Fulbright US Student Programs

Fulbright Success

  • >140 Since 1949 and the Navy Pier campus, UIC has had over 140 finalists!

  • >59% Of UIC applicants in the 2020-21 competition were semi-finalists!

  • >75% Of UIC's grad/professional/grad alumni were semi-finalists or finalists in the 2020-21 competition!

  • >55% Of UIC's applicants were semi-finalists in the 2021-2022 competition!

  • 10 In the last two cycles, 10 UIC graduate & professional students and alumni have have been named a finalist or alternate

  • >80 Since 2000, UIC has had over 80 finalists!

Fulbright fellowships, through the U.S. State Department, provide for year-long teaching, research, and study opportunities abroad for U.S. citizen students in various disciplines. Almost 140 countries are viable sites for placement. Language proficiency depends on the country.

UIC’s virtual Fulbright Week 2021 was April 5-8 . The slides are available below.

The national deadline is October 12, 2021. UIC students and alumni who 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 9, 2021. Graduate students and alumni from UIC’s graduate programs should contact Benn Williams (bwilli7@uic.edu), their dedicated university Fulbright Program Advisor, to start the process NOW.

The timeline and updates for the 2022-23 competition appear below.

Are UIC students successful? According to the data available in a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article, the five “top producers” of Fulbright US students (doctoral institutions) averaged 125.4 applications and 35.6 awards. Their “success rate” was 28.9%. Two of UIC’s “aspirational peers” averaged 13 awards from 57.5 applications (29.4%). UIC scores higher. For the same 2020-21 competition, UIC saw 7 recipients on 22 applications and a whopping 75% of our graduate and professional students/alumni achieved semi-finalist or finalist status! (“Finalist” equals “awarded the Fulbright.”) For the 2021-22 competition: 10 of UIC’s 18 applicants are semi-finalists (55.6%). Sixty percent of the semi-finalists are graduate/professional students. We are celebrating four finalists and two alternates this cycle. In short, UIC compares favorably to our peers (Source).

Last updated 5/28/21/bw

Your journey starts here. Fulbright US Student Program

Updates for the 2022-2023 Competition (updated perdiodically)

Near the opening of the annual competition, Fulbright releases general and regional updates. Last updated 5/28/21.

The Fulbright Process

IIE/Fulbright Info Sessions, Office Hours, and Webinars

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 2022-2023 competition cycle on their website. Please are samples; webinars are recorded and made available.

Visit this page and click “Webinars” by “All States.”

Community Engagement Alumni Ambassador Panel

June 8, 2021 – 3:00 PM ET to 4:00 PM ET
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) and Fulbright U.S. Student Program Alumni discuss community engagement and answer applicant questions regarding this aspect of the Fulbright experience. Register here.

Application Components: Short Answers

June 14, 2021 – 3:00 to 4:00 PM ET

Staff at IIE provide an overview of the Program Information section of the application, including discussing the three short answer questions: Abstract/Summary of Proposal, Host Country Engagement, and Plans Upon Return to the U.S.. Along side the application essays, these short answer questions are very important in providing information to reviewers and outline the basic who, what, when, where, why, and how of your proposed project. Register here.

ETA Application Components: Essays

June 15, 2021 – 12:00 to 1:00 PM ET
Staff at IIE detail Fulbright U.S. Student Program ETA application components with a focus on applicant essays. Register here.

Study/Research Application Components: Essays

June 16, 2021 – 12:00 to 1:00 PM ET
Staff at IIE review Fulbright U.S. Student Program Study/Research application components with a focus on applicant essays. Register

Fulbright U.S. Student Program General Q&A Webinar

June 22, 2021 – 12:00 to 1:00 PM ET
Staff at IIE review Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant offerings for the 2022-2023 application cycle and answer applicant questions. Register here.

More webinars tackling the components

For more information, click here. 

Benn Williams

Fellowships and Awards Coordinator and Fulbright Program Advisor

Email: bwilli7@uic.edu