Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

Application Steps and Requirements for U.S. Scholars

If you are a non-U.S. citizen, please review the Non-U.S. (Visiting) Scholar programs.

The 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Competition is now open.

Thanks for your interest in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Explore current opportunities and Connect with Fulbright to receive important program updates and application resources. Register for a webinar today for more information and join an office hour to have your questions answered live by IIE staff.

The application components vary depending on the type of activity you apply for: teaching, research, teaching/research combination, or professional project - as well as your discipline and specialization. Please see below for details on each component and whether it applies to your application.

If you are a non-U.S. citizen, please review the Non-U.S. (Visiting) Scholar programs.

Start your application now!

Instructions

Your application materials should be well-organized, working together to demonstrate why the project is needed and how you are prepared to accomplish it. Connect the dots for the reader: present information clearly to prevent the reader from (mis)interpreting to the extent possible. You may find the Review Criteria to be helpful as you prepare your materials.

These application instructions contain additional guidance on creating and completing your application (A PDF version is also available to download).

Applicants must submit a complete application by the application deadline below to be considered for an award in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program for that application cycle (competition). Applicants may only apply for one Fulbright award per competition, and applications will only be considered for that competition. This means applicants cannot apply for multiple awards in the same program year (2026-2027).

Project Statement – required for all applicants

The project statement is your opportunity to explain the proposed project. This document addresses key elements of your project: what the project is, why it is needed, the objective(s) of the project, how you are prepared for the project and how you will accomplish it, the project timeline, and the outcomes and impact. The information you provide in your essays and CV/resume should align with your proposed project. 

You will also be asked to provide a Project Title and Abstract. The Abstract is a 700-character summary of your project: it briefly describes the nature of the project, the plan (e.g., methodology), why the project is important/its impact, and the expected results. All applications are read in their entirety in the review and selection process. The purpose of this concise overview is to help the reader quickly understand the proposed project. Note: The character limit includes spaces and punctuation.

Project Statement Format Requirements:

• 3-5 pages
• Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins. This helps ensure readability. 
• You may use endnotes or footnotes in 10-point font. You may put the full citation for a source mentioned in your Project Statement in the Reference List to save space in your Project Statement. (Use any format for citations.).
• File type: Adobe PDF (recommended) or Word document.
• Note: If any non-English characters, images, tables, equations, etc. are used, you must upload your document as an Adobe PDF to maintain formatting.
• For Flex and Multi-Country: Your statement should clearly describe your plans and justification for each segment/country visit, including a project timeline.  
• Do not include hyperlinks designed to direct the reader outside of the application reader window. You may cite web links with the expectation that reviewers are not meant to click them. Content to be considered in the application review must be contained within the application itself.

You may include figures and images in your Project Statement where appropriate but they must fit within the 5 page limit for the Project Statement (this is not in addition to the 5-page limit).

 

The Project Statement should address the points below. While you are encouraged to use headers and/or bullets to organize and convey key elements, how you address these points in terms of format and order is up to you.

The project statement should be clear, focused, and specific. Avoid jargon; it should be able to be understood by individuals in other disciplines. Proofread carefully. 

Each section below contains discussion points for each activity type. For example, if you are proposing a research project, your statement should focus primarily on the points relevant to research (versus points for teaching or professional project). For teaching/research: Your statement should reflect the relative amount of time you propose for each activity and address both teaching and research points below. (Consult the award to determine if it specifies a percentage or courseload. If a percentage or courseload is not specified, it is up to you to decide.) 

