"Fostering leadership, learning and empathy between cultures was and remains the purpose of the international scholarship program."

Senator J. William Fulbright

In 1945, Senator J. William Fulbright introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress that called for the use of proceeds from the sale of surplus war property to fund the "promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture, and science."

The U.S. Congress created the Fulbright Program in 1946, immediately after World War II, to foster mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchanges. Senator J. William Fulbright, sponsor of the legislation, saw it as a step toward building an alternative to armed conflict.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is now the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for both students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools around the world. It is the U.S. Government's premier scholarship program. It enables U.S. students and artists to benefit from unique resources in every corner of the world. It enables U.S. citizens to gain international competence in an interdependent world.

The U.S. Student Program currently awards approximately 1,100 grants annually in all fields of study, and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide. For comprehensive information on grant opportunities in a specific country, please visit the participating countries' pages on the Fulbright website.

    Considering a Fulbright?

      U.S. student Fulbright grants -­ A timeline, advice & guidelines for Saint Anselm students (PDF/74KB)

      • If continuing your education overseas after graduation is something you are considering...
      • If finding a way to give back to society while continuing to grow as an individual appeals to you...
      • Or building teaching experience while immersing yourself in another culture...  
      • If you are looking for a truly unique, career - and character-building experience, then the Fulbright program might just be for you.

      All Fulbright programs are run strictly on a country-by-country basis, with each nation setting their own criteria and preferences. Many countries are particularly interested in sponsoring recently-graduated seniors.

      Completed applications are due in September for the competition which funds study abroad beginning in the following September (or the January sixteen months hence for southern hemisphere destinations).

      Therefore, prospective undergraduate applicants ideally need to be working on their proposals and making contacts in the spring semester of their junior year and over the summer before their senior year.

      • Saint Anselm alumni are welcome to apply.

      To learn more, visit the Fulbright website. See the Fulbright U.S. Student Program page, especially the Participating Countries section and the Grantee and Application Statistics pages.

      Language proficiency is quite important for most countries and most programs, so pay careful attention to each country's requirements in that area.

      After you've done that and have a better idea of where you might want to go, email the Fulbright Faculty Adviser at Saint Anselm College via email to kasbury@anselm.edu, and set up an appointment to discuss your project proposal ideas.

      • Eligibility

        U.S. applicants must:

        • Hold United States citizenship at the time of application.
        • Hold a B.A. degree or the equivalent before the start of the grant.
        • Applicants who have not earned a B.A. degree or the equivalent, but have extensive professional study and/or experience in fields in which they wish to pursue a project, may be considered. In the creative performing arts, four years of professional study and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement.
        • Be in good health. Grantees will be required to submit a satisfactory Medical Certificate of Health from a physician.
        • Have sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken language of the host country to communicate with the people and to carry out the proposed study. This is especially important for projects in the social sciences and the humanities.  

        Preference is Usually Given to Applicants Who:

        • Have undertaken their higher education primarily at educational institutions in the U.S. Foreign study during the junior year or other periods of undergraduate study that are integral parts of the curricula of American institutions will not be considered a disadvantage.
        • Have not resided or studied in the country to which they are applying for more than six months. Duty abroad in the Armed Forces of the United States is not considered disqualifying within the meaning of this section. For most grants, applicants who have had extensive previous foreign experience are at a disadvantage, but are not necessarily disqualified for that reason.

        Ineligibility:

        For further information, see Factors Affecting Selection and the Individual Country Summaries.

      • Grants

        Grants for Students

        • The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year. The Program also includes an English Teaching Assistant component.
        • The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program provides opportunities for young English teachers from overseas to refine their teaching skills and broaden their knowledge of American culture and society, all while strengthening the instruction of foreign languages at colleges and universities in the United States.
        • Fulbright recipients benefit from connection to life-long community of 'Fulbrighters'. The Fulbright Association is a private, non-profit membership organization of Fulbright alumni and friends.
        • The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is the principal administrator of the Fulbright Program worldwide along with assistance from the Institute of International Education (IIE).

        Types of Grants

        Prospective applicants should review the research/study grant application statistics for regional totals.

        There are several different types of grants, including:

        Full Fulbright Grants

        Are usually for study in any field. For recently graduated seniors, this usually means being enrolled in a graduate program abroad. Usually (but not always) fluency in the country's official language is required for these grants. For graduate students, this may mean a wide range of activities from independent research to collaboration with local scholars.

        Study or Research in Academic & Creative and Performing Arts Fields

        The majority of U.S. Student Fulbright Grants are designed:

        1. To conduct study and/or research
        2. In one country
        3. For an academic year

        These are the traditional Fulbright Grants and offer the greatest flexibility. 

