Fulbright Internal Application Process

Elon University Fulbright Application Process

Visit the official website for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Please note: This page is intended for rising seniors and alumni who are eligible for Fulbright U.S. Student Grants. If you are a first-year or sophomore interested in applying to the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes, please request an appointment with our office to discuss that application process.

Spring 2025 Fulbright Info Sessions attend one, and please register here

Wednesday, March 5 at 4:00 (virtual)
Thursday, April 10 at 4:30 (in person, location TBD)
Wednesday, May 21 at 12:00 (virtual)

Attending a Fulbright info session is the first step in learning about the Fulbright application process at Elon before meeting with our office. These sessions will cover the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the different types of grants available, competitive qualifications, and what goes into the application process at Elon. Students must be U.S. citizens to apply. *Note that students are required (and alumni are encouraged) to apply through their home institutions. There is a Fulbright internal application process through Elon with deadlines as early as June 1.

Eligibility

Carefully consider the following before filling out your Intent to Apply form.

Minimum Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen (Fulbright grants are offered through other countries, so international students may be able to apply via their country of permanent residence)
Must have obtained a bachelor’s degree before the start of the grant

Qualifications for Competitive Applications

Strong academic record
Excellent letters of recommendation
Study/Research applicants: research experience and strong incentive to study in chosen country or postgraduate program
ETA applicants: experience working with youth (teaching, tutoring, coaching, or mentoring) and a strong rationale for teaching in your chosen country
Demonstrated experience with cross-cultural adaptation
Strong alignment between your proposed project and your future career goals
Language skills as specified in the country summary (visit the Fulbright website to begin narrowing down your preferred grants by matching your qualifications with those that the host country is seeking)

Internal Application Process for 2025-2026

The first step to apply for Fulbright through Elon University is to attend one of the spring information sessions (registration links at the top of this page). After attending, please submit the following materials to fellowships@elon.edu no later than June 1, 2025. (Note: all undergraduates are required to apply through Elon; alumni are strongly encouraged to apply through the university they attended most recently but may also apply at large)

Fulbright-Intent-to-Apply-Form-2025
Fellowships Waiver (signed and scanned)
Transcript (unofficial transcript from Ontrack is fine; if you are an alumnus without access to OnTrack, please let us know, as we can request a copy from the Registrar at no cost to you)
Resume tailored to the Fulbright grant you are pursuing
Recent photo of you (for office use only)

We are available to meet with you to discuss your country choice and answer any questions you may have prior to the intent-to-apply deadline.

Fulbright applicants may choose to apply with us over the summer or in the fall. (Note: there is no advantage to applying earlier. Simply choose which timeline works best for your schedule)

Summer Schedule:

Tuesday, June 17: Fulbright writing workshop from 6:00-7:00 PM
June – Early August: Four meetings with advisors to review drafts. Unlike the those who apply in the fall, summer applicants will not follow a rigid week-by-week schedule to accommodate advisors’ summer breaks. The general schedule is as follows, with at least one week between each meeting:
- Meeting 1: Conference with primary advisor to review draft #1 of PS and SGP
- Meeting 2: Conference with primary advisor to review draft #2 of PS and SGP
- Meeting 3: Conference with secondary advisor to review draft #3 of PS and SGP and draft #1 of short answers (NOTE: watch recording of short answer workshop before starting draft #1)
- Meeting 4: Conference with primary advisor to review draft #4 of PS and SGP and draft #2 of short answers
Friday, August 15: Internal deadline – all application components, including letters of recommendation and affiliation, are due. Lock application for campus review on the application portal no later than 8 am
Monday, August 25 – Friday, August 29: Evaluative interviews with Fulbright Campus Committee. Final revisions based on committee feedback due one week after your interview.
Early September, one week after your interview: Final deadline for online submission (submit through the official application portal no later than 8 am)
Tuesday, October 7: Fulbright national deadline. You did it! Keep a lookout for an email about a celebration in the Powell 108 suite.
Late January: National Screening Committee notifications; semifinalists named.
March-May: Finalist notifications; press release on finalists and alternates.

Fall Schedule:

Friday, August 15: Fulbright writing workshop from 3:00-4:00 PM EST (live webinar via Zoom)
Monday, August 25: Due: draft #1 of PS and SGP (send to primary advisor by 8 am)
Week of August 25: Conference with primary advisor to review draft #1 of PS and SGP
Friday, August 29: Short Answer Workshop from 4:00-5:00 EST (live webinar via Zoom)
Week of September 1: Conference with primary advisor to review draft #2 of PS and SGP
Week of September 8: Conference with secondary advisor to review draft #3 of PS and SGP and draft #1 of short answers
Week of September 15: Conference with primary advisor to review draft #4 of PS and SGP and draft #2 of short answers.
Monday, September 22: Internal deadline – all application components, including letters of recommendation and affiliation, are due. Lock application for campus review on the application portal no later than 8 am
Tuesday September 23 – Friday September 26: Evaluative interviews with Fulbright Campus Committee. Final revisions based on committee feedback due one week after your interview and no later than Fri. Oct. 3
Friday, October 3: Final deadline for online submission (submit through the official application portal no later than 8 am)
Tuesday, October 7: Fulbright national deadline. You did it! Keep a lookout for an email about a celebration in the Powell 108 suite.
Late January: National Screening Committee notifications; semifinalists named.
March-May: Finalist notifications; press release on finalists and alternates.

Applicant Resources

Resources for Letter of Recommendation Writers

Thank you for supporting a Fulbright applicant by writing letters of recommendation on his or her behalf! You will receive an email with log-in credentials to submit your reference through Fulbright’s online application system. Below are links to the Fulbright website for instructions on writing and submitting your letter of recommendation.

If you are writing a reference for a Study/Research Grant applicant, you will upload a traditional letter of recommendation through the online system. View the Study/Research Grant reference instructions.

If you are writing a reference for an English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) applicant, you will complete a short answer form (not a letter) through the online system. View the ETA Grant reference instructions.

We also encourage you to visit NIFO’s Information for Letter of Recommendation Writers page for general tips and guidelines for writing letters of recommendation for fellowship applicants. The National and International Fellowships Office can answer your questions about recommendation letters. We’re also happy to read drafts of references and provide feedback at the request of referees, ideally before you submit your reference through the online system.

Elon’s Fulbright Campus Committee

The Fulbright Committee assists with mentoring, interviewing, and evaluating Elon’s Fulbright applicants, including both current students and alumni applying through Elon University. You can view the names of faculty and staff who currently serve on the committee on this page.