The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

UConn faculty and administrators have a long history of global engagement as Fulbright U.S. Scholars, going back to 1952 when Arthur Knoblaugh, Professor of Education, spent his sabbatical leave supported by a Fulbright Scholar grant to lecture at the St. Training College for Teachers in Burma. Since then, nearly 200 UConn faculty and adminsitrators have been recipients of Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards.

 

Getting Started

  • There are Fulbright opportunities for faculty, administrators, postdocs, faculty emeriti, and staff:
  • Fulbright applicants must hold U.S. citizenship.
  • The competition for most awards opens in February of each year. Applications for most awards are due around September 15. Applicants for most awards are notified of their application review progress and outcome between January and May. Application timelines for specialized programs may differ from this schedule.
  • The Fulbright Scholar Program is administered according to the policies and practices of the Fulbright associations based in each awarding country. You may want to research specific award policies or local practices while exploring award opportunities (e.g. What kind of support does the program provide for dependent family members? For housing?)
  • Early career researchers may qualify for both Postdoctoral Awards and Scholar Awards that accept applications from early career applicants. It may be practical to consider both options when researching Fulbright awards.
  • Not all Fulbright awards require a doctoral degree or involve research and teaching activities– some Scholar Awards fund professional projects, and the International Education Administrator Awards present opportunities for professional staff who work in international education.
  • At UConn, faculty time spent on a Fulbright may qualify for a research leave. Consult the Faculty Leaves of Absence resources for more details. You should discuss any preliminary plans to apply for a Fulbright award with your department head, and direct questions about leave arrangements to your Dean’s office.
  • For many awards, you will need to identify an in-country academic host. If you are having difficulty identifying a host institution, Global Partnerships and Outreach can help you identify institutions with whom we already have a partnership.
  • The Fulbright Program is your best resource to learn more about available awards and the application process. Attend Fulbright Webinars and office hours to learn more about programs of interest and to ask your program-specific questions.

Application Tips

  • Consult the list of prior Fulbright U.S. Scholars from UConn and/or the UConn Health Center to find Fulbright alumni in your academic field or destination country of interest who may be able to share helpful information from their Fulbright experience, or tips for your application.
  • Make sure your application speaks to all requirements and objectives of the Fulbright award you are applying for, and how you fulfill the eligibility criteria for that award.  Ensure that your project objectives and activities are feasible within the scope and duration of the grant for which you are applying.
  • Seek peer feedback on your project statement.
  • Fulbright application reviewers will probably not be experts in your academic discipline– write your application to an audience that has no technical knowledge related to your proposal.
  • Attend Fulbright webinars and office hours for application tips and to ask Fulbright program officers your questions.

If you have been Selected for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Award

  • Congratulations! Please let your Fulbright Scholar Program liaisons at UConn know that you have been selected (see below).
  • Your in-country Fulbright program representatives are your best resources to answer specific questions about your program, and what kind of services and support will be available to you in-country.
  • Work with your Dean’s office to make arrangements and seek necessary approvals regarding your leave.
  • While preparing for time abroad, you may need to think about the following:
    • What will you do with your U.S. residence while abroad? If leaving your residence empty, how will you ensure pipes don’t freeze in winter? Who will get your mail?
    • Will your Fulbright award pay you in U.S. dollars, or the local currency? How will you access that money?
    • If you have accompanying dependents, will they come with you? What kind of visa will they need, and does Fulbright provide support for their visa?
    • What type of visa will you need, and what support does Fulbright provide for your visa?

Fulbright Scholar Liaisons at UConn and UConn Health Center

Fulbright Scholar Liaisons are responsible for promoting the Fulbright U.S. Scholar program on campus and can help answer applicant questions.

University of Connecticut Liaisons

University of Connecticut Health Center Liaisons

UConn Fulbright Scholars Directory

View the full directory of U.S. Fulbright Scholars from UConn:

University of Connecticut

University of Connecticut Health Center

Other Fulbright Programs

Hosting Fulbright Scholars and Students at UConn

Fulbright sponsored faculty and students come to the U.S. for teaching and research activities under the Fulbright Visiting Scholars program, Fulbright Foreign Student Program and Fulbright FLTA (Foreign Language Teaching Assistant) Program.  While Fulbright Foreign degree seeking students apply through standard admission channels, visitors who come for research or teaching activities are onboarded with support from International Student and Scholar Services. Learn more here.

Fulbright S-I-R Program

The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program provides funding to institutions to host a Fulbright Scholar for an academic semester or year to teach courses, support curriculum development, and engage in other scholarly exchange activities. Learn more here.

Fulbright Specialist Program

The Fulbright Specialist exchange program pairs U.S. specialists with institutions in participating countries to work on projects lasting anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. This program is available to faculty and staff with specialized expertise in one of the eligible fields. Learn more here.

Fulbright Opportunities for U.S. Students and Recent Graduates

UConn's Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships manages the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and advises on Fulbright opportunities for current students and recent graduates.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs.  During their grants, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences.  The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Through engagement in the community, the individual will interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding.

To learn more information, visit the UConn Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships.