Participate in the Fulbright Specialist Program
All prospective U.S. Specialists and foreign receiving institutions engage in a multi-stage review, selection, and matching process. The following provides an overview of the major stages of Fulbright Specialist project development, matching, and administration.
U.S. Academics and Professionals: Apply for Placement on Fulbright Specialist Roster
Interested and eligible U.S. citizens must complete a multi-stage, merit-based review process prior to being eligible to engage in a Fulbright Specialist project.
This process begins with applying for placement on the Fulbright Specialist Roster. Applications to the Roster may be submitted at any time throughout the year, and completed applications are evaluated six times per year.
Applicants that meet all basic eligibility requirements will undergo peer review and, if approved by the panel, will be placed on the Fulbright Specialist Roster for a tenure of three years. During their tenure, they are considered a Fulbright Specialist Candidate who is eligible to be matched with projects requested by foreign institutions.
As projects are requested on a rolling basis by foreign institutions based on emerging needs and priorities, Fulbright Specialist Candidates are not guaranteed to be matched with a project during their tenure.
Applicants who are not recommended for placement on the Fulbright Specialist Roster or are deemed to be ineligible may reapply for consideration during a future application cycle. More guidance for ineligible or not recommended applicants can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions for Specialists.
Foreign Institutions: Submit Project Proposal to U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission
Fulbright Specialist projects are designed and proposed by foreign receiving institutions and recommended for selection by U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions around the world. This structure ensures that U.S. expertise, skills, and perspectives help drive progress in key academic, professional, and/or cultural sectors.
Accordingly, once an institution has developed their initial project idea, they must submit a project proposal to the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in their country via an online portal. The Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy in each country oversees the initial review and selection of proposals, including establishing any submission deadlines, timelines for initial review, and country-specific priorities and goals. Fulbright Commissions/U.S. Embassies often receive more proposals than they can support with limited funding and therefore, not all proposals submitted will be selected.
Following this country-level review, the Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy will recommend selected proposals to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) for further review. A project is only considered to be approved after receipt of both U.S. Embassy/Fulbright Commission and ECA approval.
Matching Approved Projects to Eligible Candidates on the Fulbright Specialist Roster
When a foreign institution submits a project proposal to the Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy in their country, they must identify it as either an “open” or “named” project based upon how they would like to match the project with a Fulbright Specialist.
Open Projects: World Learning supports recruitment of qualified Specialist Candidates for the foreign institution's consideration.
Once an open project receives U.S. Embassy/Fulbright Commission and ECA approval, World Learning recruits candidates from the Fulbright Specialist Roster whose professional experience, academic credentials, and foreign language skills best match the knowledge and skills required for the successful implementation of the proposed project. World Learning then presents candidate dossiers to the Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy, who communicates directly with the foreign receiving institution. Ultimately, the foreign receiving institution reviews, interviews, and selects a Fulbright Specialist from the identified candidates. If they do not believe that the presented candidates have the requisite qualifications and skills, World Learning may conduct additional recruitment.
Named Projects: The foreign institution nominates a specific individual as their preferred Fulbright Specialist.
When nominating a specific individual to serve as the Fulbright Specialist, the institution must provide a strong justification of why that individual is best suited to serve in the role of the Fulbright Specialist. Regardless of nomination, the ‘named’ individual’s match to that project is contingent upon meeting all program eligibility criteria, including admission to the Fulbright Specialist Roster and adhering to required waiting periods between projects.
Accordingly, if the institution nominates an individual who is not on the Fulbright Specialist Roster, that individual must successfully apply for placement on the Fulbright Specialist Roster. Project proposals naming an individual who is not yet on the Roster may be reviewed concurrently while the ‘named’ individual is still completing their application to the Roster. However, this is at the discretion of the relevant Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy. Any individual being nominated by a foreign institution for a project who is not already on the Fulbright Specialist Roster is recommended to submit their application as soon as possible to avoid delays in project administration, should the proposal receive all necessary approvals.
Approval by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board
Once a Fulbright Specialist has been identified, the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) must approve that individual's match to the specific project and foreign institution. The match between a Specialist and a project can only be considered finalized after receipt of FFSB approval.
Pre-Departure Grant Administration Begins and Fulbright Specialist Implements Project with Foreign Institution
After an individual receives FFSB approval to serve as the Fulbright Specialist for a specific foreign institution’s project, World Learning will begin administering pre-departure travel and grant logistics and monitor the completion of the Fulbright Specialist project.