Fulbright US Student Programs
Fulbright Success
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>140 Since 1949 and the Navy Pier campus, UIC has had over 140 finalists!
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>59% Of UIC applicants in the 2020-21 competition were semi-finalists!
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>75% Of UIC's grad/professional/grad alumni were semi-finalists or finalists in the 2020-21 competition!
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>55% Of UIC's applicants were semi-finalists in the 2021-2022 competition!
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10 In the last two cycles, 10 UIC graduate & professional students and alumni have have been named a finalist or alternate
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>80 Since 2000, UIC has had over 80 finalists!
Fulbright US Student Program
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 “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 short, UIC compares favorably to our peers (Source).
Last updated 8/17/21/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 8/6/21 with updates in Europe, Eurasia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
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General Program Updates
- The 2021-22 competition saw a record number of applications: 11,728!
- The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health will NOT be available for the 2022-23 competition.
- 2150+ awards to 140+ countries – a 4% decline in awards
- Continued increase in ETA awards and Fulbright partner awards with international universities, including a small increase in the number of multi-year awards (master’s and doctoral), cf. https://us.fulbrightonline.org/about/types-of-awards/study-research
- There are NO Fulbright program in the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Macau, for the upcoming (2022-23) program cycle. The Malaysia ETA has also been cancelled.
Regional Trends (East Asia-Pacific)
- Malaysia ETA cancelled as of 5/28/21.
- See note on China (including Hong Kong and Macau) above
- More Study/Research applications are needed — Fulbright could offer more awards if there were more qualified candidates!
- More Arts applications needed
- ETA candidates: do NOT propose side research projects
- ETA applicants: demonstrate a SINCERE interest in teaching and in the host country — gap-year projects not wanted
- Many programs want rural Americans to go to rural regions
- Under-subscribed Programs
- Study/Research: Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand (same as last year)
- ETA: Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia
- Graduate degree grants: Korea & Taiwan
Regional Trends (Europe)
- Three multi-country awards (a true rarity in the Fulbright sphere!): Bulgaria-Greece, Bulgaria-Romania, Greece-Turkey; EU Schuman Award; Denmark open research/study
- Finland: more applications sought from Arts and PhD candidates
- Germany: New requirements and deadlines
- Greenland: new 10-month grants
- Italy:
- New award: Fondazione Falcone-NIAF Award in Criminology
- United Kingdom:
- Five new study awards (Edinburgh, Loughborough, Leeds, Manchester Metropolitan, and Reading)
Regional Trends (Eurasia)
- Undersubscribed programs: Armenia, Georgia, and Ukraine
- ETA award increase in Georgia
- CLEA only available in Russia
- Fewer offerings in Russia anticipated
Regional Trends (South & Central Asia)
- Sri Lanka: ETA program suspended for 2022-23
- Increase in ETA awards to Uzbekistan
- Undersubscribed: Kyrgyzstan
- Highly recommended to have some background in the local language (or Russian for Central Asia) before applying
- Candidates must exemplify maturity & flexibility
Regional Trends (Middle East & North Africa)
- Most competitive awards remain to be in Palestinian Territories, Israel, Morocco, and Jordan
- Under-subscribed: Saudi Arabia ETA, Kuwait S/R
- Most countries require government and/or research clearances
- In North Africa, ETA is often the primary language instructor
Regional Trends (Sub-Saharan Africa)
- New awards: Madagascar ETA; Zimbabwe Study/Research; and Botswana ETA
- Tanzania: New eligibility requirements
- More applications sought in Eswatini, Guinea, Lesotho, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Togo
- Candidates must exemplify maturity & flexibility
Regional Trends (Western Hemisphere)
- Students doing thesis/dissertation research strongly preferred in the region.
- Under-subscribed ETA: Honduras, Paraguay, Guatemala
- Under-subscribed S/R: El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay, COMEXUS, Chile Science Initiative
- Candidates must exemplify maturity & flexibility
The Fulbright Process
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timeline
Event Date Description/Link Informational website n/a https://us.fulbrightonline.org/ 2022-2023 Competition Opens! March 31, 2021 https://apply.iie.org/apply/ Fulbright Week @ UIC April 5-8, 2021 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 2021 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 9, 2021 (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 8th (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 12, 2021 (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). Grantee Pathways
2021-2022 Program Year:
- It is anticipated that 2021-2022 grantees and 2020-21 deferred grantees will begin in-person. No virtual starts anticipated.
- Delay: A country may opt to delay their start date due to health and safety concerns.
- Suspended: If a country must suspend their program, grantees will have the possibility of the following options based on their award type and year:
- Apply again without prejudice. ‘21-’22 grantees will NOT be offered the option of a deferral and must reapply to be considered for a ’22-’23 award.
- Country Reassignment (primarily ETA): For deferred ’20-’21 grantees ONLY – accept a possible reassignment to another country/world area.
- Deferral: For deferred ‘20-’21 grantees ONLY–there is the possibility that their participation can be deferred again until ‘22-’23.
2022-2023 Program Year (Fall ’22 deadline):
- ‘21-’22 grantees will NOT be offered the option of a deferral and must reapply to be considered for a ’22-’23 award.
- If a country suspends their ’22-’23 program prior to the National Deadline:
- An update will be posted to the website
- All in-progress and submitted applicants will receive a direct communication.
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.”
Regional Office Hours: Middle East & North Africa
August 9, 2021 – 2:00 to 3:00 PM ET
Staff at IIE detail Fulbright U.S. Student Program ETA application components with a focus on applicant essays. Register here.
Regional Office Hours: Europe and Eurasia
August 10, 2021 – 2:00 to 3:00 PM ET
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) review Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for Europe and Eurasia. Please bring questions! Register here.
Regional Office Hours: East Asia/Pacific
August 11, 2021 – 2:00 to 3:00 PM ET
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.
Regional Office Hours: Sub-Saharan Africa
August 13, 2021 – 2-3:00 PM ET
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) review Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for Sub-Saharan Africa. Please bring questions! Register here.
Regional Office Hours: South/Central Asia
August 16, 2021 – 1-2 PM ET
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.
Regional Office Hours: Western Hemisphere
August 17, 2021 – 1-2 pm ET
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) review Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the Western Hemisphere. Please bring questions! Register here.
Arts: Polishing Application
Study/Research: Polishing Application
ETA: Polishing Application
ETA: Last Minute Questions
September 13, 2021 – 2-3(ish) pm ET.
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) will answer ETA applicant questions in advance of the national deadline. Register here.
Study/Research: Last Minute Questions
September 15, 2021 – 2-3 pm (ish) ET
Staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) will answer Study/Research applicant questions in advance of the national deadline. Register here.
UIC Fulbright Program Advisors
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UIC Fulbright Program Advisors
US Student Program
Dr. Kim Germain (kgermain@uic.edu), Office of External Fellowships – FPA for undergraduates and undergraduate alumni
Mr. Benn Williams (bwilli7@uic.edu), Graduate College – FPA for graduate and professional students and graduate/professional alumni
US Scholars
Ms. Nora Bonnin (nbonn1@uic.edu), Office of International Affairs – Advisor for UIC postdocs and faculty
Foreign Student Program
No official liaisons. Unofficial liaisons: Benn Williams, Graduate College (waivers) and Melissa Hickok , Office International Services (visas).
