Your browser is unsupported

We recommend using the latest version of IE11, Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari.

University of Illinois Chicago
Search
University of Illinois Chicago

Graduate College

Graduate College

View Menu Down arrow icon

Fulbright US Student Programs

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, the Fulbright HSI Leader designation was conferred to UIC and 34 other institutions in honor of 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.

In 2022, UIC was against named a Fulbright HSI Leader, along with 42 other institutions, for demonstrating noteworthy engagement with Fulbright exchange participants during the 2021-2022 academic year and campus promotion of opportunities offered by the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program.

Read more...

Fulbright Success Heading link

  • > 145 Since 1949 and the Navy Pier campus, UIC has had over 140 finalists!

  • > 52 % Of UIC applicants in the 2022-23 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!

  • 15 In the last three cycles, 15 UIC graduate & professional students and alumni have have been named a finalist or alternate

  • > 85 Since 2000, UIC has had over 80 finalists!

  • Leader UIC named 2021 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.

The 2023-24 competition opened March 31, 2022 and the national deadline is October 11, 2022. 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 8, 2022. 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.

Are UIC students successful? Yes. 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 “offered 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. This is especially exciting as there were 11,728 applications (a record!) for the 2021-22 competition.  In the 2022-2023 competition, UIC had 19 applicants, 12 of whom were graduate students or graduate alumni. Of the 12, half reached semi-finalist status. Three graduate alumni were offered an ETA, one alumna was promoted from alternate to finalist for a study/research award, and our final alternate awaits a final determination. In short, UIC compares favorably to our peers (Source).

Last updated 6/22/22/bw

PowerPoint Presentations (as downloadable PDFs) Heading link

Many of these presentations were shown during Fulbright Week.

Updates for the 2023-2024 Competition (updated 6/23/22) Heading link

Near the opening of the annual competition, Fulbright releases general and regional updates. Last updated 6/23/22. (Still no awards for China.)

Why apply? Getting Started

The Fulbright Process Heading link

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 Jozie 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 2023-2024 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

Fulbright UK University Exhibition

June 28, 2022 – 12:00 to 2:00 PM CET

Meet representatives from UK Partner Universities, the US-UK Fulbright Commission and IIE to learn more about the Fulbright Programme and offerings in the UK. Visit virtual booths and meet Fulbright partner Universities from across the UK, ask questions and forge connections with representatives that are excited to meet you! There will be a series of presentations throughout the event on key themes to help you find the best fit for your academic and cultural pursuits, and to help you better understand the UK Higher Education landscape.

Registration Link: https://www.fulbright.org.uk/events/fulbright-uk-university-virtual-exhibition

Fulbright US Student Program Overview

July 21, 2022 – 2:00-3:00 pm CT

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 CT

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-Apps-with-Disabilities

ETA Supplemental Project Panel

August 2, 2022 – 1-2 pm CT

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-ETA-Suppl-Project-Panel

Alumni Ambassador Panel - Military and Veterans

August 4, 2022 – 2-3 pm CT

Global educational experiences, like the Fulbright U.S. Student Program can
help Military/Veteran-connected students develop language, research, teaching, and intercultural skills critical to national security and valuable to their careers. This presentation will explore the basics of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and provide unique perspectives from staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE), Fulbright Program Advisers, and Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors. Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.4-AA-Panel-Military

 

ETA Alumni Ambassador Panel

August 8, 2022 – 1-2 pm CT

Fulbright U.S. Student Program Alumni Ambassadors share their stories and answer your questions about opportunities to teach English Abroad through the Fulbright Program. Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.08-ETA-AA-Panel

Study/Research Q&A webinar

August 10, 2022 – 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-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: https://apply.iie.org/register/8.12-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-Office-Hours-EAP

Regional Office Hours: South/Central Asia

August 17, 2022 – 3:00 to 4:00 PM CT
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/8.17-Office-Hours-SCA

Regional Office Hours: Europe/Eurasia (Study/Research)

August 18, 2022 – 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/8.18-EUR-Office-Hours-SR

Regional Office Hours: Europe/Eurasia (ETA)

August 22, 2022 – 3-4 PM CT

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/8.22-EUR-Office-Hours-ETA

Regional Office Hours: Middle East / North Africa

August 23, 2022 – 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/8.23-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-Office-Hours-Sub.Africa

Regional Office Hours: Western Hemisphere

August 31, 2022 – 3-4 PM CT

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-WH-Office-Hours

Benn Williams Heading link

Fellowships and Awards Coordinator and Fulbright Program Advisor

Email: bwilli7@uic.edu

State.gov Travel Advisories