Fulbright US Student Programs
Lindsay Marshall has been named the Graduate College's second Fulbright Program Advisor!
UIC named 2021 & 2022 HSI leader by Fulbright Program Heading link
The University of Illinois Chicago is among a select group of Hispanic-Serving Institutions recognized as a Fulbright HSI Leader by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for its commitment to the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program.
In 2021, the program’s inaugural year, UIC and 34 other institutions were honored for their noteworthy engagement with Fulbright exchange participants during the 2019-2021 academic years and promotion of Fulbright Program opportunities on campus. UIC was the only HSI Leader in the Midwest.
Fulbright Success Heading link
-
88 % Of UIC's Grad College-mentored applicants are semi-finalists (or better!) finalists in the 2023-24 competition!
-
> 100 Since 2000, UIC has had over 100 finalists!
-
> 154 Number of UIC finalists since 1949 and the Navy Pier campus!
-
24 In the last four cycles, 24 UIC graduate & professional students and alumni have have been named a finalist or alternate
-
2 x UIC named 2021 & 2022 HSI Leader by State Department
Fulbright US Student Program (overview) Heading link
Fulbright fellowships, through the U.S. State Department, provide over 2,000 for year-long teaching, research, and study opportunities abroad for U.S. citizen students in various disciplines. Approximately 130 countries are viable sites for placement. Language proficiency depends on the country.
There are two main groupings: English Language Teaching Assistantships (ETAs) and Study/Research Awards. These S/Rs can be further divided into two: “study” awards require an applicant to apply for both a graduate program and for a Fulbright grant; a “research” award is to conduct one’s own research. These research awards generally come in four types: (a) “open” wherein the applicant chooses their own affiliation(s), (b) “special” or named awards at a specific university or research center, (c) the Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowship in Public Health, which is disciplinarily and geographically focused, and (d) the National Geographic Storytelling Award.
The 2024-25 competition opened March 30, 2023 and the national deadline is October 10, 2023. UIC students and alumni who are not enrolled elsewhere should apply through UIC and not as at-large applicants. Students applying through UIC enjoy an advising process meant to ameliorate the student’s application. The internal UIC campus deadline is September 7, 2023. Graduate students and alumni from UIC’s graduate programs should contact Benn Williams (bwilli7@uic.edu) and Lindsay Marshall (lmarsh4@uic.edu), their dedicated university Fulbright Program Advisors, to start the process NOW.
Are UIC students successful? Yes. According to the data available in a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article (for the 2022-23 competition), the five “top producers” of Fulbright US students (doctoral institutions) averaged 111.6 applications and 34.6 awards. Their “success rate” was 31%. While our numbers are significantly smaller, we fare better! For the recent, 2023-2024 competition, we had 8 applications from our graduate/professional students and alumni. A whopping SEVEN (87.5%) of them achieved semi-finalist, alternate, or finalist status! (“Finalist” equals “offered the Fulbright.”) With three finalists, our “success rate” was 37.5%. Counting all applicants from UIC, we have four finalists for a success rate of 40%. This is especially exciting as there were over 10,000 applications for the 2023-24 competition. In short, UIC compares favorably to our peers (Source).
Last updated 6/12/23/bw
PowerPoint Presentations (as downloadable PDFs) Heading link
Updated versions of the presentations shown during Fulbright Week in April.
-
three Overviews
PowerPoint Presentations
PowerPoint Presentations
Updates for the 2024-2025 Competition Heading link
Near the opening of the annual competition, Fulbright releases general and regional updates (updated 6/9/23).
-
General Program Updates
- Last year’s competition saw a dip in the number of applications from the record number for the 2021-22 competition (11,728)
- The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health WILL be available for the 2024-25 competition.
- There will be 2100+ awards this competition: 950+ Study/Research grants to ~130 countries and 1,150+ ETAs to ~75 countries. (This represents a 2.5% decrease from the previous competition.)
