Background: The U.S. Congress created the Fulbright program in 1946 to foster international understanding through educational exchanges. It was named in honor of Senator J. W. Fulbright and is funded by the U. S. government. The scholarship competition is coordinated by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

The Scholarship: The Fulbright program funds a number of different opportunities, including exchange of scholars, travel grants and dissertation research. However, most scholarships are for graduating seniors or recent graduates who propose to spend a year abroad studying or researching at a foreign university. The two primary programs are Fulbright Full Grants, for a year of study and research at a university, and the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program, which selects students who wish to teach English and carry out a research or service project on the side. Both grants cover the cost of round-trip transportation, tuition (usually, but not always--see the country pages for details), living allowance, and insurance.

The Application: The application form consists of 11 parts, including personal information, a statement of the study proposal, a short personal essay, foreign language evaluation, three references, transcript, and an evaluation by the Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships Committee. Students must have an "adequate background" (a major) in the subject they wish to pursue.

Who Should Apply: For Full Grants, students with strong academic records (above about 3.5) whose project proposal is appropriate to the country proposed and can be completed in a year, and shows a strong connection to academic work done at Davidson. For English Teaching Assistantships, students with some teaching experience (AT, tutoring, ESL experience at the Y, writing center or speaking center, music lessons, coaching, etc.) and a possible interest in a career in teaching, international education, international devleopment, or a similar field. U.S. Citizenship is required as is a bachelors degree.

Campus Procedure: Work closely with the campus Fulbright Program Advisor beginning iat the latest early summer before senior year. On campus application deadline is September 15. Applications are ranked (and interviews held) by the Graduate Fellowships Committee in late September. The committee decides on the level of Davidson's endorsement (see form 10 in the application), which is written by the campus FPA based on committee members’ comments. The completed application with the campus endorsement is sent to the Fulbright Commission in mid-October.

Recent graduates who do not yet have another academic affiliation (with a Fulbright program advisor) should apply through Davidson.

Recommendations: Three, plus an additional language assessment if required. Full grant recommendations are letters. ETA recommendations are short-answer forms. All recommendations are submitted on line. Notify recommenders early in the summer that their recommendations will be due on line before Sept 15.

Fulbright Application Deadline: On campus, September 15, to the IIE via the Campus FPA by mid-October.

The Fulbright Process: Completed applications with the college's rating must be received by IIE generally before mid-October. By January 31 candidates are informed if they have been recommended for a grant. Being recommended, however, does not mean that a student will be funded. Successful candidates are usually informed in April if funding has been approved. The Fulbright may not be deferred.

For More Information: Contact Prof. Scott Denham, German Department. See http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html for details.  See this list of winners also.

Recent Davidson Fulbright Scholars & Recipients of Fulbright Exchange Teaching Grants:  2013 Jean DeOrnellas (South Korea), Anja Fries (Spain), Allie Francis (Jordan), Monica Lee (Guatemala), Beth Mundy (Finland), Maegan Newell (Germany), Joseph Sills (Jordan, declined), Kristine Sowers (Spain); 2012 Leslie Adkins (Egypt), Ashley Augsburger (Malaysia), Linda Flynn (Morocco), Anna Van Hollen (Egypt, declined); 2011 Laura Bergner (New Zealand), Mary Gearing (Germany), Madeline Koch (Morocco), Kimberly Larkin (Belgium, declined), Pallavi Penumetcha (Botswana), Malia Wong (Sri Lanka); 2010 Ananta Bangdiwala (Spain), Stephanie Vertongen (The Netherlands); 2009 Utsha Khatri (Sri Lanka), Caroline McDermott (Colombia); 2008 Rachel Heidmann (Germany), Valerie Mason (Austria), Hannah Rogers-Ganter (Germany); 2007 Nelon Bryant Kirkland (Germany), Lee Ballard (Germany); 2006 Heather Carmody (Germany), Ted Dawson (Austria), Laura Puckett (Mongolia), Carrie Sloan (Mexico); 2005 Daniel Coslett (Tunisia); 2005 Leslie Thompson (Malaysia); 2004 Rory Adams (Germany), Eileen Beardsley (Germany); 2003 Will Humphrey (Austria); 2002 Mary Katherine Stickel (Austria); 2001 Michael Daly (Syria), Geoff Evans (Austria), Elizabeth Dederick (Germany), Marcus McFadden (Austria), Derek Neil Politzer (Turkey); 1998 Jennifer A. Miller (Germany), Daniel M. Guill (Cyprus), Derrick Miller (Germany)