• What do you propose to do, including:
  • All Applications: What is the project, what are the objectives, and what is the need for the project? What is the importance of conducting the project at this time, and in this location? (This should complement your essay response on Country Selection.) What do you expect will result from your project, including any works produced?
  • Teaching: What is the nature of your project, and what are your anticipated plans for teaching? This includes classroom teaching, giving lectures, seminars, and workshops, curriculum/ program development, public lectures, etc. (Consult your award for specific requirements.)
  • Research: What is the nature of your research (scientific, qualitative, quantitative, artistic, etc.)? What are the objectives for your project? What is the academic and/or disciplinary context for the project?
  • Professional Project: What is the nature of your project? What are your objectives, and what is its context within your field?
• How do you propose to do it, including: 
  • All Applications: How will you accomplish the project? Be as specific as possible regarding all aspects of your plans, including anticipated activities, methodology, required resources, and your proposed timeline. Address how you will adjust your plans if needed, including the feasibility of the project given the resources and time allocated. How is your project innovative? How will you engage with the host institution/ organization and community?  
  • All Applications: How are you prepared to carry out your project? Describe your relevant experience and how it prepares you to conduct the project (this should complement your essays and CV/Resume). Address proficiency in language(s) other than English as it relates to the project.
  • Teaching: What have you taught that prepares you to teach the proposed course(s)?  Describe your past involvement in curriculum planning, advising , and/or administrative responsibilities. 
  • Research: Describe your activities and methodology. What resources and/or facilities do you need in the host country to accomplish your project? How might local, political/cultural or other issues impact your work?
  • Professional Project: Which activities do you plan to do within this project and how do you plan to arrange and complete them?  
  • Teaching/Research, Flex, Multi-Country: Address your plans and rationale for how you will allocate your time for each activity and/or grant segment.
• What impact, outcomes and benefits will the project produce, including:
  • All Applications: What do you hope to contribute, and gain from this experience? How do you expect this will impact your home institution/organization, your host institution and community, your discipline, and your professional development? How might your project be sustained afterward? This may include institutional collaboration, student and faculty exchange, new perspectives in teaching, joint research, professional connections, etc.
  • Teaching: How might this impact your teaching and professional work? How will you share what you have learned abroad and at home with your host institution, home institution, and communities in the host country and the U.S.?
  • Research: What significance does your project hold for the discipline? How will the findings or result be disseminated (publications, conferences, presentations, joint collaborations, exhibitions, etc.)?
  • Professional project: What impact do you expect this project to have on your discipline, and professional work? Are there broader implications in your field for someone expanding their expertise in this way? How do you anticipate this experience will impact you as a professional in your field in the future?

CV/Resume – required for all applicants

All applications require a curriculum vitae or resume. It should be clearly organized and tailored to the award to which you are applying and the proposed project. Do not include hyperlinks designed to direct the reader outside of the application reader window. You may cite web links with the expectation that reviewers are not meant to click them. Content to be considered in the application review must be contained within the application itself.

Format Requirements:

• Up to 6 pages. For Distinguished Scholar awards: up to 8 pages.
• Single spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins.
• Use headers and/or bullets to organize and convey key elements, and page numbers.
• File type: Adobe PDF (recommended) or Word document. 
• Note: If any non-English characters, images, tables, equations, etc. are used, you must upload your document as an Adobe PDF.

 Your CV/Resume should not include:

• Contact information: Mailing address, email address, phone number
• Date of Birth, Marital Status, Citizenship
• Your picture

Recommendations

The application requires two recommendations. Recommendations evaluate your professional work, including the abilities and expertise you bring to your project; your ability to adapt; the merits of the project. You are encouraged to provide your recommenders with a copy of your project statement.

• Applicants must register their recommenders in the online application. 
• Applicants are responsible for ensuring their recommendations are submitted by their recommenders via the online system by the application deadline. Deadline extensions will not be granted.
• Recommenders cannot submit their  recommendations outside the online system. 
• Applicants can track the status of the recommendations on their online application and can send reminders to recommenders to submit their recommendations by the application deadline.
• Recommendations can be submitted by your recommenders before or after you submit the application but must be submitted by the application deadline.
• All recommendations must be in English.

Who may serve as a recommender?

Letters should be from those who know you and your work well.

• One recommendation should be from a colleague or supervisor at your current place of employment. If your institution or employer recently changed, one of the letters should be from someone at your previous institution or employer.
• One recommendation should be from a colleague within your discipline. This letter can be from outside your current place of employment OR may come from a second colleague at your place of employment This can include colleagues with whom you have collaborated on research in the last several years in the U.S. or abroad.
• If you have selected Teaching or Teaching/Research for your grant activity: One letter should be from a colleague who knows and can speak to your teaching abilities. This letter may not come from a student.
• If you are currently finishing your doctorate or other terminal degree: If you are applying before your final degree requirements are complete, one of your letters must come from someone familiar with your degree progress who can cite your expected data of conferral, such as an advisor or committee member.Note that your degree must be conferred prior to your grant start date. Additional documentation may be requested later.