- Still NO Fulbright program in the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Macau, for the upcoming (2024-25) program cycle. The Malaysia ETA remains suspended.
- “Undersubscribed” means that the award is less competitive than other competitions and more applications are desired.
Regional Trends (East Asia-Pacific)
- Malaysia ETA remains suspended
- See note on China (including Hong Kong and Macau) above
- More Study/Research applications are needed in the arts — Fulbright could offer more awards if there were more qualified candidates!
- ETA applicants: demonstrate a SINCERE interest in teaching and in the host country — gap-year projects not wanted
- Ten new graduate degree programs in Taiwan
- Many programs want rural Americans to go to rural regions
- Under-subscribed Programs
- Study/Research: Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand (fourth year in a row)
- ETA: Laos and Mongolia (third year in a row), Timor-Leste (second year)
- Graduate degree grants: Korea & Taiwan (third year in a row)
Regional Trends (Eastern Europe and Eurasia)
- Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine programs remain suspended
- Continued interest in media literacy and combatting disinformation in the region
- Under-subscribed Programs: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovak Republic (all now accept doctoral students for ETA)
Regional Trends (Western Europe)
- University (study) applications and requirements vary; students should read award descriptions closely
- New awards: Austria (graduate study, Vienna), Greece (graduate study and research), France (Grenoble), and Spain (fifteen new ETAs)
- Undersubscribed programs: Italy (Fulbright/Deafness; Fulbright Fondazione Falcone; Open/Study research); Partnership awards; Doctoral awards across the region (especially France, Finland, Iceland).
Regional Trends (South & Central Asia)
- ETA program to India suspended for 2024-2025 (but not the S/R program)
- Continued growth in the number of ETA awards to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
- Undersubscribed: Study/research awards throughout Central Asia and Sri Lanka
- General focus on English teaching, disinformation, and media literacy in central Asia
- Candidates must exemplify maturity & flexibility and have realistic expectations
Regional Trends (Middle East & North Africa)
- Grantees should be culturally sensitive, flexible, adaptive, patient, and self-sufficient
- Most countries within the region require government and/or research clearances that may need additional documents and time (particularly Oman and Egypt)
- The most competitive awards remain: Jordan, Morocco, and Israel
- Undersubscribed: Saudi Arabia ETA and Kuwait S/R (for the third year in a row); Bahrain study/research (for the second year)
- New award: Egypt Arabic Language Study at CAASIC
Regional Trends (Sub-Saharan Africa)
- Regional quota – no specific, pre-determined number of awards per country
- Strong applicant interest in the region’s newest ETA programs (Botswana and Madagascar)
- Study/research applicants should read the award descriptions carefully as the degree level requirements and affiliation letter guidelines vary by country
- Applicants must exemplify adaptability, patience, and maturity
- New award: Mozambique ETA
- Undersubscribed programs:
- Study/research: Botswana and Côte d’Ivoire
- ETA: Congo (Brazzaville), Guinea, Tanzania, Togo
Regional Trends (Western Hemisphere)
- Nicaragua and Venezuela removed
- Canada seeks applicants doing cutting-edge research
- Mexico increasing the number of awards
- Undersubscribed ETA: Honduras and Paraguay (perennially)
- Undersubscribed S/R: Bolivia, Chile Science Initiative Award, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Paraguay, COMEXUS Public Policy Initiative, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay
Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowship in Public Health
Offered sporadically, this fellowship is in partnership with the Fogarty International Center of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). It seeks to promote the expansion of research in public health and clinical research in resource-limited settings.
Applicants must be currently enrolled in medical school or in a doctoral graduate program with an interest in global health. Besides the MD and PhD, eligible doctoral degrees include, but are not limited to: DMD, DC, DO, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, DrPH, DNSc, DPT, PharmD, ND, DSW, PsyD, JD, and Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing. Health-professional students who wish to interrupt their studies for a year or more to engage in full-time research training before completing their formal training programs are also eligible.
