The Fulbright Scholar Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), and administered in cooperation with the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES). Fulbright grants are awarded both to U.S. faculty for teaching or conducting research abroad, and to international scholars for lecturing or conducting postdoctoral research in the United States. This guide offers an overview of the Fulbright Programs for U.S. Scholars.

• Traditional Fulbright Scholar Program
• Senior Specialists Program
• Distinguished Chairs Program
• International Education Administrators Program
• German Studies Seminar
• Application Process
• OSU Contact

Traditional Fulbright Scholar Program

The traditional Fulbright Scholar Program sends 800 U.S. faculty and professionals abroad each year. Grantees lecture and conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields, usually for a semester or academic year. Applications are due August 1 of each year for the placement in the following academic year.

Fulbright Senior Specialists Program

The Fulbright Senior Specialists Program is designed to provide short-term academic opportunities (two to six weeks) for U.S. faculty and professionals. Shorter grant lengths give specialists greater flexibility to pursue a grant that works best with their current academic or professional commitments. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and peer review of applications is conducted eight times per year.

Fulbright Distinguished Chairs Program

Awards in the Fulbright Distinguished Chairs Program are viewed as among the most prestigious appointments in the Fulbright Scholar Program. Candidates should be senior scholars and have a significant publication and teaching record. Applicants should submit initial materials by May 1; following a review during early summer, scholars selected for the short list for each chair are asked to complete a full application by August 1.

Fulbright International Education Administrators Program

The Fulbright International Education Administrators Program (IEA) is a series of seminars designed to introduce international education professionals to the society, culture, and higher education systems of Germany, Japan, and Korea through campus visits, meetings with international colleagues and government officials, attendance at cultural events, and briefings on education. Applications for the Japan and Korea seminars are due November 1; applications for the Germany seminar are due February 1.

Fulbright German Studies Seminar

The Fulbright German Studies Seminar is a two-week group seminar for 25 participants on current German society and culture. Past seminar topics include "Germany in a Changing Europe: Transatlantic Ties, Transatlantic Challenges" and "Science and Society: The Impact of Science on Policy Formation." Deadline for applications is November 1.

Application Process

For information on the Fulbright application process, download the 2008 presentation "Fulbright Scholar Grants for U.S. Faculty and Professionals" by Fulbright Senior Program Officer David Adams, which includes eligibility requirements and tips for submitting a competitive application for the traditional program, an overview of additional Fulbright opportunities, and Fulbright Visiting Scholar opportunities.

May 2008 "Fulbright Scholar Grants for U.S. Faculty and Professionals" (pdf)

OSU Contact

For more information about the Fulbright Scholar Program, contact Marion McNamara.