Who cannot serve as a recommender?

• Relatives of the applicant
• Representatives of U.S. Embassy posts or Fulbright Commissions in the proposed host country (country of application)
• Representatives of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the U.S. Department of State
• Representatives of the Institute of International Education, including current IIE staff, IIE Board of Trustees, and Fulbright Scholar Advisory Board (CIES) members
• Anyone who serves as a recommender may not also provide the applicant with an invitation letter or foreign language evaluation.

For Recommenders

Please see these instructions for those providing recommendations.

Format Requirements

• Up to 3 pages.
• On letterhead and signed (recommended).
• File type: Adobe PDF (recommended) or Word document.
• All recommendations must be written in English. If the original recommendation letter is written in a language other than English, you must provide an English translation. Because the recommendation letter is confidential, the applicant cannot provide the translation. Both the original recommendation letter and the English-language translation must be uploaded to the application by the recommender.

Deadline

Recommendations must be submitted by September 15, 2025, 5:00 PM EDT (UTC-4:00).

Short Essays – required for all applicants

The essays are your opportunity to describe why you have selected the particular country (or countries), how Fulbright fits into your career path, your cultural preparation, and your teaching preparation (if teaching is selected). The details you provide here should be clear and compelling. Your essays should complement the information in your project statement and CV/resume. 

You are encouraged to write these in a document before copying them into your application. Note character limits.

• Country Selection (up to 2,000 characters, including spaces, punctuation, and paragraph breaks)
  • Why is this country (or countries) the best match for your project?
  • What experiences have prepared you to undertake your project in this country (countries)? Please describe your prior experiences in the host country/countries (if any).
• Career Trajectory (up to 1,500 characters, including spaces, punctuation, and paragraph breaks)
  • In terms of your career trajectory, describe why Fulbright, and why now.
• Cultural Preparation (up to 2,000 characters, including spaces, punctuation, and paragraph breaks)
  • Please address your familiarity with the host culture, and any other global experiences that prepare you to adjust successfully to life in the host country.
  • What challenges do you expect to face in the host country?
  • How will you adapt, address, or manage them?
  • Provide examples of your ability to be adaptable, flexible, culturally sensitive, collegial, and how you may serve as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. 
• Teaching Preparation (only required if your award activity includes teaching) (up to 1,500 characters, including spaces, punctuation, and paragraph breaks)
  • How will you make your teaching relevant to the culture(s) and language(s) of the host country? How will you adapt your materials and pedagogy to a different teaching environment in which your students’ first language may not be English?

Reference List – required for Research or Teaching/Research activities

A Reference List is required if you select the Research or Teaching/Research activity, regardless of discipline. The Reference List is not accepted for the Teaching nor Professional Project activities.

The Reference List demonstrates to the review committee that you are aware of the current state of research or work related to the discipline of your proposed project and that your project will contribute to existing work in the discipline. It should contain sources that situate your project in the current field and include any critical theory informing your project. 

• The Reference List demonstrates to the review committee that you are aware of the current state of research or work related to the discipline of your proposed project. It should contain sources that situate your project in the current field and include any critical theory informing your project. 
• References may include (but are not limited to) journal articles, books, newspaper articles, works or exhibitions by other artists, conference proceedings, reports, films or videos, collection articles, court cases, microforms, websites, and digital images. 
• You may choose the format: your Reference List can be an enumerative list, or it can be annotated/explanatory (within the 3-page limit).
• You may choose any citation style. 
• You may put the full citation for a source mentioned in your Project Statement in the Reference List to save space in your Project Statement.
• The Reference List should not consist solely of your own publications. 
• This is a list of sources that inform your work and with which you will dialogue. This is not a list of personal references to be contacted.
• Do not include hyperlinks designed to direct the reader outside of the application reader window. You may cite web links with the expectation that reviewers are not meant to click them. Content to be considered in the application review must be contained within the application itself.

