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Cornell University

Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program sends U.S. citizens to more than 160 countries to study, research, and teach English abroad. With a unique focus on mutual understanding between people of different backgrounds and cultures, the program offers the freedom to curate your experience as you engage with your host community.  

The Einaudi Center provides counseling, essay feedback, and application support to help your Fulbright application succeed, even if you are preparing your application at a distance as a study abroad student or recent graduate. Our Fulbright advisor offers guidance throughout the year and hosts info sessions about Fulbright opportunities each semester. 

Fulbright Facts

One in four Cornell applicants wins an award. The national average is only one in six. This is how Cornell has sent over 500 students across the globe as part of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program since the 1940s. Fulbrighters from Cornell have traveled to more than one hundred countries, studying topics ranging from court efficiency in Zambia to gender-based inequalities in India. Many have taught English abroad and attended international graduate programs in other languages.  

Fulbrighter Dustin Liu with Malaysian students
Dustin Liu '19 taught English in Malaysia.

Deadline

August 30, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. EST 

Eligibility

United States citizens in any field of study are eligible. In addition, you must fulfill one of the following criteria: 

  • You will graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Cornell before September of the award year. 

  • You are currently a Cornell graduate student.  
  • You are a young professional who graduated from Cornell within the past five years. 

Do I have to be in the humanities or social sciences?

The program funds applicants and projects from all disciplines. Individual country programs may give priority to particular disciplines.  

Is language fluency required?

Language requirements depend on the host country, but you must have sufficient proficiency to carry out your proposed study. Refer to the Fulbright country profiles for more details.  

Can undergraduates apply?

Fulbright scholars must have a bachelor’s degree before September of the year in which the grant begins. If you want to participate in a Fulbright program immediately following graduation, plan to prepare your application in your junior year to submit at the beginning of your senior year. 

How to Apply 

Cornell applicants must apply through the Cornell Fulbright Program, managed by the Einaudi Center. We provide counseling, essay reviews, and application support to all applicants, including study abroad students and alumni, for every type of application. 

When should I start applying?

Start preparing early in your undergraduate career. The best applications are thoughtfully planned, so decide which world regions or countries interest you as soon as you can.  

  • Learn a language. 
  • Take courses relevant to a country or region that interests you. 
  • Get to know and work with professors who can write your reference letters. 

If you intend to begin the program right after graduation, start the application process in the fall of your junior year.  

What is required of an application?

It depends on your goals.  

The application is different for academic study/research, creative or performing arts study/research, or teaching English. Visit the Fulbright website to find out about your application components. 

Does Einaudi review my application?

Yes, we work with you throughout the application process before completed applications are sent to the national review committee.  

How are awards decided?

Since the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State, all application decisions are made at the national level. Recommendations are then sent to host countries, which must approve the applications before awards are announced in the spring.