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Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program allows graduating seniors, master’s students, doctoral candidates, and recent graduates to self-design a research/study project, or serve as an English Teaching Assistant in one of more than 140 countries.

The Fulbright program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is managed nationally by the Institute of International Education and at UNC-Chapel Hill by the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs.

Please Note: This page details instructions for U.S. citizen student programs. Those interested in the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad or Fulbright U.S. Scholar programs should see the relevant funding pages. International students interested in a Fulbright should review information from the Council for International Exchange of Scholars or the Fulbright Foreign Student program website and contact the Fulbright Commission or supervising agency in their home country.

Eligibility & Application Process

The 2025-2026 Award Cycle Opens April 2, 2024!
UNC-Chapel Hill Campus Deadline: TBD September 2024

All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. To apply through UNC-Chapel Hill you must meet the campus deadline. The following outline provides an overview of the full application process.

  1. Review the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website.
  2. Complete the Fulbright U.S Student Program Interest Form. This is not the Fulbright application. It is a form used for internal purposes.
  3. Join the Fulbright Sakai site. You can also follow these steps to join. This site houses past funded statements, timelines, and other helpful resources. [NOTE: Alumni may apply at large but are welcome to apply through the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs with the approval of the UNC-Chapel Hill Fulbright Program Adviser.]
  4. Start drafting your Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement.
  5. Preview the online application. This is the actual Fulbright U.S Student program application (you will need to make an account to see the application).
  6. Submit your online application by the campus deadline.
  7. Participate in the campus interview after the campus deadline. You will be contacted by the Fulbright U.S. Student Program Advisor shortly after submitting your application about the logistics of your interview.
  8. Receive feedback on your application during your interview. Directly after your interview, you will be given 72 hours to apply any edits to your application.
  9. Submit your final application via the Fulbright online application platform.

Interested in Fulbright but still have questions? Schedule an appointment with a Fulbright advisor, and join the Fulbright Student Sakai site to learn more!


NOTE: Programs listed on this section of the website are housed within the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs, and global programs at Carolina are not limited to those listed in this section. In addition, UNC-Chapel Hill faculty, students and staff will find global opportunities available through Carolina’s area studies centers, the Study Abroad Office and across other departments and professional schools.