Fulbright Foreign Student Program 2027

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is a fully funded scholarship, administered by the US Department of State, that allows graduate students, young professionals, and artists from outside the United States to pursue a master’s degree, PhD, or non-degree research at an accredited US university. It covers tuition, a living stipend, round-trip airfare, and health insurance, and carries no application fee. Applications are submitted through the Fulbright Commission or US Embassy in each applicant’s home country, so deadlines and requirements vary by country, generally falling between February and October 2026 for the 2027–28 cycle.

Before reading further, check your eligibility with our Scholarship Eligibility Calculator.

Table of Contents

Key Details at a Glance

Detail	Information
Scholarship	Fulbright Foreign Student Program
Funder	US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Administered by	Local Fulbright Commissions and US Embassies
Study level	Master’s, PhD, non-degree research
Study location	United States
Covers	Tuition, monthly stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance (ASPE)
Visa	J-1 Exchange Visitor, sponsored at no cost
2027–28 deadline	Country-specific, generally February–October 2026
Application fee	None
Official portal	foreign.fulbrightonline.org
Running since	1946

What Is the Fulbright Foreign Student Program?

The Fulbright Program is the United States government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative, active in more than 160 countries since 1946. The Foreign Student Program is the track reserved for non-US citizens coming to study or conduct research in the United States, distinct from the Fulbright US Student Program, which sends American citizens abroad.

Unlike a scholarship run from one central portal, the Foreign Student Program is decentralized. Each country has its own Fulbright Commission, or, where no bilateral commission exists, the US Embassy’s Public Affairs Section administers the program directly. This means the process, required tests, and funding duration vary by country, so your first step is finding the Fulbright page for your country.

What Does the Fulbright Foreign Student Program Cover?

Tuition and fees. Full tuition and university fees are covered for the approved duration of the program.

Monthly stipend. A living stipend set according to the cost of living at your host institution’s location.

Airfare. Round-trip economy airfare between your home country and the United States.

Health insurance. Coverage through the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchange Visitors (ASPE), the Fulbright-specific health plan.

Visa sponsorship. A J-1 Exchange Visitor visa, sponsored by the Fulbright Program at no cost to the applicant.

Pre-departure support. In many countries, a settling-in allowance and English language training where required.

Award duration depends on the degree. Master’s awards generally run one to two years, PhD and research awards can extend further, and some countries offer non-degree research fellowships of one academic year.

The Critical Difference: Every Country Runs Its Own Cycle

This is the single most important thing to understand about the Fulbright Foreign Student Program that many applicants miss.

There is no single global deadline. Your country’s Fulbright Commission or Embassy sets its own timeline, required tests, and sometimes its own named sub-programs. A deadline you see quoted for one country, or for the Fulbright US Student Program, does not apply to you.

What this means practically:

Go to foreign.fulbrightonline.org and select your country of citizenship.
Confirm which body administers applications there, a Commission or an Embassy Public Affairs Section.
Check whether your country runs a named sub-program, such as the Fulbright-Nehru track for India, which has its own categories and deadlines separate from the general cycle.
Note the exact deadline, required English test, and document list published on that page, and do not rely on dates seen elsewhere.

Eligibility Requirements

Citizenship of a country with an active Fulbright Foreign Student Program
A completed undergraduate degree by the time of enrollment in the United States
A strong academic record and a clear, well-defined study or research proposal
English proficiency, usually through TOEFL or IELTS, though some countries test this locally
No current US permanent residency or citizenship
A demonstrated intention to return home after the program, since Fulbright is an exchange program, not an immigration pathway

Applicants already enrolled in a US degree program at the time of application are generally not eligible. Full criteria are set by your country’s Fulbright Commission or Embassy and can vary.

How to Apply

Visit foreign.fulbrightonline.org and confirm the Commission or Embassy responsible for your country.
Review the country-specific deadline, required tests, and eligible fields of study.
Prepare your documents: academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a study or research objective statement, and standardized test scores.
Submit through the platform specified by your country’s Commission or Embassy.
Shortlisted candidates attend a local interview before nomination to the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board in Washington, DC for final selection.

Official Website: foreign.fulbrightonline.org

Fulbright vs Chevening vs Commonwealth: Key Differences

Feature	Fulbright Foreign Student	Chevening	Commonwealth
Country	United States	United Kingdom	United Kingdom
Funder	US Department of State	UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office	UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Eligible countries	160+, varies by Commission	160+ named countries	Developing Commonwealth countries only
Study level	Master’s, PhD, research	One-year Master’s only	Master’s and PhD
Deadline structure	Set per country	Single global deadline	Single global deadline
Apply directly?	Yes, through local Commission	Yes	No, via nominating body
Application fee	None	None	None

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fulbright Foreign Student Program fully funded? Yes. A full award covers tuition, a living stipend, round-trip airfare, and health insurance. Some countries also offer partial grants covering only specific costs, so confirm the exact award type on your country’s page.

Is there an application fee? No.

Can I choose any US university? In most cases, yes, though some country programs restrict applicants to specific fields or place scholars through the Commission rather than direct selection. Confirm the placement process on your country page.

Do I need a US university offer before applying? No. Most applications are made before securing an offer, and placement assistance is typically part of the program.

What happens after the program ends? Fulbright participants on a J-1 visa are generally subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement before applying for certain other US visa categories. This can sometimes be waived.

Where do I find my country’s specific deadline? At foreign.fulbrightonline.org, under your country of citizenship.

Final Checklist Before You Apply

Confirm your country’s Fulbright Commission or Embassy and its specific deadline
Check whether your country runs a named sub-program with separate categories
Take or schedule your TOEFL or IELTS if required
Draft your statement of purpose and research or study objective
Request letters of recommendation at least six to eight weeks ahead
Gather academic transcripts and certified translations if needed
Confirm your application platform, portal or paper-based, with your local Commission
Submit at least a few days before the published deadline

Last updated: October 2026. Always verify current deadlines and requirements on your country’s official Fulbright Commission or Embassy page at foreign.fulbrightonline.org before applying. Compare this award against others using our Scholarship Comparison Tool.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program 2027–28 | Fully Funded Study and Research in the USA for International Students (Complete Guide)