Fulbright Scholarships 2023-24: Eligibility, Deadline, Benefits

One of the popular prestigious scholarships for Indian students planning to study abroad, the Fulbright scholarship program operates in more than 150 countries and has witnessed more than 370,000 participants since its establishment which includes people from various walks of life. Originally beginning after World War II, this scholarship program is exclusively for those planning to study in USA for graduate-level programs. Since its inception, a large number of students, teachers, researchers, scholars, scientists and professionals have opted for this scholarship and 60 Fulbright scholarship alumni have also been awarded Nobel Prizes. Want to know about the application process, deadline and requirements for this scholarship? Scroll down to explore all the key details about the Fulbright Scholarship program for Indian students for the year 2023.

What is a Fulbright Scholarship?

The Fulbright Scholarship Program was founded by the United States Senator J. William Fulbright after World War II in 1946. It is one of the internationally acclaimed scholarship programs and aims at improving the exchange of ideas and language, intercultural relations, and diplomacy among the people of the U.S and other countries. This eminent program allows 8000 grants every year which serves approximately, 1,200 to U.S. scholars, 4,000 to foreign students,1,600 to U.S. students, 900 to foreign visiting scholars, and many others to teachers and professionals.

Also Read: Study in USA Without IELTS

Fulbright Scholarship: Benefits

Here are some of the top advantages you can avail of by opting for the Fulbright Scholarship Program:

• The Fulbright scholarship facilitates students, teachers and researchers to carry out their studies and research in the U.S.
• It covers the tuition fee, book and research allowance, cost of living, sickness and health expenses.
• It also provides a 24/7 support line for emergency situations.

Fulbright Scholarships: Important Dates and Deadlines

To apply for the Fulbright Scholarships for the year 2023-24

Fulbright Scholarships	Deadlines for 2024-2025
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship	17 May 2023
Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships	17 July 2023
Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships	17 July 2023
Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships	17 July 2023
Fulbright Kalam Climate Fellowship	17 July 2023
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program	15 June 2023
Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program	10 August 2023

List of Fulbright Scholarships for International Students

Following are the major Fulbright Scholarships for Indian students:

• Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships
• Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program
• Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program
• Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
• Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship
• Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers
• Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program

Amongst these, Fulbright-Nehru Scholarship programs are the most popular amongst Indian students, researchers, teachers and professionals. Here are the major Fulbright-Nehru Scholarship and Fellowship programs:

• Masters Fellowship
• Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship
• Foreign Language Teaching Assistants Program 

Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship

The Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships and Scholarships are designed for exceptional Indians who wish to pursue a master’s in the USA. Here are the major subjects included in this scholarship:

• Arts and Culture Management
• Women’s Studies/Gender Studies
• Urban and Regional Planning
• Economics
• International Affairs
• Environmental Science/Studies
• Public Administration
• Heritage Conservation and Museum Studies
• International Legal Studies
• Public Health
• Higher Education Administration

Spanning for a duration of one to two years, these Fulbright scholarships are for highly motivated individuals who demonstrate leadership skills, have earned the equivalent of an American Bachelor’s degree, have at least three years of professional experience, and are committed to coming back and contributing to their communities.

Benefits

The benefits of the Fulbright scholarship are:

• J-1 visa assistance;
• Round-trip economy class air travel from the selected candidate’s home city to the host institution in the US.
• Funding for tuition*, living and associated costs;
• Coverage of accidents and illnesses according to United States government guidelines

Note: The Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships do not provide financial support to dependents.

*USIEF funding might not consider all costs thus the scholar might be required to add more resources to the provided or availed grants.

Eligibility

In addition to the standard prerequisites, candidates must fulfil the following requirements for the Fulbright Scholarships:

• An undergraduate degree from a recognized university or college in India with a minimum of 55% marks. 
• You must have either a four-year undergraduate degree or In case your completed bachelor’s is less than four years, a full-time master’s degree or a full-time postgraduate diploma from a recognized university or college in India.
• A minimum of three years of full-time (paid) work experience in your chosen subject area;
• Demonstrate experience in leadership and community service;
• No other degree from a university in the United States or be enrolled in a curriculum in the United States.
• If you are a working professional, you must go through the instructions given under the employer’s endorsement. You can get this endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority on the FNMasters Employer’s Endorsement Form. The employer must accept that the leave is provided to the scholar for the given scholarship period.

Also Read: Here are the 50 Interesting Facts about the USA!

Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships

Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships are for those studying for a PhD degree in India. These Fulbright scholarships last between 6 and 9 months. Here are the major subject areas accepted under this fellowship:

• Agricultural Sciences
• Energy Studies
• Neurosciences
• Mathematical Sciences
• Anthropology
• Physical Sciences
• Bioengineering
• Climate Change Sciences
• Urban and Regional Planning (with emphasis on smart cities and waste management)
• Computer Science (including, but not limited to, cybersecurity, digital economy, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics)
• Economics
• Education Policy and Planning
• Public Policy
• History
• International Law
• International Security and Strategic Studies
• Materials Science (with emphasis on environmental applications)
• Sociology
• Women’s and Gender Studies
• Visual Arts
• Performing Arts
• Public Health

Affiliation
Under the Fulbright Scholarship for doctoral students, the applicants will be affiliated with an American host institution. The USIEF suggests the applicants find the institutions of interest that they want to be affiliated with and provide the same list beforehand. If the applicant has received an invitation letter from an American institution, they must mention the same in their online application.

Benefits

The Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships offer:

• J-1 visa support
• a monthly allowance
• an accident and illness exchange program U.S. government guidelines
• an economy class round trip
• the applicable indemnities and modest membership fees, where applicable. 
• Selected researchers will have the opportunity to review graduate courses, conduct research and gain hands-on work experience in appropriate environments in the United States.

Also Read: Here’s a complete guide to PhD in the USA!

Eligibility  

Here are the major requirements for the Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Scholarship:

• The applicants must have conducted adequate research in the relevant field to find the best resources in India. On the other hand, the U.S. applicant should have applied for a PhD degree in India.
• On the online application form, one of the letters of recommendation must come from the thesis supervisor who comments on the research of the candidates and the need for a fellowship and must indicate the date and subject of registration for the doctorate.
• This scholarship is exclusively for PhD aspirants wanting to pursue research required for their thesis and dissertation. Therefore, the expected date for the submission of a PhD thesis should be at least three months after the end date of the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship. 
• The candidate must also provide an already published or submitted research work or its extracts taken from their thesis in Master’s or MPhil.

Note: Since this fellowship is only for pre-doctoral level research, those pursuing the final stage of their PhD or those who have completed their doctoral degree will not be taken into consideration.

Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships

The Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships is mainly for professors, scholars and working professionals in India who are aspiring to pursue teaching, research opportunities or a combination of both at universities or colleges in the US. According to the US host institution, it is likely that the grant recipient will contribute to program development and workshops and seminars. These Fulbright scholarships last between 4 and 9 months. Applications are only requested in the following areas: 

• Agricultural Sciences
• Mathematical Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Anthropology
• Visual Arts
• Bioengineering
• Materials Science (with emphasis on environmental applications)
• Education Policy and Planning
• International Security and Strategic Studies
• Climate Change Sciences
• Materials Science (with emphasis on environmental applications)
• Computer Science (including, but not limited to, cybersecurity, digital economy, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics)
• Economics
• Public Health
• Energy Studies
• History
• International Law
• Urban and Regional Planning 
• Women’s and Gender Studies
• Neurosciences
• Performing Arts
• Public Policy
• Sociology

Affiliation
The applicant shall be affiliated with an American host institution. The USIEF suggests the applicants find the institutions of interest that they want to be affiliated with and provide the same list beforehand. If you obtained an invitation letter from an institution in the United States, it should be included in the online application for their Fulbright Scholarship.

Benefits

Here are the benefits offered by Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships and Scholarships:

• Scholarships provide J-1 Visa Support
• Monthly Allowance
• Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges as per US Government Guidelines
• Economy Return Travel (two return Economy airfare for Flex)
• A modest landing allowance, and pay for work. 
• The benefits might also include a dependent allowance along with international travel costs covered given the fund availability is ensured by any accompanying eligible dependent and under the condition that the scholar remains with the granted in the US for a minimum of 80% duration of the scholarship.

Eligibility

The major requirements for the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Scholarships are:

• Professors/researchers should have a PhD or equivalent published work with at least five years of relevant teaching/research experience;
• Non-university professionals must have a master’s degree or equivalent published work with recognized professional status and a minimum of five years of relevant experience;
• The applicant is required to upload a recent major publication (copy of the document or article) to the online application;
• If the applicant has a job, they should carefully follow the instructions for the letter of support from the originating institution. 
• The employer must indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period.

