Fulbright Future Scholarships are open to postgraduate students, Ph.D. researchers, academics, and professionals and in this article, you are going to learn more about the scholarships and the basic steps you need to apply without stress.
The Australian-American Fulbright Commission is pleased to offer these Scholarships. This is their most generous scholarship program ever. This unique opportunity provides 100% funded opportunities for study and research programs in the U.S., for projects that seek to have a positive impact on the health, livelihoods, and prosperity of Australians
Applying for the scholarship program is easy as A, B, C, D, and trust me when I say you can apply for free. If you’ve been dreaming to study in Australia, then here is a great opportunity you should not miss for anything.
Awardees will receive funding for full tuition/visiting researcher expenses at a U.S. institution of their choice, as well as travel and living costs.
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Fulbright Future Scholarships
For Australian applicants there are 4 different programs across all career stages:
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Postgraduate
Supports Australian graduate students to undertake an American postgraduate program such as a master’s degree or allows Ph.D. students undertaking their research in Australia to conduct research in the US as a Visiting Research Student.
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Postdoctoral
Allows Australian researchers who have completed their Ph.D. in the past 3 years (up to 5 years under extenuating circumstances) to undertake postdoctoral research in the United States.
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Scholar
Fulbright Scholar Awards are for academics (at Associate or full Professorial level) and mid-career professionals (with an undergraduate qualification and minimum of 10 years work experience) to undertake research and/or training in the United States for 3-4 months.
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Distinguished Chair
The Fulbright Distinguished Chair award is for an exceptional individual at a professorial level to carry out research in the United States for up to 6 months.
Application Timeline
- Applications are open from January to July each year
- Selected Postgraduate applicants will be invited for interviews on a rolling basis throughout September and October
- Selected Postdoctoral, Professional, and Scholar applicants will be invited for interviews on a rolling basis throughout September and October
- All Postgraduate applicants will receive notification of their application outcome by November
- All Postdoctoral, Professional, and Scholar applicants will receive notification of their application outcome by the end of the year
Who Can Apply
- Applicants can apply as postgraduate students who seek to complete a full U.S. Master’s degree in the U.S.
- Applicants can apply as Ph.D. researchers who seek to complete a full U.S. Ph.D. program or part of their Australian Ph.D. in the U.S.
- Applicants can apply as postdoctoral candidates, academics, or professionals who seek to complete a period of research in the U.S.
- Applicants must have an undergraduate qualification
- Applicants should aim to create, contribute to, or otherwise enhance Australian-American bilateral research collaborations
- Applicants must include an additional statement separate from their project statement (maximum of one page) that outlines the potential impact of their proposed program on the lives, health, livelihoods, or prosperity of Australians
- All applicants are required to include a letter of invitation from their proposed (maximum one) institution with their application (except postgraduate students seeking to complete a U.S. Master’s program)
Scholarship Eligibility
To qualify for a Fulbright scholarship through the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, you must meet and/or be aware of the following requirements:
Citizenship
- Applicants must be an Australian citizen (by birth or naturalization)
- Applicants can not hold dual US-Australian citizenship or U.S. permanent residency (Green Card)
- Applicants must be residing in Australia at the time of application (exceptions: applicants serving overseas in the Armed Forces, Australian diplomats posted overseas) Applicants who are on vacation/work commitments at the time of application may still apply.
Visas
- Fulbright Scholars must travel on a valid Australian passport
- Fulbright scholarships are contingent upon the candidate’s ability to secure and travel to the U.S. on an Exchange Visitor non-immigrant visa (J-1 visa) (administered and sponsored by the Commission) inclusive of medical clearance and security processes. (you cannot do a Fulbright scholarship on any other visa)
- The J-1 visa carries a 2-year home residency requirement (clause 212e), meaning recipients must return to Australia for a cumulative total of two years at the end of their program before becoming eligible to apply to live/work in the United States. Clause 212e is in keeping with the exchange nature of the Fulbright program and encourages recipients to return to Australia to share their knowledge and experiences. J1 recipients will not be prohibited from traveling to the U.S. for short-term visits on the visa waiver program, or on a non-immigrant visa. Clause 212e does not prohibit scholars from gaining residency or work visas in other countries (e.g. the United Kingdom).
- If you have previously held a J-1 visa and subsequent DS-2019, please upload it with your application. Please be aware that if clause 212e or the 24-month bar is in effect from a previous J-1, you will be unable to accept the Fulbright award, should it be offered to you, within the 24-month/212e period. Scholarships cannot be deferred until the 24-month/212e period has passed.
Engagement
- Applicants must not have already commenced studies/research in the U.S.
- Australian Applicants applying in this cycle, if successful, must commence their program between 1st July 2022– 30 June 2023. Australian degree-seeking students must start their program in the U.S. 2022 fall (July/August session). Partial degree-seeking students (e.g. only 1-2 semesters of Australian masters) can begin in either 2022 fall or 2023 spring sessions.
- Applicants must secure placement with a primary U.S. host institution at the time of application (please note, this is not a requirement for Postgraduate degree-seeking students). Scholarships are conditional on acceptance to an approved institution for the allocated period of research or course of study.
- Applicants must not hold another major grant (during the Fulbright program) if it duplicates funding received from Fulbright. Funding/grants must be declared at the time of application and/or award acceptance, and are subject to approval.
- Fulbright scholarships cannot be deferred.
- Medical professionals can apply for a Fulbright Scholarship to undertake medical research, but such research should not be directly involved with clinical practice.
- Recipients should plan to be in Australia to attend the Fulbright Orientation Program and Gala Presentation Dinner, which runs in late February/ early March annually.
Qualifications
- Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree or equivalent at the time of application. Postgraduate applicants in the final semester of their undergraduate degree will also be eligible (pending good academic standing). Postdoctoral candidates will also be considered if they can provide a letter from their adviser that outlines that their Ph.D. will be conferred prior to July 1, 2022.
- For undergraduate students yet to graduate – please upload a university transcript of your academic performance to date showing your credit points obtained. Please note this must be accompanied by a signed letter from your university stating you are on track to graduate in the year of application.
- Postgraduate and Anne Wexler applicants will be required to pass GRE testing, dependent on host institution requirements. Successful applicants will be provided with a voucher to cover the costs of testing.
- Applicants whose primary language is not English may be required to provide language proficiency test results at the time of application.
How To Apply
To apply for this Fulbright Future Scholarships award, simply follow the steps below;
- Go to the Scholarship Application Page
- Read through the information on the page and navigate to the bottom of the page
- Click on the ‘APPLY NOW’ link and you will be redirected to the application page where you need to follow onscreen guidelines for successful application.
Application Deadline
The application closes on the 6th Of July 2021, 11:59 pm AEST
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