INTERNATIONAL FULBRIGHT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AWARD GUIDELINES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
PROGRAM-RELATED QUESTIONS
APPLICATION REQUIREMENT QUESTIONS
PROGRAM-RELATED INFORMATION
What is the purpose of this program?
The International Fulbright Science and Technology (S&T) Award for outstanding foreign students is designed to be among the most prestigious international scholarships in science and technology. Announced at the January 2006 U.S. University Presidents Summit on International Education, the S&T Award demonstrates the United States’ commitment to remaining the premier destination for serious scientific study and research and its welcoming of top-notch leaders to shape their careers at its colleges and universities.
The S&T Award allows recipients to obtain doctorate degrees at prestigious U.S. colleges and universities with programs of study in the fields listed below. For its fourth year, approximately 40 awards will be competed worldwide for candidates who demonstrate unique aptitude and innovation in scientific fields.
What are the eligible fields?
- Aeronautics and Astronomics/Aeronautical Engineering
- Agriculture (theoretical or research-based focus only)*
- Astronomy/Planetary Sciences
- Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Computer Sciences/Engineering
- Energy
- Engineering (electrical, chemical, civil, mechanical, ocean, and petroleum)
- Environmental Science/Engineering
- Geology/Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- Information Sciences/Engineering (engineering focus only; business-focused study is not eligible)
- Materials Science/Engineering
- Mathematics
- Neuroscience/Brain and Cognitive Sciences
- Oceanography
- Physics
- Public Health (theoretical or research-based focus only)
*While agriculture tends to be a fairly applied field of study, those wishing to pursue theoretical and research-based study in such areas as entomology, plant biology, plant pathology, and soil science are eligible for this Award.
What benefits does the S&T Award provide?
Selected grantees will be funded for up to three years and will receive the following:
- testing vouchers for TOEFL,GRE General and GRE Subject exams,
- tuition and fee coverage,
- a monthly stipend,
- book and equipment allowance,
- research allowance,
- professional conference allowance,
- travel support,
- health and accident coverage, and
- specially tailored enrichment activities.
After three years, the host U.S. university will be expected to cover the remaining expenses toward completion of the Ph.D. J-1 visa sponsorship will be provided for up to five years.
How are universities committed to funding the students after the three years? What happens if the student cannot secure funding and is left in the middle of his/her Ph.D.?
The Institute of International Education, which is responsible for applying on your behalf and securing placement after final U.S. Department of State approval will also be responsible for securing the commitment for funding from the university after the three years of Fulbright support.
When will the next competition and program begin?
Applications for the next competition will be accepted starting February 1, 2009. Application deadlines will vary from country to country. Check with the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country for the last possible date to apply here. Finalists will be identified by mid-October 2009 and will begin their doctoral programs in the U.S. in the 2010-2011 academic year, which at most U.S.
universities begins in August or September.
Is there an allowance for dependents?
There will not be additional funding to support dependents of S&T participants. Check with the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your country to learn if dependents are allowed to join participants in the U.S.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENT INFORMATION
What are the requirements for applying?
Applicants must be citizens of a country where there is an active Fulbright Foreign Student Program and must apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in their country of citizenship.
Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree (comparable to a U.S. bachelor’s degree) on or before August 2010. It is highly recommended that the applicant have received his/her bachelor’s degree in the same or a related field for which he/she plans to pursue Ph.D. study.
Can a student with only a bachelor’s degree be admitted to science and technology Ph.D. programs in the U.S.?
Yes. Bachelor’s degree holders can apply for Ph.D. study in the U.S., especially in science and technology fields. Generally, applicants in the hard sciences are admitted directly into Ph.D. programs and achieve the master’s degree while working on the Ph.D; in fact, many top programs do not offer terminal master’s degree and only admit into the Ph.D track.
Note: Program policies in the U.S. can vary widely from institution to institution. As mentioned, some programs may award a master's degree to students as they work toward the Ph.D. In other cases, programs may admit students to a master's level program first. While you can expect to see variations in policies, in almost all cases, Ph.D. students need to go through a Ph.D. candidacy review prior to starting the final stages of their Ph.D. study and dissertation research.
Can a student working on or who has completed a master’s degree program apply?
Yes. Completing a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement. Applicants can also be enrolled in or have completed master’s degree work in the same or a related field. In fact, the host U.S. institution may grant graduate transfer credit toward a grantee’s Ph.D. studies.
Can a student currently enrolled in a Ph.D. degree who intends to only pursue non-degree coursework or dissertation research in the U.S. apply?
No. This award is for students who intend to complete their Ph.D. degree in the U.S. However students enrolled in Ph.D. study who want to enroll in a U.S. university and complete their degree in the U.S. are eligible.
Can a student who is currently studying in the U.S. apply?
No. A student cannot be currently studying in the U.S.
Can a student who has previously studied in the U.S. at the postsecondary level apply?
Yes.
Can a student who has received a previous Fulbright award apply?
No. No one may receive more than one Fulbright student award in a lifetime.
Can a student apply for both Fulbright Foreign Student Program and the S&T Award Program?
Possibly. Check with the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your country for specific policies.
What documents are needed to apply?
- Fulbright International Science and Technology online application
- Scanned academic transcripts and English translations
- Scanned transcripts and English translations can be uploaded into the online application. For purposes of selection, official transcripts are not necessary. However, those applicants selected for the Fulbright S&T Award will need to provide official academic transcripts and original English translations later in the process.
- Three letters of reference from professionals who know you well
- professors or instructors
- supervisors
- A professional resume or curriculum vitae
- Standardized tests: Please forward a copy of all test scores you may have to the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. All selected nominees are eligible to also receive test vouchers for taking and/or retaking TOEFL and GRE exams.
- TOEFL or IELTS score report (if available) for non-native speakers of English or another measure of English proficiency such as a TELP, ITP or English Language Proficiency Report. Scores are valid for up to two years.
- A GRE General Exam score report (if available). Scores are valid for up to five years.
- A GRE Subject Exam score report (if available) for applicants in the following fields of study: Biology; Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science; Mathematics; and Physics. Scores are valid for up to five years.
If I am selected, what happens next?
You will be informed by the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. You will work with staff at the Institute of International Education (IIE) who will apply on your behalf to U.S. universities. You are encouraged to suggest programs to which you wish applications be submitted; a university preference page has been included in the application for you to identify programs. An IIE placement staff member will work closely you to ensure that your application is being sent to program that will be the best possible academic fit for you.
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