Also Read: Scholarships to Study in the USA for Indian Students

Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

The Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are designed for Indian professors and scholars who are in the early stages of their research careers in India. The Postdoctoral Research Fellowships will provide opportunities for talented professors and researchers to build their research capacity. Postdoctoral fellows will have access to some of the best resources in their areas of interest and will help establish long-term collaborative relationships with faculty and institutions in the United States. These scholarships last between 8 and 24 months. Applications are invited in the following fields only: 

• Agricultural Sciences
• Materials Science (with emphasis on environmental applications)
• Sociology
• Anthropology
• Bioengineering
• Urban and Regional Planning (with emphasis on smart cities and waste management)
• Physical Sciences
• Climate Change Sciences
• Women’s and Gender Studies
• Performing Arts
• Computer Science (including, but not limited to, cybersecurity, digital economy, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics)
• International Law
• Economics
• Public Policy
• International Security and Strategic Studies
• Neurosciences
• Education Policy and Planning
• History
• Visual Arts
• Mathematical Sciences
• Public Health
• Energy Studies

Affiliation
The candidate will be affiliated with a single American host institution for their scholarship. The USIEF suggests the applicants find the institutions of interest that they want to be affiliated with and provide the same list beforehand. The invitation letter must indicate the duration of your visit, preferably including dates. Also if the applicant received a letter of invitation from a U.S. institution, it should be included in the online application.

Benefits

• Scholarships provide J-1 Visa Support
• Monthly Allowance
• Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges as per US Government Guidelines
• Economy Return Travel (two return Economy airfare for Flex)
• A modest landing allowance
• Professional allowance
• For eight or nine-month grants, the benefits might also include a dependent allowance along with international travel costs covered given the fund availability is ensured by any accompanying eligible dependent and under the condition that the scholar remains with the granted in the US for a minimum of 80% duration of the scholarship.

Also Read: Undergraduate Studies in the USA

Eligibility

Besides the general preconditions:

• The candidate must have a PhD or MD within the previous four years. 
• The candidate is required to upload his or her PhD or MD diploma/provisional certificate on the online application.
• The candidate must be published in reputable journals and demonstrate academic and professional excellence. 
• They must upload a recent significant publication (copy of paper/article/journal/research) on the online application
• If the applicant is an employee, please carefully follow the instructions for the letter of support from the Home Institution.
• If applicable, please obtain approval from the appropriate administrative authority in the original institution’s FNPostdoc letter of support. 
• The employer should indicate that leave will be given for the probationary period. 

Fulbright Kalam Climate Fellowship

Fulbright Kalam Climate Fellowship is offered to candidates of doctoral and post-doctoral research. The fellowship is aimed at Indian faculty members, researchers and professionals who have displayed academic and professional excellence. The award is offered for subjects such as:

• Energy Studies
• Earth Sciences
• Geology
• Environmental Sciences
• Renewable Energy
• Smart Cities
• Agriculture
• Public Policy
• Environmental Engineering
• Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

The duration of this Fulbright scholarship ranges between 8 to 24 months and the applicants have to carry out research and teaching activities at US-host universities and institutions. Scholars who cannot leave their home universities have the option of making multiple visits to US universities during the fall or spring semesters.

Benefits

• J-1 visa support
• A monthly stipend
• Travel expense for round-trip economy class air travel between India and the U.S
• Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges per U.S. Government Guidelines
• A modest settling-in allowance
• A professional allowance
• Selected doctoral scholars will have opportunities to audit non-degree courses, conduct research and gain practical work experience in suitable settings in the U.S.
•  A dependent allowance and international travel for Postdoctoral Research, and Academic and Professional Excellence grantees. (The allowance is subject to the availability of funds and on the condition that the dependent is with the grantee in the U.S. for at least 80% of the grant period. Flex grantees are not eligible for dependent benefits.

Eligibility Criteria

Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for Postdoctoral Research

• To be eligible for a Fulbright scholarship one must be an Indian citizen in good health and high-level of academic achievements
• Applicants must have a PhD degree within the past four years. S/he must have obtained a PhD degree between and submitted his/her thesis before August 2025.
• Must possess a PhD or DM degree certificate/provisional PhD or DM certificate.
• Applicants must have a publication in reputed journals and demonstrate evidence of superior academic and professional achievement. (to be uploaded on the application)
• Recommendation letters and research proposal 
• Employed Applicants have to follow the rules regarding the employer’s endorsement. If applicable, obtain the endorsement from the appropriate administrative authority on the Letter of Support from the Home Institution. The employer must indicate that leave will be granted for the fellowship period. 

Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for Academic and Professional Excellence

• Must be an Indian citizen in good health and high level of academic achievements
• Faculty/researchers must have a PhD degree or equivalent published work with  five years of teaching/research experience
• Professionals must have a master’s degree or  published work with a recognized minimum of five years of experience
• The applicant must upload recent publications on the online application for consideration
• Employed Applicants must follow the employer’s endorsement instructions.

