Graduate School

Fulbright Fellowship Opportunities

Established by the United States Congress in 1946, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program aims to increase mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through the exchange of people, knowledge, and skills.

It is the largest U.S. international exchange program, offering opportunities for recent graduates, postgraduate candidates, and developing professionals and artists to conduct career-launching study and research in more than 140 countries worldwide.

About

The program is funded primarily through an annual appropriation from Congress to the Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions also contribute through cost-sharing and indirect support, (e.g., through salary supplements, tuition waivers, and university housing). Most grants require a commitment of one academic year, although in some cases advanced doctoral candidates and candidates in the creative and performing arts may submit requests for grants of not less than six months. Applications are considered from candidates in all fields.

The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Program provides grants to colleges and universities to fund individual doctoral students who conduct research in other countries, in modern foreign languages and area studies, for periods of six to 12 months. The program aims to deepen research knowledge on and help the nation develop capability in areas of the world not generally included in U.S. curricula. Projects focusing on Western Europe are not supported.

Programs

Established in 1946, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program aims to increase mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through the exchange of people, knowledge, and skills. It is the largest U.S. international exchange program, offering opportunities for recent graduates, postgraduate candidates, and developing professionals and artists to conduct career-launching study and research in more than 140 countries worldwide.

The program is funded primarily through an annual appropriation from Congress to the Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions also contribute through cost-sharing and indirect support, e.g., through salary supplements, tuition waivers, and university housing.  Most grants require a commitment of one academic year, although in some cases advanced doctoral candidates and candidates in the creative and performing arts may submit requests for grants of not less than six months. Applications are considered from candidates in all fields.

Eligibility

  • Be U.S. citizens at the time of application.
  • Hold a B.A. degree or the equivalent before the start of the grant and/or be a master’s or doctoral degree candidate. In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional study and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement.
  • Have sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken language of the host country to communicate with the people and to carry out the proposed study.

For more information, please visit Fulbright website.

Application Deadlines & Interview Dates

  • Brown Initial Submission Deadline: September 2, by 5:00 p.m.
  • On campus interviews: mid-late September
  • National Online Submission Deadline: October 11, 2022

For Brown graduate students the Fulbright application process begins at Fulbright's online application page. Technically, all applications go through the University's Fulbright Program Advisor (FPA), the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. All of your application work, however, is done directly online on the Fulbright site. As per the instructions found at Getting Started page on the Fulbright website, all of your application materials are submitted online at the Fulbright site. All of these materials must be submitted by the established Brown Initial Submission Deadline (also called the "internal" deadline). Note: once you submit your application material, you will lose access to your application until after your campus interview.

Shortly after the Brown Initial Submission Deadline you will be scheduled for a campus interview. You will receive email notification from the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the day and time of your campus interview at Brown.

Following the campus interview there will be a three to five day period when you will again have access to your online application. This access is granted by the FPA who "unsubmits" your application following the campus interview allowing your access. During this short period you will be able to make any additions, updates, or edits based, at least in part, on what you may have learned through the campus interview process.

At the end of this period of access, which will be announced, you must once again submit your online application according to the date and time of the Brown Final Submission Deadline. The final step in the process is when the FPA submits all Brown Fulbright applications in a batch to Fulbright.

Fulbright Application Process Steps

  1. Submit your application on the Fulbright online application site by the date and time of the Brown Initial Submission Deadline.
  2. Participate in the campus interview.
  3. Make any changes to your online application based on what you may have learned in the interview.
  4. Resubmit your online application according to the date and time of the Brown Final Submission Deadline.

The Fulbright application process is handled entirely online and Brown students must submit all materials via the Fulbright online application portal. All letters of recommendation are submitted through the Fulbright online application system, as well. 

Questions

If you have further questions, contact William_Wittels@Brown.edu.

The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program provides opportunities for doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. The program is designed to deepen research knowledge and increase the study of modern foreign languages, cultural engagement, and area studies not generally included in U.S. curricula. 

Projects may focus on one or more of the following geographic areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, South Asia, the Near East, Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and the Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and its territories).

Applications are considered from candidates in all fields.

Students may propose research for 6 to 12 months. The fellowship may not be renewed..Brown University students should aspire to align the timing of the grant with Brown's funding terms (fall semester, spring semester, and summer term).

Eligibility

  • Be a citizen of the United States; or (b) Be a permanent resident of the United States*; Be a graduate student in good standing at an eligible institution of higher education and who, when the fellowship period begins, has been admitted to candidacy in a doctoral degree program in modern foreign languages and area studies at that institution;
  • Plan a teaching career in the United States upon graduation; and
  • Possess adequate skills in the foreign language(s) necessary to carry out the dissertation research project.
  • Students may not accept certain grants (Fulbright US Student Program administered by IIE(FUSP), Boren, IREX, Japan Foundation) in the same fiscal year that they receive a US/ED Fulbright-Hays grant.

Additional Details

Deadlines

Internal Application Deadline: March 21, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST
External Deadline: April 11, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST

2023 Tips and Assistance

The U.S. Department of Education's International and Foreign Language Education office (IFLE) has posted a pre-recorded technical assistance  webinar on its YouTube channel. The webinar covers a variety of topics, including DDRA program requirements, selection criteria, and frequently asked questions.

There is also a live Q & A session hosted by DDRA staff on March 8, 2023 3:00-4:15 pm EDT. All potential applicants are welcome to attend the live session. Attendees should ensure they have viewed the pre-recorded webinar ahead of the live question and answer session.