Eligible countries for the 2024-2025 competition: Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Uganda, Jamaica, Peru, Nepal, and Vietnam. An applicant applies for the S/R in one of those countries, proposes their own research to conduct within the mentored framework of the Fogarty host. (Describe the type of mentorship you seek!)
Fulbright-National Geographic Award
This Award makes additional funding and resources available to enhance the reach and impact of your Fulbright experience.
Fulbright applicants go through the normal process for a “research” award and check a box in the application for NatGeo. Their Statement of Grant Purpose should not be framed in terms of “I need the NatGeo.” Do not gear the SGP toward NatGeo; however, storytelling and scalability might be mentioned. Semi-finalists will be invited to submit additional materials in late January / early February 2024.
Proposals should propose an in-depth examination of a globally relevant issue as an add-on to your Fulbright Open Study/Research project. NatGeo focus areas are: Ocean, Land, Wildlife, Human History & Cultures, and Human Ingenuity, with funding opportunities in the fields of conservation, research, storytelling, education, and technology. Competitive applicants will either be:
- Researchers, educators, conservationists, or technologists who require additional funds to broaden or deepen their Fulbright project;
- Researchers, educators, conservationists, or technologists interested in building a science communication component into their proposed Fulbright project. If so, they should develop a clearly outlined plan delineating their intended audience and method of communication, providing an easily accessible portfolio showcasing previous communication work; or
- Storytellers (artists, journalists, photographers, writers, filmmakers, and other storytellers) who require additional funds to broaden or deepen their Fulbright project.
Successful Fulbright-National Geographic applicants, in addition to receiving standard Fulbright US Study/Research Award benefits and additional grant funds, will join the National Geographic Society’s global community of Explorers and gain access to resources such as training opportunities, regional Explorer events, and dedicated staff support. As a recipient of this award, you will have the chance to work with National Geographic Society staff to present your work through speaking opportunities and pitch stories for potential media coverage. The National Geographic Society expects to select up to five awardees.
The National Geographic Society uses the power of science, exploration, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. The Fulbright-National Geographic Award seeks individuals leveraging science, technology, and storytelling to help protect species-at-risk, better understand human history and culture, conserve our planet’s land and oceans, and build a more sustainable future. Applicants with a talent for and interest in storytelling are of particular interest.
CLEA - Critical Language Enhancement Award
If a student is applying to a CLEA-eligible country and language, the recipient would be able to cultivate higher levels of language proficiency prior to and during the Fulbright grant period. CLEA offers 3-6 months of intensive language study prior to and/or concurrently with the grant. Depending on the country, instruction might be formal classroom in nature, private tutoring, or a combination thereof.
The only ETA allowing for a CLEA: Jordan (Arabic). The S/R grants participating in CLEA are: Egypt (Arabic), India (Bangla/Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, and Urdu), Indonesia (Bahasa), Jordan (Arabic), Morocco (Arabic including Darija), and Taiwan (Mandarin for MA degrees).
Why apply? Getting Started
The Fulbright Process Heading link
-
timeline
Event Date Description/Link Informational website n/a https://us.fulbrightonline.org/ 2024-2025 Competition Opens! March 30, 2023 https://apply.iie.org/apply/ Fulbright Week @ UIC April 10-14, 2023 Infosessions and alumni panel discussion IIE/Fulbright infosessions, webinars, and office hours Ongoing https://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/information-sessions Reach out to your FPA May - July 2023 Graduate and professional students @ UIC should contact Benn Williams (bwilli7@uic.edu) Work on application send FPA drafts of essays May 1-August 15 https://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/application-components; https://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/application-checklists CAMPUS DEADLINE September 7, 2023 (4 pm CT) Submit online via Fulbright portal [You will have an opportunity for corrections/revisions] Fulbright applicant conversations with UIC faculty/staff mid-September through early October via Zoom Unsubmit Deadline October 6th (4pm CT) *Last Day for FPAs to unsubmit applications to applicants for final edits. All unsubmitted applications MUST be resubmitted by the applicant prior to the National Deadline. *Last Day for Recommenders and Foreign Language Evaluators to request that materials be unsubmitted. NATIONAL DEADLINE October 10, 2023 (4 p.m. CT) Fulbright portal Semi-finalists announced By ~ February 1st Fulbright portal Finalists announced Mid-February through June Fulbright portal; the majority of finalists announced prior to April 15th (76% in the previous competition). Application resources
- Need quick information about potential host countries? Try the CIA Handbook.
