Special Edition Spring 2022: The World is Big— I Want to See it!

Fulbright pays for students to travel the world

Have you ever dreamed of experiencing the world for more than a week or two on vacation? Or maybe you’ve dreamed of leaving your mark on the world through teaching or research. If either of these ideas interest you, then Fulbright might be the program (and funding) you have been waiting for. 

The Fulbright program, established in 1946, funds students to either study, research or teach English abroad. While the funding levels of the award differ depending on which specific program and cournty  you select. Many of the benefits include payment for flights, housing, a food stipend, a tuition waiver if studying and in-country travel fees. I, for one, would be greatly relieved to have these expenses paid for so that I could have a once-in-a-lifetime experience without accumulating debt. So whether you want to travel, experience the world, teach, or study, the St. Kate's team is here to help.

The Fulbright program began in the aftermath of World War II in an attempt to initiate peaceful international relationships. It was introduced to congress by Arkansas Sen.  J. William Fulbright. His idea passed congress in 1946 and President Harry Truman signed it into law. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs acknowledges Senator Fulbright’s checkered racial past: He often voted in favor of legislation that brought about racial injustice and inequality. The Bureau notes on their website that Fulbright’s personal racial opinions were at odds with the Fulbright program, though despite this, this program lives on.

Today, anyone can receive a Fulbright award regardless of “race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity,” according to their webpage. The program is funded by Congress, who works with the State Department and Fulbright partners around the world to pay for students’ experiences. 

Students and faculty are sent abroad with the hope that international relationships can be further developed through teaching, research and study. Around 8,000 students and faculty from the US are sent abroad each year; Past recipients have gone on to lead in government, state offices, become Pulitzer Prize or Nobel Prize winners and more. The possibilities are endless for what you can do with Fulbright. Before deciding if this is something you would want to apply for, it would be helpful to know more about the three types of awards.

Study Award

The Study Fulbright Award allows students to attend graduate school abroad. “[With this award, students will] enroll in a graduate program in a different country and Fulbright pays for that,” says Christine Hachey, study abroad and fulbright advisor. Most of the time, you would gain a masters by the time you finish the Fulbright. There are a few exceptions listed on the Fulbright website, but if given this award, your graduate study (at least through a sasters degree) will most likely be paid for. It should be noted, though, that this is the program that has the most difference in what financially is covered. “Sometimes they cover tuition, sometimes they don’t, so you have to read closely into this award profile,'' Hachey says.

Specific Requirements and Preparation

The Fulbright website will be your best friend if you are looking into this award. Some of the graduate schools abroad want a specific major, some will accept any, some of them pay for all tuition and housing, some only discounted tuition to a third or half the price. One recommendation is to search by country, as you can see what awards are offered and what specifically the country is looking for in an applicant. 

As for requirements, research is crucial for this program. “Graduate schools abroad tend to be very academically focused. You will be applying to graduate school and having research experience as an undergraduate is an important component of that,” Hachey says. This would mean that an applicant should seek out research opportunities while still on St. Kate’s campus if they wish to be a strong candidate. The Office of Community Work and Learning or the Career Development Center are wonderful places to explore where you can research as an undergraduate.

Research Award 

The Research Award is similar to the Study Award in that it will be academically based, though in the research program you are on your own. Hachey noted that students will, “not necessarily be enrolled in a graduate program, but are conducting a research project that [they] proposed.” So, if you wish to do this program, you will need to know of a university or company in the country that you are visiting who can oversee your research project. While you will be independent, you have to check in with someone and it is up to the student to figure out who this contact person will be. One benefit of this award is that it is very often fully funded, meaning that housing, flights, and food will be paid for.

Specific Requirements and Preparation

In preparing to apply for this award, students must know that it is the most challenging to apply for “You’ve got to have a connection with a university,” says Susan Bosher, director of English as a Second Language (ESL), associate professor of English, and Fulbright advisor. “You must have had some research experience as an undergraduate.” When applying, the students must understand and/or have connections with the country that they are going to. “The country that you are applying to has to be interested in your topic,”said Bosher. In order to be accepted into this program, Fulbright partners in the country that you are looking into must be interested in the research. There are courses here on campus that are research-intensive or you could work with faculty on a research project in a specific area. If you use your resources, your proposal to Fulbright will then not only be informed, but it will be realistic and illustrative of a sound methodology.

English Teaching Experience

The final award that students can receive funding for is the English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program. This award allows winners to be placed in a country where they will assist locals in learning English. Fulbright will pay for airfare, housing, in-country travel and in addition to this students will be paid for their work. The age, academic standing and level of academies required of the student will vary based on country. As always, applicants should look closely at the requirements on the Fulbright page.

Specific Requirements  and Preparation

Similar to the other awards, if, “you want to apply for an ETA award, you must have some sort of teaching experience, it's not enough to just be a native speaker. You have to show interest in education,” says Bosher. So if you are interested in this program, participating in America Reads or other teaching opportunities here on campus will make you a more likely candidate. The Office of Community Work and Learning (CWL) is a great resource for this. The CLW will help you brainstorm and gain teaching experience before you go abroad to teach. Bosher notes that it is also important to note that, “some countries also require proficiency in the language.” Again, all requirements vary depending on the country, but the Fulbright website gives complete details on requirements and language proficiency needed.

The Program For You

Ultimately, only you can know which program will be the best fit for your situation and your future goals. However, you are not alone when making your decision. St. Kate’s has a Fulbright team that is fully equipped and eager to help you decide where you should go. One tip they give is to, “look at the country pages on the Fulbright Website” Bosher says, “It is very individualized.” Look at the country page in order to find out what the requirements are.

When and How to Apply

While all students should go to the St. Kate’s website to see the full timeline, here are some highlights. Students must declare their intent to apply by the summer preceding their graduating year. Then they submit their application essay three times to St. Kate’s Fulbright advisor for revision. This is so that when you send your application to the Fulbright committee outside of campus, it will be in the best condition possible. Another requirement is that in fall, you interview with the St. Kate’s Fulbright committee. “This is an opportunity for students to talk about their project with more people than just me,” says Bosher.“It is not a screening interview. We support all the applications.” 

This is not meant to belittle students, instead to have students clarify with others their intent with the Fulbright. After that, it will be sent to large US and international committees to determine if you have won the award.

While this process may seem long and daunting, The Fulbright  is a prestigious award. It will fund your education, teaching or research abroad and expand your horizons. Having this on your resume makes you a great candidate for whatever you wish to do in the future. Remember that in whatever stage of the process you find yourself, you are not alone. There are people on campus who want to help you, you just have to ask, and then the world, with a little help from the Fulbright, could be yours.