Format Requirements:

• Up to 3 pages.
• Single spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins.
• Use headers and/or bullets to organize and convey key elements; use page numbers.
• File type: Adobe PDF (recommended) or Word document.
• Note: If any non-English characters, etc. are used, you must upload your document as an Adobe PDF to maintain formatting.

Syllabi – required for Teaching or Teaching/Research activities

Syllabi or sample course outlines are required if you select Teaching or Teaching/Research for your award activity, regardless of discipline. Syllabi/course outlines are not accepted for the Research nor Professional Project activities.

Syllabi and course samples demonstrate to the review committee how you approach teaching in terms of content and pedagogy, and your currency in the topic(s). You do not need to propose a new syllabus at the time of application; you can furnish past syllabi to demonstrate your pedagogical approach.

• Submit at least one (up to three) course syllabi or sample course outlines relevant to the planned grant activity.
• Your syllabi/course outlines should be designed by you and expressive of your teaching philosophy. If you did not design them, indicate as such.
• Indicate whether they have been used previously or have been developed for this application.

Format Requirements:

• Up to 10 pages, total (not per syllabus or outline).
• Single spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins.
• Use headers and/or bullets to organize and convey key elements; use page numbers.
• File type: Adobe PDF (recommended) or Word document.
• Note: If any non-English characters, images, tables, equations, etc. are used, you must upload your document as an Adobe PDF to maintain formatting. 

Invitation Letters

The invitation is a letter provided by the proposed host institution or organization expressing their interest in hosting you and your proposed project.

Applicants are responsible for obtaining and uploading the invitation letter to their Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program application if required by the award. Be sure your project statement reflects your planned activities, including how you will engage with your host institution.

For-profit organizations may not serve as hosts for Professional Projects. Appropriate hosts might include a non-profit organization, artist residency, studio collective, governmental agency, museum, professional association, cultural organization, K-12 institution, university, college, language institute, research institute, laboratory, think tank or foundation. If you are uncertain whether your host is appropriate, please contact IIE staff listed in the award description.

Local organizations operated by citizens of the host country are preferred over U.S. institutions abroad. However, in some cases, international organizations have been approved as hosts. Please check the award description in the Catalog of Awards or contact IIE staff to inquire whether your host is permissible.

For-profit organizations may not serve as hosts. Appropriate hosts might include a non-profit organization, artist residency, studio collective, governmental agency, museum, professional association, cultural organization, K-12 institution, university, college, language institute, research institute, laboratory, think tank or foundation. If you are uncertain whether your proposed host is appropriate, please contact IIE staff listed on the lefthand side of the award.

Should you submit an Invitation Letter?

Consult the Award Requirements tab in the Award for details regarding invitation letters.

• If "An Invitation Letter is required":
  • You must submit an invitation letter.
  • If it is not included with your application or submitted by the invitation letter deadline, your application will become ineligible and will not proceed in the review and selection process. 
• If "An invitation letter is preferred":
  • Applicants are encouraged to obtain and submit an invitation letter.
• If "An invitation letter is optional":
  • Applicants may submit an invitation letter.
•  If "An Invitation Letter should not be sought":
  • Applicants should not seek an invitation letter.

Invitation Letter Deadline

September 25, 2025, 5:00 PM EDT (UTC -4:00). Invitation letters will not be added to applications after this deadline.

• For awards where the invitation is required: If your letter(s) are not submitted by this extended deadline, your application will become ineligible and will not proceed in the review and selection process.
• For all other awards: If an invitation is not required, your application will proceed in the review process with or without an invitation.

If your invitation is expected to arrive after the application deadline, you should submit your application without the letter. You will be able to upload your invitation letter to your application until September 25, 2025, 5:00 PM EDT (UTC -4:00). 

How to request an invitation letter:

We have a sample invitation letter email for your reference. 

Identify an appropriate host institution (see below) and individual in the country of interest and email them. Introduce yourself and the activities you are interested in proposing. If they are interested in potentially hosting you and your project, you can then request an invitation letter from them in subsequent messages. (Letters are typically provided on university letterhead.)  Note that many faculty are difficult to reach in July and August abroad, so start early; this process can take time.

