The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists from the United States to study, conduct research or to serve as an English teaching assistant abroad for one academic year. In addition, Critical Language Enhancement Awards are available to grantees for study of critical-need foreign languages before or concurrently with their grant period.
More than 1,500 Americans annually receive grants to study, research or teach abroad with either full or partial support from the Fulbright Program. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers three kinds of grants:
- Study and research: offer up to one academic year of support for study and research in academic fields and the creative and performing arts. Applicants propose their own research and/or graduate study project and find their own host affiliation. Grants to study at specific universities are also available for some host countries.
- English Teaching Assistantships—ETAs: places recent college graduates and young professionals as English teaching assistants in primary and secondary schools or universities overseas. English teaching assistants help improve foreign students’ English language abilities and knowledge of the U.S., while simultaneously advancing their personal language skills and knowledge of the host country. They may also pursue individual study and research plans in addition to their teaching responsibilities.
- Travel-only grants: supplement other fellowships that do not include travel costs or supplement a student's own funds for study and research. Travel grants are available to Germany, Hungary, and Italy.
Applying to Fulbright
WMU students and recent alumni interested in applying for Fulbright, or in getting more information, should contact the WMU Fulbright Program Advisor (FPA), Dr. Michelle Metro-Roland, by email michelle.metro-roland@wmich.edu
Campus application deadline: September 9, 2019
Recommended application timeline
- April: Online application opens.
- May-August: Meet with the WMU campus Fulbright advisor and begin an application. Secure letters of recommendation and language evaluation forms (if necessary).
- August: Finalize draft of Fulbright application.
- Mid-September: WMU campus deadline
- Late September: Complete campus Fulbright committee interview process.
- Early October: Post-interview revision an application finalization.
- Mid-October: Fulbright national deadline.