Fulbright Foreign Student Program

A Fulbright HSI Leader (2021, 2022, 2023)

UIC is privileged to welcome dozens of applications from Fulbright-funded international students each year. We have been recognized by Laspau and by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for outstanding support and leadership as an Hispanic-Serving Institution.

This page has information for prospective graduate students as well as graduate programs.

What is the Fulbright Foreign Student Program? Administered by binational Fulbright  Commissions/Foundations or U.S. Embassies, the Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables graduate students, young professionals and artists from abroad to study and conduct research in the United States. Approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year.

Program eligibility and selection procedures vary widely by country. Please visit the Fulbright program's website for more information.

Graduate applicants are placed at a US institution by one of two administering entities. (A longstanding third organization, Laspau, is ceasing operations in the autumn of 2023.) A placement officer from Institute of International Education or AMIDEAST will upload application materials on behalf of the applicant into UIC's Graduate Admissions portal (Slate). The Graduate College endeavors to bring Foreign Fulbright applicants to the attention of the prospective graduate program--there is no centralized or automated system. If materials are missing, the program coordinator or director of graduate studies (DGS) is encouraged to contact the placement specialist at Amideast or IIE. (The agencies have basically carved out separate geographical areas: Amideast handles the Middle East, Laspau handled Central and South America -- IIE handles most of the world except the Middle East. There may be some exceptions.)

What UIC programs should know:  While each Fulbrighter arrives with a unique funding package, master's students generally come with one year of funding which may be renewable for a second year; doctoral students arrive with two to four years of funding (renewable annually). In each grant-funded year, the Graduate College, as part of its generous cost-share agreement with the Fulbright entities, will waive tuition (including differential) and some fees. Should funding expire before the student completes their degree, the Graduate College expects the graduate program to assume the student's funding through an assistantship.

The UIC graduate program is encouraged to verify that the applicant is a Fulbright recipient and not an alternate awaiting a final decision.

Other scenarios: Albeit rare, foreign Fulbright recipients might place themselves at UIC. If they are seeking a graduate degree from UIC, out cost-share agreement will apply. Other students may arrive as "visiting student researchers" who do not enroll but who conduct their research at UIC. These students are highly recommended to check in with Benn Williams (Graduate College) and Melissa Hickok and/or Ben Wright (OIS) at least one month prior to their arrival in Chicago. The latter may be eligible for an i-card and office space.

What prospective Fulbright Foreign Students should know: While the application system is centralized at UIC, each graduate program makes its own admissions decisions. Prospective applicants are encouraged to research our faculty and then communicate with prospective mentors. Stating such preferences demonstrates the applicant's seriousness and it helps the program to make decisions. Doctoral applicants will likely communicate directly with a prospective mentor prior to admission to ensure an intellectual "fit." There are caveats. Amideast and IIE apply to multiple institutions on a student’s behalf. These entities prefer that the department refrain from directly contacting the student prior to formal placement decisions to avoid confusion and misunderstanding regarding funding. The Graduate College recommends that a program communicate directly with the placement officer listed in Slate.

UIC's Office of Graduate Admissions tends to receive applications November through April with most arriving December-February. Graduate programs are encouraged to have a deadline on or before January 1st and to make admit decisions promptly to avoid losing a strong applicant to a different university.

Funding: Each home country commission determines the amount and duration of funding.  In most cases, Fulbright grants do not cover all program expenses. If admitted and placed in a graduate program under the auspices of the Graduate College, Fulbright-funded students will receive a full tuition and partial fee waiver through the Graduate College for the duration of the grant. Some professional programs (e.g., MPH, DPT) will permit use of a waiver; however, these are handled on a case-by-case basis. Our generous cost-sharing for Fulbright students is part of the university’s longstanding commitment to federally-funded international exchange initiatives. Most Fulbright students receive a living stipend, travel funds, book allowance, and payment of unwaived mandatory fees for the duration of the grant. Fulbright-funded students should review the financial terms document that is included in each dossier or ask the placement officer if the terms of award (TOA) are missing. The Fulbrighter or their placement officer may need to reach out to Sponsor Billing (University Bursar) for the billing of unwaived fees.

Fulbright students may need permission from their advisor (at Amideast or IIE) to enroll in summer courses. The Graduate College will provide a full tuition and partial fee waiver. Graduate programs may want to provide additional institutional support ("top-off" funding or an assistantship) to make placement with their department more attractive. In such cases, they should contact the placement officer.

Current Fulbright Students: If you have questions about our waiver, please contact Benn Williams, Fellowships and Awards Coordinator in the Graduate College. Other questions may be addressed on the OIS website.