The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute for International Education, offers diverse opportunities in more than 140 countries for research, graduate study, teaching abroad, and cultural exchange for current U.S. students and recent graduates. Fulbright fellows are immersed in the culture and daily life of the country of their choice. Successful applicants to this program will promote leadership, learning, and mutual understanding between cultures.

Award benefits include round-trip transportation; a stipend to cover room, board, and living expenses; and accident and sickness health benefits. Some grants may include additional funding for study and research, including language study and full or partial tuition.

There are more than 1,600 grants/awards available for U.S. students. Specific opportunities that relate to UMB’s professional fields are: 

• Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health — Opportunities in maternal/neonatal health, HIV/AIDS research, epidemiology, etc.

• Fulbright Grants in STEM and Public Health — Opportunities in Austria, Australia, Chile, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, and Taiwan

• Fulbright-Hays Program for Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad — 6- to 12-month research opportunities

The essential requirements are that applicants must: 

• Be citizens or nationals of the United States (permanent residents are not eligible)

• Have at least a bachelor’s degree*

• Meet any language requirements for the award

Check out additional details on Fulbright Eligibility.

*Doctors of Medicine may receive grants for advanced academic study, but not for internships or residencies. Scholars with an MD degree who have completed their formal postgraduate training and propose attachment to a hospital or clinic for the purpose of independent or collaborative research should apply to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Grants shall not authorize activity for which a license to practice medicine or nursing is required. The Fulbright Program cannot authorize proposals for medical research that involve clinical training, patient care, or patient contact. 

• Early April 2025: Applications open for 2026-2027 awards (exact date to be announced)

• September 15, 2025: Internal UMB deadline for application review and feedback 

• Early October 2025: National deadline for applications (exact day to be announced)

• Research the type of Fulbright award you hope to pursue and in which location

• Learn more about the application components for Fulbright

• If the award you are thinking about asks for an affiliation letter (e.g., a letter from an organization you will conduct research with during your Fulbright or a letter from a program where you will study during your award), begin engaging with individuals/organizations and requesting letters as soon as possible

• Determine if you will need a Foreign Language Evaluation form and, if so, identify an individual to complete it, particularly, according to Fulbright, “a professional language teacher, preferably a university professor” 

Read more about Getting Started.