- Tips on writing personal statements.
- Finding the right type of award.
- Top 5 blog posts from Fulbright recipients (2020)
Your journey starts here!
Who Becomes a Fulbrighter? Heading link
Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors
Each year, Fulbright appoints a number of “ambassadors” so that applicants can see, read about, and even communicate with human beings who have gone through the entire Fulbright experience from application to grantee to spokesperson. In 2022, our own Jozi Chaet served in this national role.
FulbrightLatinx
FulbrightLatinx was awarded a Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund grant and we were interested in identifying opportunities to reach the Latinx students on your campus. We have created a podcast of some of the conversations we have had (Estamos Juntos: U.S. LatinXchange Alumni Speaker Series) to touch upon various topics with the aim of encouraging Latinx students to apply for study abroad programs!
Chicago Chapter of the Fulbright Association
FulbrightChicago is a blog operated by the Fulbright Association, Chicago Chapter and serves the Fulbright students and visiting scholars who reside in the Chicago metropolitan area and its surroundings, as well as the Fulbright Association members. It also serves as a communication tool for all the Fulbright scholars who live in the area. We welcome your comments and participation.
I am Fulbright
Fulbright’s YouTube channel shows that the 75+ year-old program is much more diverse than you might expect.
IIE/Fulbright Info Sessions, Office Hours, and Webinars Heading link
The Institute of International Education (IIE) contracts with the Department of State to administer the Fulbright US Student Program. IIE provides a comprehensive list of webinars for the 2024-2025 competition cycle on their website. Many webinars are recorded and made available.
Recorded webinars: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/resources/recorded-webinars
Upcoming events (click “Webinars” and “All States”): https://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/information-sessions
Finding an Affiliate
June 20, 2023 – 1:00 to 2:00 PM CDT
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE), Fulbright Alumni, and a Fulbright Program Adviser offer their experience as well as tips and tricks on how to find and secure an Affiliation Letter for study/research applicants. Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/6.20.23-Finding-an-Affiliate
Fulbright US Student Program Overview
July 20, 2023 – 3:00-4:00 pm CDT
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) offer an overview of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the opportunities it provides to teach English, research, or study abroad. Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/7.21-FUSP-Overview
Applicants with Disabilities - MIUSA & Alumni Ambassadors
July 25, 2022 – 3-4 pm CDT
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE), Mobility International USA (MIUSA), and Alumni Ambassadors offer information about applying to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for applicants with disabilities. Live ASL interpretation and live captioning will be provided. Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/7.25.23-Apps-with-Disabilities
ETA Supplemental Project Panel
August 2, 2023 – 1-2 pm CDT
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) discuss the Fulbright U.S. Student Program ETA application’s supplemental project component. Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.2.23-ETA-Supplemental-Project
Alumni Ambassador Panel - BIPOC
August 4, 2022 – 2-3 pm CDT
IIE staff and Fulbright U.S. Student Program Alumni discuss their experience of applying as a Black, Indigenous and people of color individual, and offer their unique perspectives on studying, researching, and teaching abroad. Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.4.23-AA-Panel-BIPOC
ETA Alumni Ambassador Panel
August 8, 2023 – 1-2 pm CDT
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Alumni Ambassadors share their stories and answer your questions about opportunities to teach English Abroad through the Fulbright Program. Please register here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.8.23-AA-Panel-ETA
Study/Research Q&A webinar
August 10, 2023 – 1-2 pm CT
