PhDfriend’s Guide to the Fulbright Scholarship
Welcome to the PhDfriend’s Guide to the Fulbright Scholarship, where a Fulbright alumni shares his experience and advice on how to get a Fulbright Scholarship and what to do afterwards. You can read through the site by following the links below each article, or choose a desired topic from the menu on the right. Site author is constantly updating the content, however, if you would like to add something or ask a question, please add a comment to the appropriate page.
The content pages are divided into four categories, which chronologically correspond to the stages of the Fulbright Scholarship application process.
General Information
Before applying you should read:
- Fulbright Information
A description of the Fulbright Scholarship with some interesting facts that you might not be aware of. - My Fulbright Timeline
My steps in the Fulbright Scholarship application process month by month from early 2008 to 2010. - Fulbright Scholarship Amount
What is the scholarship amount and other grant advantages.
Fulbright Application
The application process requires an extended preparation. My took one month, and here is how I did it.
- Fulbright Application Steps
Preparing your Fulbright application can be confusing. Here are the documents and materials needed for submitting the application. - Fulbright Personal Statement Letter
is an extension to your CV. It is extremely important, and mine was a killer. Check out how I did it. - Fulbright Project Proposal
You are getting your Fulbright Scholarship to do something. How should you present your project? - Fulbright Recommendation Letters
Of course you think the world about yourself, but what about other people? - Fulbright Interview
is one of the crucial steps in the application process. Here you can read about my experiences with the interview and questions I was asked.
After Being Accepted
After you are accepted, there are still some things to do.
- Fulbright Forms & Documents
You need a medical examination, and a lot of forms and documents need to be signed. Also, the money issues are addressed. - J-1 Visa and Waiver
The J-1 exchange visa has some catches that you might not be aware of. - TOEFL Examination Guide
The English language test to examine your language skills. Here are some hints on how to show your skills.
After Arrival to the USA
This is where the fun begins.
- TODO After Arival to the USA
Social security number, health insurance, and other nuances. - Fulbright Traveling
If you want to travel out of the USA during your stay, there are some things you need to know. - Fulbright Enrichment Seminar
More than a hundred Fulbright fellows gather for a couple of days and discuss various topics.
Dear Madam/Sir
Would you please tell me that where can I find the Fulbright pin as shown on your site.Thanks
Best Regards
Don’t think non-fulbrighters can get one. I got mine at the Fulbright enrichment seminar.
Best!
thanks
dear sir,how are you?well,am kebba and i want to have a scholarship to your country..and how can start to apply for it?
Hi Kebba. First of all, you could only get a Fulbright to my country (Slovenia) if you were a US citizen. To apply for a Fulbright to the US, contact your local US Embassy.
I would like to apply for a Fulbright to pursue a PhD. I just completed my GRE test and my scores are not so great (Verbal 156, Quant 143). Do you think I should still apply for the scholarship. I think the rest of my experience is good. I saw a comment on a site where they asked the person to redo the test but they still granted the person the scholarship. What do you suggest in my case? Apply or wait the year, re-sitting the GRE test in the meantime.
AFAIK, most Fulbrighters (foreigners researching in the US) are already grad students of some sort. The full PhD, multi-year scholarships are rare and depend on the country of applicant residence. You should contact your local US Embassy for details.
I have been surfing online more than three hours as of late, but I by no means discovered any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty price enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you probably did, the internet can be a lot more helpful than ever before.
Thank you very much
Sir I would like to inquire as to what proper sets of documents are required. And due to the change in format of GRE what would be an appropriate score.
AFAIK, all necessary instructions are usually included in the application documents. However, it was not required for me to include a GRE score in my application.
I have applied for the Fullbright PhD scholarship 2013. My GRE score is Analytical Writing = 3.0, Verbal = 520 and Quantitative = 560. I am not sure whether this score is good enough for this scholarship. Please let me know that should I need to reappear in GRE exam.
The other thing I would like to know is that, I have my MS degree from University of Southern California Los Angeles in 2009. As I have already spend 2 years in US during my MS studies, does this make any good/bad effect on my chances of being selected ??
Dear Adnan Aslam … I wasn’t required to take a GRE for my Fulbright, so you should contact your US embassy for requirements for your country. As for your previous studies in the US, I think it would be a disadvantage if lots of interesting candidates apply. However, that’s my feeling and not a general truth.
hello sir…..
currently i am pursuing phd(6 months) on Indian mythology……i want to pursue this topic in u.s.a’s university…….for scholarship in Fulbright for phd , do i need 5 years of teaching experience????
It depends on the type of the Fulbright Scholarship. You should check your local US embassy.
hi, i want to learn more about how this is possible
Hey,
Thanks for the website. You’re interview link is broken tho (as well as some others) and I’d very much like to read it. Any chance it could be fixed or you could send me the info by mail?
Thanks
oop, never mind, I found it through another link.
thanks
Sir, I have a question regarding work (job) experience, i was to pass and get my bachelors (a Four year-degree) two years ago in march 2011, but i failed in a subject and instead of clearing it then, i started doing a job(with university’s permission). I worked for 18 months and then left it in September 2012, now that i have re-enrolled my remnant subject in my university after leaving my job and i am working on it and hopefully will pass the subject before April this year. Kindly guide me that if i apply to Fulbright this year, will my job (working) experience count, will they reject me on basis of a late (6 year) degree, or how to overcome this disparity of a late degree. kindly reply so that i may make my mind regarding Fulbright.
Thank you alot.
AFAIK, job experience is a plus. Anyhow, failing a class isn’t. Late degree doesn’t seem to be a problem … check with your US Embassy.
MY CGPA IS ABOVE REQUIREMENT OF FULBRIGHT, BUT I HAVE 3,4 SUBJECT IN MY BACHELORS DEGREE THAT I FAILED IN,HOW MUCH WILL THESE AFFECT MY APPLICATION?ON THE OTHER HAND I HAVE A STRONG PROPOSAL AND A GOOD GRE SCORE.
Hi Sir,
I am nominated as “Principal” Candidate for 2013-2014 Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral and Professional Research Fellowship. I am waiting for my final approval of IIE. I too got the invitation for an orientation program at Kolkata India on 13th May to 15th May. I am quite excited for that. I just wanna know how to manage my research work during Fulbright tenure at US. I got an acceptance from CMU professor, I rare had words with him after that acceptance, because I was waiting for my final selection. Now I am not getting it to how to proceed with the conversation and my research work. These days I am totally untouched with my research and not getting it how to get back to my work. I also need your suggestion and comments on how to proceed my research at US after reaching there. Kindly put some light on research in US during fulbright tenure
Congratulations and good luck. One would hope that accepted Fulbrighters already know how to do research. Anyhow, Quora can be a good first stop for a pursuer of scientific research.
http://www.quora.com/Scientific-Research