The Opportunity of a Lifetime: Fulbright Scholarships

2009 Screening Timeline for 2010-2011 Competition

Fulbright Scholarship applicant handbook

The Fulbright Scholarship Program is a federal grant program that aims to increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries, through the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills. It is one of the most prestigious scholarships awarded annually to recent graduates, postgraduate candidates, and developing professionals and artists, who will have the opportunity for personal enrichment and international experience in their career field. Applicants for research or study grants create an affiliation with a host country and university and outline a study/research project that is feasible to do in one academic year and that will necessitate a presence in the host country. Applicants for English Teaching Assistantships do not usually create an affiliation; however, they should have some experiences that qualify them to teach English and share American culture with students, as well as a proposed side project to be immersed in the culture and be involved with the people in a meaningful way.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and hold a B.A. degree or the equivalent at the time of the grant, be excellent students, in good health and capable of speaking the language required by the country of choice. Many of the countries that support Fulbright Scholarships do not require fluency in a language other than English; however, fluency in a second language does offer additional opportunities.

Interested students should plan to attend the information meetings held every spring semester and can also contact Becky Mentzer or (309) 438-2559, for an appointment to get further details about this program. Meanwhile, more information on the program may be found at the Fulbright Scholarship Web site. The campus deadline for submitting an application is earlier than the national deadline in October posted on the Fulbright Scholarship Web site, so please see the current timeline posted on this website.

Miss the workshop? No problem, check out the presentation

Illinois State's 2009-2010 Fulbright Scholar

Illinois State's 2008-2009 Fulbright Scholar

Illinois State's 2007-2008 Fulbright Scholar

Fulbright Scholar Alternates 2007-2008

Illinois State's 2006-2007 Fulbright Scholars

2009 Screening Timeline for 2010-2011 Competition

If you wish to apply for the Fulbright Scholarship, please review the deadlines listed below to make sure you are on track.

printable timeline (pdf)

  • April 21, 2009 : Fulbright Scholarship Information Workshop, 4 - 5 pm, Stevenson 311
  • May 1, 2009: Application Process opens.
  • Ongoing: Individual meetings scheduled by students with Becky Mentzer, Fulbright Program Advisor (FPA) in order to go over guidelines, proposals, etc.
  • Summer 2009:

    - Students register their intention to apply for a grant at www.fulbrightonline.org
    - Students begin to complete application online and essays as Word documents, which should be reviewed by FPA. Students should also request transcripts, make contact with those who will write reference letters, and get professor/mentor to read research proposal for feedback.
    - Make appointments with FPA for feedback and revision suggestions, as needed; or utilize email for this purpose, if not on campus.

  • September 16, 2009: Completed applications (hard copy) due to FPA by 4 pm.
  • September 18, 2009: Applications distributed to Campus Screening Committee.
  • Week of September 21, 2009: Campus Committee convenes this week and holds individual interviews with candidates. Evaluation forms completed by all committee members for each candidate.
  • September 28, 2009: Students begin work on application revisions; may involve individual meetings with FPA and additional reading and feedback from committee members.
  • October 13, 2009: Students return hard copy of signed final draft & submit to FPA online.
  • October 14 - 16, 2009: FPA summarizes ratings of applicants and prepares campus evaluation form & sumbits everything online by national deadline.
  • January 31, 2010: Decisions are announced by IIE as to which student applications are recommended to countries; final decisions on awards vary by country.