        Applicants design their own programs, which may include:

        • University coursework
        • Independent research
        • Professional training in the arts and other fields
        • A combination of these or other projects

        Applicants for study/research grants will:

        • Select a country
        • Review the program priorities/requirements for the country
        • Discuss project ideas with faculty, adviser, FPA or mentor
        • Design their project proposal
        • Investigate, contact, and secure affiliations in the host country
        • Prepare supplementary materials (Creative/Performing Arts only)

        Travel Grants

        Travel-Only Grants are available in Italy, Germany, and Hungary only and are designed to supplement:

        1. an award from any source that does not provide for international travel
        2. a student's own funds for study or research

        English Teaching Assistantships

        Are another option for people without fluency in a foreign language if they wish to go to a non-English-speaking country. Theses grants typically fund students to come and learn the language or pursue independent projects part-time while serving as a teaching assistant in English-language classes for children and high school students.

      • How to Apply

        Where Do I Apply?

        If you are an enrolled full-time as a Saint Anselm College student, you must apply through the following faculty member:

        Prof. Kimberly Kersey Asbury
        Saint Anselm College Fulbright Program Adviser
        Email: kasbury@anselm.edu

        Fulbright Campus Committee Faculty:

        • Joseph Horton (Dean of Students) - Fulbright Recipient to Germany
        • Katherine Hoffman (Fine Arts) - Fulbright Recipient to Austria
        • Bede Bidlack (Theology) - Fulbright Recipient to Taiwan
        • Kimberly Kersey Asbury (Fine Arts) - Fulbright Recipient to Botswana
        • Loretta Brady (Psychology) - Fulbright Recipient to Cyprus
        • Sara Smits (Sociology)
        • Keith Williams (English) - Fulbright Recipient from Canada

        You must meet the posted campus deadlines. Saint Anselm College applicants may find information and advising from the faculty. If you are not enrolled as a Saint Anselm student, you must apply as an at-large candidate directly to the Institute of International Education (IIE). At-large applicants should visit the Fulbright Web site for more information and an application.

        What Is Involved with the Application?

        • The application, which must be completed online, consists of the following:
        • Statement of grant purpose (one-page project proposal)
        • Personal Statement (one-page narrative)
        • Three academic references
        • Foreign Language Proficiency Evaluation (where required)
        • Portfolio of Your Work (Digital Images, Audio and/or Video Files--for creative and performing arts applicants only - see specific requirements)
        • Official transcripts from each college attended.
        • Letter(s) of Support or Affiliation (from faculty, researchers or universities overseas indicating that they have reviewed your proposal and can in some way be of assistance to you while you are abroad. These letters vary, depending on the proposal, but might, for example, be a letter of preliminary acceptance from a university where you would like to study, a letter from a library granting you access to archives, or a letter from a scholar with whom you wish to study.)

        To start the Fulbright application process, you must start your application online, indicating that you are applying through Saint Anselm College. Detailed instructions are available on the applicants page.

        Gathering Information

        A list of preliminary steps to take if you are interested in applying: 

        • Schedule an appointment with either the Fulbright Program Advisor at Saint Anselm College, Bede Bidlack (bbidlack@anselm.edu), or one of the campus committee members. This is your opportunity to ask more in-depth questions regarding the Fulbright application process and to brainstorm about your project ideas.
        • Take advantage of the resources on the Fulbright Program website (us.fulbrightonline.org). Here you can find directories of former winners with their project titles, current and archived Fulbright applicant newsletters, which include questions submitted by applicants and answered by program officers from IIE, and the most current information and program updates for the Fulbright Scholarship Program, Institute of International Education: UK Fulbright Commission (for updates on U.K. program): www.fulbright.co.uk Additional site for Colleges and Universities outside the U.S.: http://univ.cc/
        • Consult your academic advisor and professors about your plans for graduate study. Get them acquainted with your ideas. The Fulbright Program Adviser can also help put you in touch with Saint Anselm faculty, staff, and students who have indicated a willingness to advise students with the Fulbright application process. Please do not hesitate to contact them.
        • Familiarize yourself with the educational resources (universities, research institutes, faculty, archives, etc.) available in the country of interest. If your proposal will include studying or conducting research at a particular overseas university or institute, it is your responsibility to gain admission or access to that institution. As such, Fulbright applicants should try to obtain detailed knowledge of programs, courses, or other educational opportunities (particularly faculty members) available at their chosen institution. The Office of International Programs can help you get you started on this process.