Fulbright Grants for Graduate and Professional School Students

This site is up for informational purposes only. There is no need to register through this database. Instead, please contact Dean Robert Harper-Mangels (Robert.Harper-Mangels@yale.edu) at the Graduate School to inform him of your interest in applying for a Fulbright.

In 1946, the U.S. Congress created the Fulbright Program to foster mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchange. The primary focus of these grants is the promotion of personal development and intellectual, professional and artistic growth achieved through international exchange and cross-cultural interactions conducted in an environment of openness, academic integrity and intellectual freedom. The United States Department of State, through the Institute of International Education (IIE) and in conjunction with foreign governments and universities, annually awards approximately 1,000 grants supporting graduate study and research in over 140 countries.

Fulbright Full Grants generally provide round-trip transportation; language or orientation courses (where appropriate); tuition in some cases; book and research allowances; maintenance for the academic year, based on living costs in the host country; and supplemental health and accident insurance. Fulbright Travel Grants provide round-trip transportation to the country where the student will pursue studies for an academic year, supplemental health and accident insurance, and the cost of an orientation course abroad, if applicable. Travel Grants may supplement fellowships not administered by IIE or a student's own funds for study and are available only to Germany, Hungary, or Italy. Teaching assistantships in English are available in many countries, please check the Fulbright web site for the latest information on their availability. There is a single application form for all grants.

Applications may be made for one country only, though under exceptional circumstances students may submit projects that require a secondary and even tertiary site (this option is only available to selected countries within world regional programs and applicants should refer to the IIE website for further information and country availability). An application is greatly strengthened by a letter of acceptance, affiliation, or endorsement from a person in the proposed country of study who will be able to provide guidance or support for the applicant's proposed study project. Applicants proposing to study in certain countries - (see IIE website) - must arrange their own university acceptance or placement with a teacher or specialist in advance or receiving an award.

Interested applicants should notify Dean Robert Harper-Mangels of their intent to apply. Dean Harper-Mangels serves as the Fulbright Program Adviser for the Graduate School and the Professional schools at Yale. You may contact his office at 203-432-2744 or via email at Robert.harper-mangels@yale.edu.

Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens who hold at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent prior to undertaking the grant. Creative and performing artists are not required to hold a bachelor's degree, but they must have four years of professional study or equivalent experience. In most cases, candidates must be proficient in the language of the proposed host country. Most grants are awarded for programs of study or research that require one academic year.

Selection is based on the academic and/or professional record of the applicant, the validity and feasibility of the proposed study project, the applicant's language preparation, and personal qualifications. Preference is given to candidates who have not had extensive prior opportunity for extended study or residence abroad, but such experience is not disqualifying. Applicants to non-English speaking countries must complete a language interview in the language of the proposed host country. Students are expected to contact the appropriate language department and make arrangements for the language interview independently.

In addition, all applicants must complete a Campus Interview which they schedule independently with a faculty member of their choice. Please contact Dean Harper-Mangels no later than September 9 with the name and email address of your evaluator. Evaluations are due back to Dean Harper-Mangels no later than September 23.

The campus process does not involve screening and selecting: all applications are forwarded to the national competition.