.
A. A grantee cannot receive any funds that duplicate the benefits of the Fulbright grant. Therefore, if the Fulbright grant were to cover international round trip travel and maintenance you could not accept any other funding for these costs. If you were charged tuition, or had research expenses that the Fulbright did not cover then you could accept other grants for these costs.
20. The instructions for Creative Writing applications state that applicants should submit ten pages representing two or three works, which seems more applicable to prose than poetry. If I apply as a poet, how would that change the requirement? Would ten short poems, for instance, be acceptable?
A. As long as there are not more than 10 pages of your work submitted, it is entirely up to you how you arrange the poems on the page. Ten short poems would be fine.
21. On Average, what percentage of people who apply for the Fulbright grant actually receive it?
A. We cannot provide one average for the entire Fulbright program, as every country/region’s competition is separate. Therefore, this would greatly depend upon the country you were applying. Please contact the appropriate program manager for more information. You can also review competition statistics on our website.