Academic Honors and Fellowships
About the Scholarship
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for an academic year for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant programs outside of the United States. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards over 2,200 grants annually in all fields of study, and operates in more than 140 countries. From its inception, the Program has fostered bilateral relationships in which citizens and governments of other countries work towards mutual understanding.
Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
Basic Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be citizens or nationals of the United States of America at the time of application. Permanent residents are not eligible. Please review the Ineligibility section regarding dual citizenship status.
- Have a conferred bachelor’s degree or equivalent before the start of the grant.
- Have sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken language of the host country sufficient to communicate with the people and to carry out the proposed study/research.
Selection Criteria
Selection is made on the basis of:
- Quality and feasibility of the proposal as described in the Statement of Grant Purpose.
- Academic or professional record.
- Personal qualifications.
- Language preparation.
- Extent to which the candidate and the project will help to advance the Fulbright aim of promoting mutual understanding among nations through engagement in the host community, among other activities.
- Requirements of the program in individual countries. In some countries, advanced-degree candidates are preferred, and in some countries, certain fields of study are not recommended.
Endorsement
USC juniors, seniors, graduate students and recent alumni (up to three years post-grad) are invited to apply through USC by the campus deadline and will receive feedback and evaluation with a faculty review committee.
August 25, 2024: Deadline to “lock” Fulbright U.S. Student Program online application and participate in a Campus Evaluation & Feedback session
The campus evaluation and feedback process is in place to enhance the overall application, not weed anyone out of the process. The campus committee meeting serves two purposes:
- It is a chance for faculty from a variety of fields (many are Fulbrighters themselves) to review the application holistically, which mimics the Fulbright National Screening Committee model. The campus committee will also provide suggestions for the candidate to incorporate into the application.
- The campus committee will complete an Evaluation Form of the project’s feasibility and ambassadorial potential of the applicant. The evaluation is sent to the Fulbright National Screening Committee with the application.
Application
Application Components
- Biographical Data
- Statement of Grant Purpose (6,000 characters for Study/Research; 3,000 characters for ETA)
- Short Answers: Fulfilling the Fulbright Mission (Abstract; Flexibility & Adaptability; Community Engagement; Impact of Fulbright Award)
- Affiliation Letter (Study/Research only)
- Foreign Language Forms (check country-specific requirements)
- Recommendations (3)
- Transcripts (unofficial transcripts from every post-secondary institution)
- Critical Language Enhancement Award Statement (for select countries)
- Supplementary Materials (Creative & Performing Arts only)
Timeline
Campus Deadlines
- July 12, 2024: Deadline to Register Application to Apply Through USC
- The steps below are sufficient to register through USC. The online application saves as you go.
- To create an online application for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program 2025-2026 grant year, go to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website at: us.fulbrightonline.org and hover over “Applicants”, then click “Fulbright Online Application”
- Once you create an account, complete the following within the online application:
- Preliminary Questions > Answer all questions in this section > Save and Continue
- Country and Award Selection > Institution Type > Select “University of Southern California, CA > Save and Continue
- Contact Information > Enter Primary and Alternate Email addresses > Save
- Sunday, August 25, 2024: Campus Deadline to “lock” Application Online (including three letters of recommendation, unofficial transcript(s), affiliation letter and supplemental materials – as appropriate for grant type)
- September 9-13, 2024: Study/Research Campus Evaluation and Feedback Meetings
- September 16-20, 2024: ETA Campus Evaluation and Feedback Meetings
- October 6, 2024: Campus Evaluation and Feedback participants submit FINAL application
National Competition Timeline
- March: Fulbright U.S. Student Program Application Opens
- October 8, 2024: National Fulbright U.S. Student Program Deadline
- January: Semi-finalists Notified
- February-May: Finalists Notified
Resources
- Spring 2024 USC Fulbright Writing Workshop Series Videos
- Successful Fulbright Statements USC Examples (password protected – please contact AHF)
- Language Evaluation USC Contact Departments
- USC Fulbright Faculty Mentors: A list of faculty willing to mentor Fulbright applicants.
- Tips & Guidelines for Grant and Personal Statements
- How to Choose a Fulbright Grant Type/Country Brainstorm
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program Upcoming Webinars
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program Recorded Webinars
- Sample Affiliation Letter_Research
- Sample Affiliation Letter_with Translation
- Archived USC Fulbright U.S Student Program Recorded Workshops
- Black Fulbrighters: Experiences Abroad Video
Advising
2025 Writing Workshop Series
The sessions will be held virtually and the recordings will be available on our website within a week after the session date.
Writing Workshop Session 1: Getting Started & Writing Breakouts
Date & Time: Friday, April 4, 2025 from 1:00pm-3:00pm (PST).
Ready to take the first step toward your Fulbright journey? In this interactive workshop, we’ll break down the application process, share key resources, and show you how USC Academic Honors & Fellowships can support you along the way. Whether you’re just starting to explore Fulbright or already committed to applying, this session will help you build a strong foundation.
After the overview, you’ll dive into small-group writing sessions led by USC Writing Center faculty, tailored to your specific grant type—English Teaching Assistantship or Study/Research. This is your chance to start shaping your application essays with expert guidance and peer support.
View recordings here: Writing Workshop Session 1 Recordings
Writing Workshop Session 2: Recipient Panel & Writing Breakouts
Date & Time: Friday, May 23, 2025 from 1:00pm-3:00pm (PST).
In this second session, you’ll hear directly from recent USC Fulbright recipients as they share their experiences, insights, and advice on the application process. Learn what made their applications stand out and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to become a Fulbright grantee.
After the panel, we’ll break into grant-specific writing workshops once again, giving you the chance to further develop your application essays with guidance from USC Writing Center faculty. This session will help you refine your materials and prepare for one-on-one advising appointments in the summer. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your application with expert support!
REGISTER HERE: Writing Workshop Session 2
Writing Workshop Series Recordings
In the meantime, if want to get up-to-speed on Fulbright any time of year, view recordings here: Spring 2024 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Group Presentation & USC Writing Workshop Video
These videos walk you through the basics of Fulbright and offer examples of successful essays by grant type guided by faculty in the Writing Program. We also highlight Trojans who recently won a Fulbright grant for research and the English Teaching Assistantship.
