Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Summary

The Fulbright Scholarship Program supports US citizens to spend a year abroad conducting research, studying, or teaching. Graduating seniors, and those holding Bachelor's degrees, but not PhDs, are eligible to apply. Selection criteria for a Fulbright Scholarship is based on quality and feasibility of the proposal; academic record; language preparation; requirements of the program in individual countries and a variety of other factors.

More information, as well as helpful resources such recorded Fulbright information sessions, or slides from Fulbright sessions, will be made available during the Spring 2025 semester.

Campus Nomination Process

Overview: All applicants seeking a W&M endorsement must complete the following steps:

• Complete the intent to apply form by 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, June 2nd
• Upload a completed application to the Fulbright portal by 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, August 25th

When uploading your application for campus review, all supporting materials (such as letters of recommendation and foreign language evaluations) must also be uploaded by this deadline.

Applicants who meet both the intent to apply and campus upload deadlines will be invited to interview with a campus committee who will provide feedback on your materials and prepare a campus evaluation letter on your behalf. Interviews will start in early September and continue through late September.

You will be able to edit your application materials after your campus interview and before the national deadline. The campus advisor will unlock your application in the Fulbright system after you have completed your campus interview. It is then your responsibility to submit it by the national deadline on Tuesday, October 8th by 5 pm EST.

Note: It is your responsibility to let your recommendation writers know that they will have to upload their letters to the Fulbright portal by the campus deadline of August 25. Guidance for study/research recommendation writers and for ETA recommendation writers is available on Fulbright's website.

Application Format: The application is completed and submitted via Fulbright’s online application portal.

Deadlines and Timeline: 

• Spring semester: Attend or watch a Fulbright information session hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and begin your application in the Fulbright portal.
• Sunday, June 2nd by 11:59 pm EST: Deadline to complete Fulbright intent to apply form.
• Wednesday, July 24 by 11:59 pm EST: Draft applications locked in the Fulbright portal by this date are guaranteed one round of feedback by the campus deadline. This deadline is optional and is not required to participate in the campus review.
  
• Sunday, August 25th by 11:59 pm EST: Campus Application Deadline. The full application and all supporting documents must be uploaded and locked in Fulbright's online application portal by this deadline in order to be eligible to participate in the campus review process.
• September 9th - 30th: Campus Interviews take place.
• October 8th by 5 pm EST: National deadline.

Endorsements: There is no limit to how many applicants William & Mary can endorse, and endorsement is not require to apply for a Fulbright. However, the institutional evaluation process is  beneficial for Fulbright applicants.

Alumni Endorsement: Provided that William & Mary is your most recently attended institution, alum are able to seek endorsement through campus so long as they meet the campus deadlines.

National Application Process

The national deadline is October 8, 2024 at 5:00pm EST. All students must meet the campus deadlines in order to be eligible for campus endorsement by the national deadline.

Learn more about the  Fulbright U.S. Student Program including how to get started with the application, eligibility requirements, types of awards, and factors in selection.