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) will be on hand to answer questions related to the Study/Research award. Applicants are welcome to drop in to ask about eligibility, award benefits, application components, and selection. Please bring questions! Register here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.10.23-SR-Q&A-Webinar
ETA Q&A webinar
August 10, 2022 – 1-2pm CT
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) will be on hand to answer applicant questions related to the English Teaching Assistant (ETA) award. Applicants are welcome to drop in to ask about eligibility, award benefits, application components, and selection. Please bring questions! Register Here: Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.14.23-ETA-Q&A-Webinar
Regional Office Hours: East Asia / Pacific
August 16, 2022 – 3:00 to 4:00 PM CT
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) review Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for East Asia and the Pacific. Please bring questions! Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.16.23-EAP-Office-Hours
Regional Office Hours: South/Central Asia
August 18, 2023 – 3:00 to 4:00 PM CDT
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) review Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for South and Central Asia. Please bring questions! Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.18.23-SCA-Office-Hours
Regional Office Hours: Europe/Eurasia (Study/Research)
August 21, 2023 – 3:00 to 4:00 PM CT
Staff at IIE review Fulbright U.S. Student Program Study/Research awards for Europe and Eurasia and answer applicant questions. Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.21.23-EUR-Office-Hours-SR
Regional Office Hours: Europe/Eurasia (ETA)
August 23, 2022 – 3-4 PM CDT
Staff at the IIE review Fulbright U.S. Student Program English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) awards for Europe and Eurasia and answer applicant questions. Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.23.23-EUR-Office-Hours-ETA
Regional Office Hours: Middle East / North Africa
August 25, 2023 – 3-4 PM CT
Staff at IIE review Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the Middle East and North Africa. Please bring questions! Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.25.23.MENA-Office-Hours
Regional Office Hours: Sub-Saharan Africa
August 29, 2022 – 3-4 pm CT
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) review Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for Sub-Saharan Africa. Please bring questions! Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.29.23-AF-Office-Hours
Regional Office Hours: Western Hemisphere
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) review Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the Western Hemisphere. Please bring questions! Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.31.23-WH-Office-Hours
Office Hours
During Office Hours, applicants will have the opportunity to ask questions live to IIE staff. IIE welcomes any applicant questions regarding the Fulbright U.S. Student Program in these sessions. Come with your own questions or tune in to listen to the questions of your fellow applicants.
September 5, 2023, 1-2pm CT, Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/9.5.23-Office-Hours
September 13, 2023, 1-2pm CT, Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/9.13.23-Office-Hours
September 21, 1-2 pm CT, Register Here:https://apply.iie.org/register/9.21.23-Office-Hours
September 27, 2023, 1-2 pm CT, Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/9.27.23-Office-Hours
October 3, 2023, 3-4 pm CT, Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/10.3.23-Office-Hours
UIC Fulbright Program Advisors Heading link
-
UIC Fulbright Program Advisors
US Student Program
Ms. Lindsay Marshall (lmarsh4@uic.edu), Graduate College – FPA for graduate and professional students and graduate/professional alumni
Mr. Benn Williams (bwilli7@uic.edu), Graduate College – FPA for graduate and professional students and graduate/professional alumni
***
Dr. Kim Germain (kgermain@uic.edu), Office of External Fellowships and Undergraduate Research – FPA for undergraduates and undergraduate alumni
US Scholars
Dr. Shawn Conner-Randot (sdconron@uic.edu), Director of International Affairs and Outreach, Office of Global Engagement and Advisor for Fulbright Scholars Program*
*Exception: Benn Williams advises applicants for the Fulbright Scholar Public Policy Fellowship.
Foreign Student Program
No official liaisons. Unofficial liaisons: Benn Williams, Graduate College (waivers) and Melissa Hickok, Office International Services (visas).