Fulbright U.S. Student Program

The Fulbright US Student Program is an exciting program that funds usually eight to ten months abroad for students and young professionals to engage:

  • In an independent research project
  • In a graduate program
  • As an English Teaching Assistant

The program currently awards:

  • Approximately 2,200 grants annually
  • In all fields of study
  • In more than 140 countries worldwide

Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of:

  • Quality and feasibility of the proposal
  • Academic and professional achievement
  • Demonstrated leadership potential
  • Language preparation (varies by country; it's generally helpful to exceed the minimum host country requirement)
  • How the candidate AND the project will advance the Fulbright aim of promoting mutual understanding among nations and achieving diversity
  • Engagement in the host community

Fulbright alumni:

  • Have achieved distinction in government, science, the arts, business, philanthropy, education, and many other fields. 
  • Fifty-three Fulbright alumni from 12 countries have been awarded the Nobel Prize
  • Seventy-eight alumni have received Pulitzer Prizes

Hampshire College Fulbrights

Each year, a number of Division III students and alumni apply for Fulbright awards through Hampshire College. Recent graduates who have received Fulbright awards include:

  • Eve Brittani Allen 14F, Environmental Studies Research, Peru
  • Mimi Alkattan 13F Water Resource Research, India
  • Nathan Bender 05F, History Research, China
  • Jacey Carrier 17F: ETA, South Korea
  • Asher Dvir Djerassi 10F: ETA, Bulgaria
  • Eamonn Gallagher 08F, Political Science Research, Romania
  • Luna Goldberg 12F; Interdisciplinary Studies Research, Israel
  • Kristina Moss Gunnarsdottir 08F: ETA, Mexico
  • Jeremy Koelmel 07F, Chemistry Research, India
  • Krista Magiardi 10F: ETA, Thailand
  • Leanna Pohevitz 08F;  ETA, Brazil
  • Walter Poulsen 12F: Anthropology Research, China
  • Martha Pskowski 09F: Environmental Studies Research, Mexico
  • Hanna Shannon 09F: ETA, South Korea
  • Rebecca Thomas 07F: ETA, Ecuador

Also among Fulbright recipients at Hampshire are numerous faculty and staff members, some of whom have served on the Hampshire College Fulbright Campus Committee. Recent  campus committee members include:

  • Allison Kretschmar, director of global education
  • Dula Amarasiriwardena, professor of chemistry
  • James Miller, professor emeritus of communications
  • John Castorino, assistant professor of microbiology
  • Nevart Hamamjian, principal gift officer in college advancement

Applying Through Hampshire College

The application is lengthy and complex and will take time to put together. 

Hampshire Specific Information and Resources

  • Use the Hampshire College Fulbright Timeline (pdf) as an aid in planning the application process by breaking it into manageable steps, giving you the opportunity to integrate feedback into your application.
  • Fulbright Tips for Hampshire Students (pdf)
  • Join the Fulbright Email Listserv. If you are interested in the Fulbright, sign up for this email list. You will receive important emails about information sessions, application details, and deadlines from Allison Kretschmar, Hampshire's Fulbright Program advisor. You can also schedule a time to meet with Alllison to discuss your particular interests.

The Fulbright goal is “…to increase mutual understanding between people of the U.S. and people of other countries through exchange.”

  • A Fulbright grantee is serving as an ambassador representing the U.S.A.
  • Projects, study, arts, ETA are a means to get students engaged in a meaningful way; and they want people who can be successful at developing their project.
  • Interest in and knowledge of the country and people of that country should be apparent in your application!

Eligibility

Basic Requirements:

  • Must be U.S. citizen at time of application
  • Must have bachelor's degree by the time the grant starts
  • No more than ~5 years of professional experience
  • Country-specific requirements, including language proficiency
  • In some countries, there are restrictions for dual citizens, people residing in-country in the year before the Fulbright would commence, and a few other situations.
  • View complete eligibility requirements

Types of Fulbrights

The major awards available to upcoming grads and alumni include:**

     **Fulbright program(s) available vary from country to country. Search by region and country to find specific offerings.

  • Study/Research Awards
    • These awards are available in all academic fields, including the arts; please read all information about the country as sometimes a country specifies topics of interest.
    • ~950 awards (per year) in ~140 countries; depending on the host country the award is for a period of eight to twelve months.
    • Independent research projects: Applicants develop an independent research project that must take place in a particular country. Applicants need to secure a letter of affiliation from an approved institution or organization (see the affiliation info on the country page). Fulbright selectors tend to like projects with an affiliation at an academic institution where the applicants can take a class or two that would augment or ground their research.
    • Graduate study: Applicants can propose to enroll in a specific graduate program. They do not need an acceptance at the time of the Fulbright application, but they must apply directly to the specific program and be accepted. (A Fulbright award is contingent on acceptance to the program.) A letter of affiliation is not required.
    • Visual and Performing Arts applicants can apply for an independent research project or a graduate program. The goal needs to be to develop their craft, with a good reason why that must be done in the intended host country. Additionally, applicants need to submit supplementary materials to demonstrate that they have the background and skill to continue developing in their field in the arts. The first round of selection is by a panel of "experts" in that area. See the Creative and Performing Arts Fields of Study section for information about available fields and supplementary materials requirements.
    • Find out more about Study/Research awards here.
       
  • English Teaching Assistant Awards
    • Help teach English and U.S. culture in the classroom
    • ~1200 awards in ~75 countries; for a period of eight to twelve months
    • Applicants are placed in schools in the country to supplement local English language instruction and to provide a native speaker presence in the classrooms.
    • Each country places differently; some at the university level only, others elementary through university; read the country information carefully.
    • Language proficiency requirements vary by country.
    • Applicants do not need a letter of affiliation, so this award may have an easier process than the Study/Research Award process.
    • It helps to have teaching or other leadership experience; TESL experience is an advantage in most countries.
    • Find out more about the English Teaching Assistant Program here.