Note: An institution can provide invitations to multiple candidates. An invitation is not a legally binding pledge. Having one does not guarantee your application will be recommended in the peer review process nor selected for an award.

Invitation requirements

The letter should be addressed to you or to the Fulbright Scholar Program, and should include:

• The activities for which you are being invited by the host (i.e., research at an institution, special lecturing needs, etc.);
• The period for which you are invited
• A description of the host’s interest in your project and how it will benefit their institution.
• Invitation letters should be in English. If the letter is not in English, you must include an English translation with it in your application.
• The potential host (the person who provides the letter) cannot also be registered in your application as a recommender or foreign language evaluator.
• Invitation letters should be their own document, but if a “print out” of an email is all that your host can send, please make certain the message comes from a verified email address at a host institution.

File type: Adobe PDF (recommended) or Word document. Up to three letters may be uploaded to your application as a combined file or as separate files. If you have additional letters, you will need to combine them into a single file before uploading them. 

How to Develop Contacts Abroad

The award description may list host institutions or specific people to contact.You can also use the resources on your home campus, in your discipline, and your community to network, including:

• The international office on your campus 
• International students and faculty, area studies faculty, and faculty in your discipline may have contacts at institutions in the country or countries of interest 
• Colleagues who have gone abroad 
• Current and former Fulbright Scholars 

The international division of your professional organization may have information about the status of your discipline and the educational system in other countries, as well as people who can serve as contacts or can connect you with others. 

Language Proficiency – may be required

Many awards do not require applicants to have proficiency in a language other than English. Others require proficiency for teaching and/or research, while some suggest it may be useful. 

Consult the Award Requirements tab in the Award for details regarding language proficiency requirements. 

In the application, there is a language self-evaluation and an external evaluation, which help demonstrate that your project can be completed successfully, including identifying alternatives. You may find the Review Criteria to be helpful.

Self-evaluation 

In the application, the Language Skills page displays the award’s language skills requirement and contains the self-evaluation. You can list up to three languages relevant to the proposed project and indicate your level of proficiency for each. Then, you will respond to a short question regarding your proficiency for your proposed project; depending on the award requirement, you may also be asked about your previous experience with the language.

External evaluation

The Recommendations and Language Evaluations page in the application is where you register qualified foreign language evaluator(s).

• A qualified foreign language evaluator should be an instructor in the language or otherwise qualified to evaluate language proficiency. 
•  Anyone who serves as a language evaluator for your application cannot also provide a recommendation letter nor invitation letter for your application. 
• For applications where proficiency in multiple languages may be necessary, the application will allow for up to two external language evaluations to be submitted.  

Award Requirements

• Award requirement: None, English is sufficient
  Self-Evaluation: Optional: Applicant can complete self-evaluation for language(s) relevant to proposed project
  Foreign Language Evaluation: Applicant should not register a Foreign Language evaluator
• Award requirement: None, English is sufficient. However, feasibility of conducting the project must be demonstrated in the project statement
  Self-Evaluation: Required: Applicant must complete self-evaluation for language(s) relevant to proposed project
  Foreign Language Evaluation: Optional: Applicant can register Foreign Language evaluator(s)
• Award requirement: Recommended    
  Self-Evaluation: Required: Applicant must complete self-evaluation for language(s) relevant to proposed project
  Foreign Language Evaluation: Recommended: Applicant is encouraged to register Foreign Language evaluator(s) (waived if native in all three skill areas)
• Award requirement: Required    
  Self-Evaluation: Required: Applicant must complete self-evaluation for language(s) relevant to proposed project 
  Foreign Language Evaluation: Required: Applicant must register Foreign Language evaluator(s) (waived if native in all three skill areas)

Levels of proficiency

We recommend that applicants and evaluators refer to the ACTFL “Can-Do Statements” to inform self-evaluations and external evaluations.

For Language Evaluators

Please see these instructions for those providing language evaluations. 

Portfolio – required for Arts disciplines

For projects in the disciplines listed below, a digital portfolio is submitted to aid in the evaluation of the application. The portfolio should demonstrate your technical skills, ability in the genre(s), and/or your artistic direction. The portfolio should be a well-edited, representative collection of your work/research and should support the nature of your proposed project. 

