Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program has been issuing grants to students, teachers, and professionals for over 60 years. There are more than 155 countries who participate in the program and about 6,000 grants given out every year. Sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the program receives funding from the United States Congress, and the participating countries and schools.

The grants that are given out are divided into three categories: Student, Scholars and Professionals, and Teachers and Administrators. Grants are awarded for one year of study to seniors in college, graduate students, and professionals, in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Another Fulbright Program for students is the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships Program, in which students teach English in foreign countries. Part of the program is to become integrated with the community in order to learn about the culture and the language of the host country, while educating that country about the United States. The Fulbright Islamic Civilization Initiative is a program that sponsors research and study of Muslims and the cultures of Islam.

Generally, over 1,000 Americans are involved in the Fulbright U.S. Scholars Program each year. Professional and scholars participate in this program that includes over 130 countries, and various fields of research and study. One of the Fulbright Programs for scholars is the Senior Specialist Program. This program allows the scholars or professionals to meet with their equivalents in schools outside of the United States to discuss topics such as curriculum and planning. Being a supplementary program to the Fulbright Scholar Program, this is only scheduled to last two to six weeks. The New Century Scholars Program brings together approximately 30 scholars from different countries to work together on a designated global problem.

The Fulbright Program for teachers is an exchange program for teachers, with over 30 participating countries.