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About the Fulbright Foreign Student Program
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables graduate students, young professionals and artists from abroad to study and conduct research in the United States. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program operates in more than 160 countries worldwide. Approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year.
If you are considering graduate study in the U.S., we encourage you to consider submitting an application to the Fulbright program in your home country!
About the Fulbright Scholar Program
International academics can apply to a Fulbright Scholar Program to teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects. To find the right opportunity for you, consult the Fulbright office in your home country.
Applying to Rice Graduate Programs as Fulbrighter (Student)
- About
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The Fulbright Foreign Student Program provides funding for graduate study in the United States. If you are considering graduate study in the U.S., we encourage you to consider submitting an application to the Fulbright program in your home country! Learn more.
- Financial Support from Rice University
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At Rice, all accepted graduate students who hold a Foreign Fulbright Student Award are eligible for full tuition waivers, excepting programs in the Jones School of Business. Doctoral students are additionally eligible for stipend support.
- Application Fee Waivers
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Rice provides application fee waivers to all Fulbrighters, Fulbright Finalists and Fulbright applicants applying to Rice graduate programs (except for the Jones School). The fee waiver will automatically be applied when you state your Fulbright status. For questions, please email Jennifer Hunter at jkh6@rice.edu as well as gradadmissions@rice.edu.
We are incredibly grateful for our wonderful community of Rice Fulbright Scholars, and hope you will consider joining our Rice family!
- The Graduate Application
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Degree-seeking Fulbright awardees and candidates can apply to Rice University via gradapply.rice.edu. Applications for fall admission will open in the summer of the preceding year (e.g. applications for fall 2024 will open in late summer 2023). If you would like to apply but the application is not yet open, please complete the interest form here, and let us know you are a Fulbright scholar or Fulbright applicant!
Admissions are handled directly by the department of interest. A listing of all graduate programs at Rice can be found here.
Please follow each department’s application instructions as found on the department website to complete the application.
Representatives of Fulbright Commissions, IIE, AMIDEAST, and other agencies assisting with Fulbright student applications may send a scan of official transcripts, GRE, and TOEFL scores via the application portal. For questions, please email our office at gradadmissions@rice.edu.
- Guide for International Applicants
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The Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies has put together a comprehensive guide for international applicants here. Be sure to reach out to a current Fulbright student or one of our graduate student ambassadors to further connect!
- Current Faculty and Staff
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If you are a Rice University faculty or staff member who has held a graduate-level Fulbright in the past and would like to meet us sometime, let us know! Please reach out to Dean Matsuda (matsuda@rice.edu) for information on upcoming events.
Process for Joining Rice as a Fulbright Scholar
- Finding a PI
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Fulbright scholars apply directly with the Rice University faculty member and/or department of interest. The Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) will partner with the inviting department's key contact to facilitate the arrival and welcoming process.
- Your International Office Contact
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The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Institutional Response Form is sent to Maria Corcuera at OISS (mec3@rice.edu), who will work in partnership with the inviting department to confirm the details of the visit and complete the form.
- Rice Department Responsibilities
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The inviting department will initiate the administrative process at Rice through the Visitor Management System (VMS), which is intended for processing all visitors who are not receiving Rice funding.
- Immigration Forms
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Fulbright issues the immigration form DS-2019 and the Fulbright scholar secures a J-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate. For more information, please see The Office of International Students and Scholars' (OISS) Pre-Arrival Information webpage.
- Your Arrival To Rice
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Upon arrival, a Fulbright scholar must check in with the inviting department, and attend an OISS immigration check-in and orientation. If you will be receiving funding from Fulbright, please confirm with your sponsor contact to which Rice office the check will be mailed.
Process for Current U.S. Students Interested in Fulbright
- About the Fulbright U.S. Student Program
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In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers unparalleled opportunities in all academic disciplines to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. Grant lengths and dates vary by award. Please consult the specific award description for details.
- Eligibility
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- Applicants must be citizens or nationals of the United States of America at the time of the application deadline. Permanent residents are not eligible. Please review the specific award description in relation to the eligibility of dual citizens.
- Applicants must have a conferred bachelor's degree or equivalent before the start of the grant period.
- Applicants must meet the language requirements of the award to which they are applying and demonstrate sufficient competency to complete their project and adjust to life in the host country.
- Read about other factors affecting eligibility on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website.
- Timeline
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- Spring - Annual competition opens.
- Summer - Application preparation.
- August/September - Applicants seeking to apply through Rice will submit their application early through the Center for Civic Leadership and interview with a committee of Rice faculty.
- October - National deadline.
- January - June - Award notifications.
- Grant start date varies by host country.
- Application Components
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- Biographical data and program information
- Statement of grant purpose
- 3 short answer questions
- Unofficial transcripts
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Letter of affiliation, if pursuing Study/Research
- Language evaluation forms (requirements vary by country)
- Resources for Applying
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The advising team at the CCL is prepared to talk with you about your goals and motivations to help you identify potential opportunities that align with your experiences and eligibility. Our advisers can walk you through the process, talk through potential recommenders, and give you a number of reflection activities to get you started on determining the fellowships or other programs you might be interested in, as well as resources to find other funding opportunities. CCL advisers can introduce you to alumni and other connections who can tell you about their experiences or suggest contacts.
Once you decide to apply to Fulbright, you can submit materials through our canvas page and CCL advisers will read and provide feedback for you to consider as you draft. Our goal is to support you in synthesizing your experiences, understanding your motivations, and seeing a clear path to achieving your goals. Whether you get the fellowship or not, we help you develop application writing and reflection skills and support you in making contacts with networks that can open additional opportunities beyond that particular fellowship.
Get started here: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/
Contact the Fulbright Program Advisor, Kelsey Ullom at keu1@rice.edu.