Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs. The goal is to improve intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between people from the United States and other countries by exchanging of people, knowledge, and skills. It is one of the most prestigious and fellowship programs in the world. It is also very difficult to receive a grant. American citizens including students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists may receive scholarships or grants to study, do research, teach, or exercise their talents abroad. Citizens of other countries may do the same in the United States of America. The program was started by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946 and is one of the most widely recognized and prestigious scholarships in the world.^[1] The program provides 8,000 grants annually.^[2]

The Fulbright Program is administered by cooperating organizations such as the Institute of International Education. It is in over 160 countries around the world.^[3] The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State sponsors the Fulbright Program and gets funding from the United States Congress from annual appropriation bills. Additional direct and in-kind support comes from partner governments, foundations, corporations, and host institutions both in and outside the U.S.^[4] In 49 countries, a bi-national Fulbright Commission administers and oversees the Fulbright Program. In countries without a Fulbright Commission but that have an active program, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy manages the Fulbright Program. More than 370,000 people have participated in the program since it began; 59 Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes; 82 have won Pulitzer Prizes.^[5][6]

1. ↑ "Get Noticed Through Prestigious Scholarships". U.S. News & World Report. November 25, 2011.
2. ↑ "Fulbright Scholar Program: About Us". Comparative and International Education Society. Archived from the original on 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
3. ↑ "IIE Programs". Institute of International Education. Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
4. ↑ "Fulbright Program Fact Sheet" (PDF). U.S. Department of State.
5. ↑ "Notable Fulbrighters". U.S. Department of State.
6. ↑ Morello, Carol (June 8, 2017). "That knock on a congressman's door could be a Fulbright scholar with a tin cup". The Washington Post.