The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is designed to give recent bachelor’s graduates, master’s and doctoral candidates, young professionals, and artists opportunities for personal development and international experience. Projects may include English teaching assistantships, independent research, creative/artistic projects, university coursework or degree programs, training in a music conservatory or art school.

Eligibility: U.S. Citizens (no permanent residents); undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students, and alumni

Fulbright Applicants

All undergraduate, graduate students and alumni interested in applying:

  1. Make an appointment with UI Fulbright Program Advisor Karen Wachsmuth.  Please visit our application process page to fill out a Preliminary Application Form required to make an appointment.
  2. After meeting with Dr. Wachsmuth, you will be given access to the UI Fulbright ICON site, which is a comprehensive library of essential Fulbright resources for UI applicants only.

    Fulbright Events

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    2022-2023 Fulbright awardees

    Types of Grants

    There are two main types of grants. You must choose one program and one host country during the Fulbright competition cycle. You must apply through UI International Programs.

    Katarina at University of Phristina

    English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Award

    The Fulbright ETA program places grantees in schools overseas to supplement local English language instruction and to provide a native speaker presence in the classrooms. Fulbright assigns grantees to a specific city/region and age-level. ETA grantees also conduct community engagement projects or activities in addition to classroom work.

    Eligibility:U.S. Citizen (no permanent residents); Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) at beginning of funding period.

    Duration:Varies by country; Ca. 8-10 months.

    Rita Guzman wearing Iowa shirt in Portugal

    Study/Research Grants (includes Arts Grants)

    Applicants for Fulbright Study/Research grants can propose individual research projects and work with advisers at foreign universities or research institutions, apply for graduate degree programs in the host country, or propose creative/artistic projects and/or graduate research/coursework in the host country.

    Eligibility: U.S. Citizen (no permanent residents); Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) at beginning of funding period.

    Duration: Varies by country; around 10 months.

    Sallie Fullerton
    "Karen Wachsmuth and the University of Iowa Fulbright team were unbelievably helpful. I had no idea how to write a grant of this size and owe so much of my success to their help and guidance."

    Other Resources

    Presentation with General Information on Fulbright

    Start with this basic Fulbright presentation. 

    Contacting the UI Fulbright Program Advisor

    For more information about applying for a Fulbright, please make an appointment with Dr. Karen Wachsmuth by completing and returning the Preliminary Application Form to ip-grants@uiowa.edu. After meeting with Karen, Fulbright applications will be invited to join the Fulbright ICON site to access further application and writing resources.

    Incentive Funding for Graduate Students

    The Graduate College offers a stipend incentive for currently enrolled UI graduate students to apply for approved nationally competitive grants and fellowships after receiving feedback from faculty and fellowships advisors. 

    UI Fulbright Faculty Mentors

    UI Fulbright faculty mentors are available to help undergraduate and graduate students with their Fulbright applications.  They are available to assist applicants with preliminary ideas, connect them with contacts both here and abroad, and read drafts of essays.  Download this faculty mentors document for more information.

    Fulbright Video Tutorials

    See these Fulbright video tutorials for more information.

    Specifics for Creative and Performing Arts Grants

    Required Supplementary Materials for Arts Applicants

    (Please see the above link for the list of creative fields available)

    Applications in the Creative and Performing Arts require the submission of supplementary materials (work samples) in support of the written application. Portfolios must be uploaded into the application by the campus deadline.

    Applicants to Germany are required to submit additional materials. The specifications can be found on the Additional Materials For Music And Arts For Germany page.

    Fulbright News

    Fulbright top producer graphic 2022-2023

    UI named top producer of Fulbright U.S. students for seventh year

    Friday, February 10, 2023
    Iowa Now
    Seventeen UI students and alumni were chosen from about 10,000 Fulbright Award applicants nationwide to serve as representatives of the U.S. Department of State.
    person wearing blue jacket and stocking hat smiling

    In the news: Megan Lenss studies sea ice algae at both poles

    Friday, December 30, 2022
    The Gazette
    Fulbright researcher from Cedar Rapids now living in Norway
    student in blue dress holding Fulbright sign

    11th Annual Fulbright Workshop to be held Jan. 27

    Wednesday, December 28, 2022
    International Programs
    Join International Programs for the eleventh annual intensive Fulbright U.S. Student Program workshop to learn the basics of applying.