Fulbright Grants*Gustavus Fellowships Office

Initial Gustavus Deadline: September 23, 2009 (noon)
Campus Interview: September 29 & 30 and October 1 & 2, 2009
Final Gustavus Deadline: October 15, 2009 (noon)
Web site: www.iie.org/fulbright
Campus Contact: Alisa Rosenthal, Fellowships Coordinator

Description

Fulbright grants are designed to promote cross-cultural interaction and mutual understanding on a person-to-person basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom. Each year the Fulbright Program allows approximately 1,000 Americans to study or conduct research in any field in over 140 nations. Fulbright scholars are thus able to benefit from unique resources in every corner of the world while gaining international competence in an increasingly interdependent global community. It offers three principal types of grants targeted to different needs and interests of selected individuals: Full Grants, Teaching Assistantships and Travel Grants. Grantees develop and prepare their own study plans or projects in their major fields to be completed in one academic year. The proposals are evaluated based upon the extent to which the candidate and the project might help advance the program’s aim of mutual understanding between nations.

Benefits

At a minimum, Fulbright grants provide funds for international transportation, a living stipend, a small book/research allowance, and medical insurance. Some countries will also provide tuition assistance, a small dependent’s allowance, a pre-departure or in-country orientation, or other grant enhancements.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application.
• Applicants must hold a B.A. degree or the equivalent before the start of the grant.
• Applicants must be in good health. Grantees will be required to submit a satisfactory Medical Certificate of Health from a physician.
• Applicants must have sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken language of the host country to communicate with the people and to carry out the proposed study. This is especially important for projects in the social sciences and the humanities.
• Preference will be given to those applicants who have undertaken their higher education primarily at educational institutions in the U.S. Foreign study during junior year or other periods of undergraduate study that are integral parts of the American institutions will not be considered a disadvantage.
• GPA is not a primary concern for this process.
• Some exceptions may apply, see http://us.fulbrightonline.org/eligibility.html?page=us/eligibility

Gustavus’ Internal Selection Process

Please note that the Fulbright application is available on-line and applicants are encouraged to begin completing the online application as early in their application process as possible. Please bring six collated packets of the following materials to the Gustavus Fellowships Office by the INITIAL GUSTAVUS DEADLINE (see above):

• Personal Statement (one page)
• Statement of Grant Purpose (two pages)
• Unofficial transcript (print off of WebAdvisor)
• Foreign Language Report (if applicable)
• Three letters of recommendation

Gustavus is required to rate all Gustavus applicants (scale is from 1 - 4; 1 = exceptional, 4 = not recommended); this rating is determined through evaluation of the materials listed above and through an interview. If all of the above materials are submitted on time, you will be contacted to schedule an interview date and time.

Materials for Final Consideration

Once the interview is complete, it is your responsibility to continue revising and collecting your materials. By the FINAL GUSTAVUS DEADLINE you must:

• Electronically submit a completed, online Fulbright application
• Provide the Gustavus Fellowships Office with an original and one copy of a complete application, which includes:
  • Forms 1 – 3 - Basic Data
  • Form 4 - Student Record Form
  • Form 5 - Statement of Grant Purpose
  • Form 6 - Personal Statement
  • Form 7 - Language Background Report
  • Form 7A - Critical Language Enhancement Award Supplementary Form
  • Form 8 - Foreign Language Evaluation
  • Form 9A - Reference Cover Sheet for Research/Study Grants (3), or
  • Form 9B - ETA References (3)
  • Form 11 - Original transcripts from all institutions of higher education you have attended, including foreign institutions. Order these early, as they are not typically processed quickly!
  • Letters of Affiliation for Research/Study Applicants
  • Creative and Performing Arts Supplementary Materials

Please note that applicants are responsible for all photocopying needed for the internal selection process and as required by the foundation.