Fulbright Program Looking for Seniors

The Fulbright Program is looking for graduating seniors who want to study, teach, or conduct research abroad.

More than 1,500 students who receive a Fulbright grant each year to go overseas for one academic year. The U.S. Student Fulbright Program operates in more than 140 countries worldwide; grants are available in all fields of study.

Those eligible to apply for this program are graduating seniors; master's or doctoral degree candidates; or young professionals or artists. Opportunities include regular grants (for students with a specific research interest) and English Teaching Assistantships. Students are allowed to design their own program, which may include University coursework; independent library or field research; professional training in the arts and other fields; assistant English-teaching; or combination of these or other projects.

What is the Fulbright program?

Fulbright is the most widely recognized and prestigious international exchange program in the world, supported for more than half a century by the American people through an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress and by the people of partner nations. The program—working with universities, schools, binational Fulbright commissions, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector—actively seeks out individuals of achievement and potential who represent the full diversity of their respective societies and selects nominees through open, merit-based competitions.

The purpose of a Fulbright is research and study, not (primarily) travel abroad.  In fact, preference is given to candidates who have not had recent extensive experience abroad (excluding recent undergraduate study abroad), especially in the country of application.

Further, tourist-heavy countries are not the primary focus; the program is geared especially to the “less popular” areas of the world.  “It is highly unlikely that a Biola applicant will get a fellowship to Great Britain, for example,” says Dr. Dr. Kitty Purgason, Biola’s Fulbright Program Advisor.  “[We] encourage applications from students who are interested in countries like Albania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Ukraine, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Oman, and Bahrain.” It is of course possible that security concerns and other adverse conditions in a country may prevent grantees from pursuing their proposed projects in a particular field of study.

English Teaching Assistantships are available in many countries, however.  Countries with a large number of positions suitable for graduating seniors with broad interests include Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Russia.  Countries with positions for graduating seniors who have some language proficiency and relevant majors include Argentina, Spain, Germany, France, Poland, and Egypt.  Students willing to try for more competitive ETAs might consider Madagascar, Jordan, Hungary, Turkey, or Brazil.

Interested students should:

1. Contact Dr. Kitty Purgason, Biola’s Fulbright Program Advisor, to discuss the campus application and submission processes. Dr. Purgason’s office is in Marshburn Hall, School of Intercultural Studies, at ext. 4844.

2. Determine the country to which you wish to apply. Make sure the Fulbright award is available for this country; if the country in which you are interested is not listed, contact the world-area managers.

3. Review the Regional and Participating Country Summary for the country to which you are applying and make sure you understand the requirements and preferences for that country. Important information regarding language requirements, affiliation requirements and special considerations is available for each country.

4. Work closely with your major advisor or faculty mentor in developing your research plan and application. Faculty members who know the student and their area of specialty play a key role in guiding the student in developing their research plan and in completing their application. “Putting together an application is hard work for both the student and their faculty advisor, “ says Dr. Purgason

For the 2009-10 academic year, the campus deadline for applications is September 29.  The final Fulbright deadline is October 20. For more information see http://us.fulbrightonline.org.