A comparison of opportunities available via the Fulbright Scholar Program and the Fulbright Specialist Program.
| Fulbright Scholar Program | Factor | Fulbright Specialist Program |
|---|---|---|
U.S. Department of State - Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) | ADMINISTRATOR | U.S. Department of State - World Learning |
Nearly 470 teaching, research or combination teaching/research awards for college and university faculty and administrators as well as professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and many others. International Education Administrator (IEA) seminars are also available for senior higher education professionals. | PURPOSE | The program pairs highly qualified U.S. academics and professionals with host institutions abroad |
U.S. citizenship. Recipients of a Fulbright Scholar grant are eligible to apply for another Scholar grant two (2) years after the date of completion of the previous grant. | ELIGIBILITY | U.S. citizenship. Must have significant experience in their field. May have previously received or be currently applying for a Fulbright Scholar award. Individuals are eligible to receive a Fulbright Specialist grant and another Fulbright grant (e.g. Scholar) the same year. |
Over 125 countries worldwide. Multi-country and regional awards are available. | GEOGRAPHIC AREA | Over 150 countries worldwide. |
Most fields. Clinical medical research involving patient contact is not permitted. | FIELDS | Most fields. Clinical medical research involving patient contact is not permitted. |
Awards are two- to 12-months, often with Flex options to split up time abroad. International Education Administrator (IEA) seminars are two weeks. | FELLOWSHIP LENGTH | Two-to six-week consultancies. |
Foreign language requirement varies by award, but typically applies when necessary to conduct research. | LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT | No language requirement to join the roster, but a limited number of projects do have a language requirement or preference. |
| APPLICATION COMPONENTS |
|
Award amounts vary by country, project length, and activity. Dependent allowance available for some awards. | AMOUNT | Award amount varies by country and project length, but include airfare, health benefits, transit allowance, in-country travel, lodging, meals, and a daily honorarium. |
Catalog of awards is released February 1 or March 1, and individuals apply by August 1. Applications are first reviewed by a Discipline Peer Review Committee, then by a Regional Peer Review Committee in Washington D.C. In November- December, CIES notifies applicants if moving on for consideration by the host country. In Dec-May, overseas Fulbright Commissions or U.S. Embassies review applications and make final selections. Candidates notified by June at the latest. | APPLICATION PROCESS | Individuals apply to join the Fulbright Specialist Roster. If selected, individuals join roster for three years. Host institutions submit project proposals to their Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy. If a host country proposal is approved, a Fulbright Specialist from the roster is matched to the project. There is no guarantee to be matched, and individuals on the roster must be matched and complete an exchange to be considered a Fulbright Specialist. |
August 1 each year. IEA seminar deadlines vary by country. | DEADLINE | May apply at any time, and applications are reviewed six times per calendar year. |