Additionally, applicants are encouraged to watch the DDRA Fellow Alumni Panel Discussion and Application Tips video.

Special Instructions

  • Brown students must apply online using the Department of Education application system before the internal Brown deadline. The DDRA online system at G5 will not process your application if it does not adhere to the guidelines. 
  • All student applications have to be reviewed internally at Brown University by the Graduate School and by the Office of Sponsored Projects prior to the institutional submission of all student applications. 
  • Please make sure that your recommenders are aware of the guidelines that pertain to their recommendation letters. 
  • Tips on navigating the application system can been seen on the Department of Education site
  • The announcement in the Federal Register contains additional details.
  • If you have questions, please contact Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs William Wittels

Graduate School Fulbright Program Adviser (FPA)

William Wittels

The Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship, a component of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, was inaugurated in academic year 2012-13. The Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship will allow fellows to serve in professional placements in foreign government ministries or institutions and gain hands-on public sector experience in participating foreign countries while simultaneously carrying out an academic research/study project.

Fellowships will be Offered in the Following Countries

  • African Union
  • Burma
  • Chile
  • Cote d'Ivoire
  • Guatemala
  • Kosovo
  • Malawi
  • Nepal
  • Peru
  • Samoa
  • Timor-Leste
  • Ukraine

U.S. Embassies, Fulbright Commissions (where applicable), and host country governments will coordinate appropriate professional placements for candidates in public policy areas including, but not limited to, public health, education, agriculture, justice, energy, environment, public finance, economic development, information technology, and communications. 

Eligibility

  • Be a U.S. citizen by October 11, 2016.
  • Have a Master’s level degree (MA, JD, MBA, MPA, MPH, MSW, MSc, or other) with an area of focus that is applicable to public policy prior to September 1, 2017, OR be currently enrolled in a doctoral program prior to the grant period which will commence in September 2017.
     a) Candidates who hold a Ph.D. at the time of application or who will hold a Ph.D. at any time during the grant period are not eligible.
    b) Candidates with Medical Degrees are eligible with some stipulations (see FAQs on Fulbright website).
  • Have at least two years of full-time, professional work experience in policy-related fields.

More Information

Find more information on the Fulbright website. 

Deadline

October 11, 2016

The Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program operates on the principle of reciprocal exchange and provides opportunities for outstanding American students to study and/or conduct research in Canada. Award recipients include American citizens who are graduate students, prospective graduate students, or junior professionals.

Awards

  • Traditional Fulbright student awards: US $15,000 for one nine-month academic year. These all-discipline awards can be taken up at any college, university, think tank, or government agency in Canada.

Eligibility

  • Be in compliance with all Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB) guidelines.
  • Be in compliance with all governmental regulations regarding visas, immigration, travel and residence.
  • Be a citizen of the United States (permanent resident and/or landed immigrant status are not sufficient).
  • Have met the appropriate degree requirements.
  • Where necessary, be able to demonstrate the appropriate language proficiency.

Please note that Applicants may not

  • Hold permanent residency status in the prospective host country
  • Currently reside in the prospective host country.
  • Have resided abroad for 5 or more consecutive years in the 6 year period immediately preceding the date of application.

External Deadline

October 8, 2019

Special Instructions

Applicants must collect all supporting documents, e.g., foreign language report, references, transcripts, etc., and submit them with the hard copy application to Thomas Lewis, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Barbara Bennett. Supporting documents must be received in their original sealed envelopes with the signature or stamp of the individual or institution across the flap.

For More Information

Contact Thomas Lewis, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. For information about the Fulbright program, contact Michelle Emond, Program Officer (Students).

The Fulbright Postgraduate Student Award enables a British student to pursue a PhD in any discipline available at Brown University.

A Fulbright award is much more than just funding. Becoming a Fulbrighter means entering into a diverse community of accomplished individuals. A Fulbright grantee's experience is quite unique and as a Fulbrighter, you will participate in a range of cultural, social and networking events during and after your time as an awardee. Fulbright grantees join a global community of Fulbright alumni including many Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and heads of state. 

Since the program was created in 1946, more than 390,000 Fulbrighters worldwide had the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to complex international challenges. Led by the United States government in partnership with 49 binational commissions and 160 countries worldwide, the Fulbright program offers unique international and cultural exchange programs for passionate and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds.

Application Requirements 

Applicants should only apply if they fully intend to apply to Brown University.

It is expected that, before making a Fulbright application, applicants will make contact with the relevant department or faculty member at Brown that aligns with their research. Please provide evidence of this contact, such as email correspondence with the relevant department or faculty member who would supervise the project.

Grant Amount

This Award covers up to five years of PhD study.

  • Full tuition: Tuition will be covered within the five-year guarantee. For 2020-21 tuition is $57,112.
  • Stipend: A stipend that will award no less than $26,276 for each academic year. Summers are funded on top of this amount.
  • Transitional funding: A transitional stipend in the amount of $1,200 to be dispersed in the first weeks of your first semester.
  • Health insurance: Brown University will cover the cost of the full premium of your student health insurance plan.
  • Dental insurance: Brown University will cover the cost of the full premium of your student dental insurance plan.

More Information

For more information about making an application, visit the Fulbright How to Apply page.

Applicants

All applicants must:

  • Be U.S. citizens at the time of application.
  • Hold a B.A. degree or the equivalent before the start of the grant and/or be a master’s or doctoral degree candidate. In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional study and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement.
  • Have sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken language of the host country to communicate with the people and to carry out the proposed study.