Files must be uploaded directly to the application; do not include hyperlinks or any other content intended to direct reviewers to external websites. Content to be considered in the application review must be contained within the application itself.

Disciplines commonly requiring a portfolio: 

This list reflects the disciplines as they appear in the application. If your discipline or specialization does not appear, check this indexed, searchable list containing all of the disciplines and specializations available in the application.

• Architecture
• Arts
• Culinary Arts
• Dance
• Design
• Drama/Theater Arts
• Fashion
• Film/Cinema Studies (including film directing and production, and screenwriting)
• Fine Arts
• Journalism
• Museum Studies
• Music (including composition, conducting, and performance)
• Writing (including creative writing and poetry, fiction and non-fiction, playwriting, and screenwriting)

Note: Applicants proposing projects with a focus on translation, history, or the broader study of the subject (such as film studies) should not submit a portfolio.

File Requirements:

You may submit multiple types of files. Do not submit additional media or materials beyond what is required. Failure to follow these guidelines may adversely affect your application.

You must provide relevant and appropriate details for each work: title, year, size (dimensions), medium, and description. 

Items should be your own work: anything submitted that is not entirely your own work must be clearly identified as such, including a description of your contribution to the piece. (For collaborative works, describe your contribution to the piece in the description.)

Images, pictures, and graphics, including artwork, graphic designs, photographs, prints, drawings, sketches, photographs, maps, sculpture, etc. 

• Up to 10 images. 

Images may be uploaded as one PDF containing up to 10 images provided that either format includes descriptive notes (e.g., dimensions, date of execution, materials used, etc.), or as up to 10 separate images.

Writing samples: up to 15 pages in total (not per document)
Audio and video files: up to 30 minutes in total for all edited segments (not per segment)

Accepted file formats (no larger than 5 GB):

• Video: .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, .wmv
• Audio: .aac, .m4a, .mka, .mp3, .oga, .ogg, .wav
• Slide: .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tif, .tiff
• Document: .doc, .docx, .odg, .odp, .odt, .pdf, .ppt, .pptx, .rtf, .wpd

Reapplying

If you applied for 2025-2026 or earlier, to reapply or submit an updated application for the current competition: 

• Has your email address changed? Contact us at scholars@iie.org if you need help with updating your email address on your application account.
• Go to the Slate application (https://apply.iie.org/fulbrightusscholar) and login as a “Returning User” using your existing login and password. Please DO NOT create (another) application account to start a new application. This will actually make things more confusing: we have found it can be challenging to distinguish between accounts.
• You will land on the Application Management page where you can view your prior application(s) and start your new application.
• Click “Start New Application” and choose Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program 2026-2027. If that does not work, go to https://apply.iie.org/fusc2026 and it should prompt you to create your 2026-2027 application. Note: DO NOT open past and current applications in the same browser simultaneously as data will not save properly. If you must refer to an old application, download it as a PDF or open it in a different browser.
• Some of the basic personal information fields will automatically populate based on the information you provided last year, though you should double-check them in case any updates are needed.
• Be sure to carefully review the award description, as it may have been updated.
• You will need to re-upload the supporting documents (Project Statement and CV, and Reference List, Syllabi/Course Outlines, and Portfolio, if applicable). We encourage you to review them as well to make sure that your materials fit your proposed project for this application cycle. Be sure to carefully review the award description, as it may have been updated. 
• You will need to register two recommenders and any foreign language evaluators (if applicable). Even if they have provided a recommendation or evaluation for you before, they must upload their letters to your new application. If they need a copy of the letter they uploaded last year, your reference(s) are welcome to email FulbrightScholarReview@iie.org for assistance.
• If an invitation letter is required for the award, you can submit the previous one; however, it is encouraged to submit an updated invitation letter.
• To download a PDF copy of your 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, or 2025-2026 application, click on the respective Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program application to open it. Then click on Preview Application Proof to open a downloadable copy of your application.

If you applied earlier than 2020, you will need to create a new application account in the Slate application system; please refer to the Instructions linked above.