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program is an excellent programme meant under Fulbright scholarships meant for young and mid-career professionals from developing countries who are committed to public service and are invited to study non-degree graduate programs and related practical professional experiences. Women candidates and minority communities can apply for the fellowships as well. Here are the subjects covered by the program:

• Agricultural and Rural Development
• Communications/Journalism
• Contagious and Infectious Diseases
• Economic Development
• Educational Administration, Planning and Policy
• Finance and Banking
• Higher Education Administration
• HIV/AIDS Policy and Prevention
• Human Resource Management
• International Religious Freedom
• Law and Human Rights
• Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, and Climate Change
• Public Health Policy and Management
• Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration
• Substance Abuse Education, Treatment and Prevention
• Teaching English as a Foreign Language 
• Technology Policy and Management
• Trafficking in Persons, Policy and Prevention
• Urban and Regional Planning

The duration of the fellowship is for 10 months for students who believe they can benefit from the program. 

Benefits

• Tuition and fees
• Monthly Maintenance Allowance
• Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges per U.S. Government Guidelines
• Allowance for books and supplies,
• Round-trip international air travel to the host institution,
• Domestic travel to the Washington, D.C. workshop
• Allowances for professional activities such as field trips, professional visits, and conferences. 

This Fulbright scholarship does not provide support for dependents and includes activities where it is difficult to include family members/dependents.

Eligibility

• Must have a master’s degree or a professional degree of at least four years duration
• Five years of substantial professional experience in the respective field
• Must demonstrate leadership qualities
• Must have a record of public service in the community
• Must sign an undertaking to return to India after the fellowship is completed.

Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program

The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program is another Fulbright scholarship. It is meant for candidates who are early career English teachers teaching at the college level or professionals in related fields. Selected candidates are invited to US universities and assigned to teach languages like Hindi, Bengali and Urdu for 9 months.

Benefits

• A monthly stipend
• Health insurance 
• Travel support
•  U.S. host institutions provide tuition awards to support the required coursework
•  FLTA program does not provide J-2 visas for spouses or dependents

Eligibility

• Must be a citizen of India
• Must display maturity, dependability, integrity, and professionalism.
• Fluency in English is mandatory. (79-80 on the internet-based TOEFL is required) 
• A master’s degree (by June 2024) with a good academic record in English language, English/American Literature, American Studies, Linguistics, Comparative Literature, and related areas.
• Must be a  young teacher of English at the college level or training to become a teacher of English or is a young professional in a related field.
• Prior teaching experience is preferred.

Also Read: Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in the UK

How To Apply for Fulbright Scholarships?

Now that you are familiar with the essential requirements and documents checklist, take a look at the detailed application process for Fulbright Scholarship 2023:

• It is important to know that you can only apply to one scholarship category at a time and plagiarism is strictly unacceptable for the submission of your application.   
• Once you click on ‘create your account’, make sure you enter the name exactly as mentioned on your passport.
• The application must be submitted on the website mentioned and make sure you record the email address and password.
• You may re-enter and make the required changes but once you submit the application, it cannot be undone. 
• Fill the rest of the tabs of the application carefully and according to your preference of fellowship needed.

Fulbright Scholarships: Documents Checklist

The documents essential for submission vary according to the applicant’s country and type of scholarship. However, these are the basic documents required for the Fulbright scholarship program:

• Professional and academic transcripts from all the degrees studied.
• Online application form
• 3 Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
• GRE score
• Proof of English Language proficiency through IELTS or TOEFL score 

Fulbright Scholarships: Selection Process

All fellowship applications are reviewed before candidates and applicants are invited for the interview round. The interview is conducted with the USIEF National Selection Committee in New Delhi.

Here are the criteria used by the selection panel to evaluate the applications for the Fulbright scholarship:

• Student’s academic credentials and professional ability
• Students’ communication skills
• Commitment to community and national service 
• The merit of the proposed Fulbright project
• Purpose of Research and the practicality behind research in the US
• Outcomes, Benefits and Potential Impact
• Motivation, leadership, maturity, cultural adaptability, the seriousness of purpose
• Ability to contribute as a cultural ambassador in their field of study 

Things to Keep in Mind

While applying for the Fulbright Scholarship, candidates should keep the following points in mind to nail the selection process:

• The applicant should possess effective communication skills.
• The candidate should propose their future ideas to increase and improve intercultural relations among countries through the Fulbright project.
• The academic/ professional competence of the candidate should be good.
• The candidate should have a constructive research topic and a strong reason to conduct it.
• The candidate should have professional maturity, leadership qualities, motivation strategies, social-cultural adaptability and flexibility.

FAQs

We hope that this blog has given you detailed information about different fellowships under the Fulbright Scholarships and Fellowships. Want to study in the USA? Our Leverage Edu experts are here to assist you throughout the admission process of your chosen program and university to ensure that you get successfully shortlisted. Sign up for a free session with us now!