UK Awards

NOTE: Our eligibility criteria has recently changed. Please see updated information below.

Awards are offered to UK citizens (regardless of where they reside) only. Non-UK citizens are required to apply in their country of citizenship, even if they are resident in the UK. Awards to study, lecture or pursue research in the United States are offered in the following categories:

POSTGRADUATE AWARDS
The Advisory Service at Fulbright House can assist applicants in identifying institutions that offer courses in their field. Successful applicants for a Fulbright Award will receive further advice and guidance on applying to their chosen universities from Fulbright Commission staff and from our partner organisation in the United States, the Institute of International Education (IIE).

Fulbright (Traditional) Postgraduate Awards: approximately 10 awards are offered for Masters or PhD study in any discipline (see separate award categories for Journalism, Film, or for an MBA at Harvard) and at any accredited US university. The award covers up to $40,000 for the first year of study only, health insurance and university application and test fees. Successful candidates will work with the Fulbright Commission and the Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York to identify and apply to the university departments which offer the best academic fit for their purpose.

Fulbright Alistair Cooke Award in Journalism: one award, named in memory of the great trans-Atlantic journalist and commentator, of up to $40,000 towards the first year of a Master's in Journalism or for specialist study leading to a career in Journalism.

Fulbright-UK Film Council Film Award: one award of up to £35,000 plus health insurance and university application and test fees is offered for a Masters in Film-related subjects. Preference will be given to applicants from under-represented backgrounds.

International Fulbright Science and Technology Awards
Up to two awards (covering tuition, activities fees, book and equipment allowance, research and professional conference allowance, and a stipend for up to 36 months) are offered to outstanding British students for PhD study at a U.S. institution in science, technology, or engineering. Sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State, the Science and Technology Awards have been designed to be among the most prestigious international scholarships in science and technology.

Fulbright British Friends of Harvard Business School MBA Awards: approximately three awards are offered annually to be applied towards tuition fees for the first year of study at Harvard Business School. Candidates earning less than £40,000 per year will be given preference, but this should not deter other applicants from applying.

SCHOLARS AND FELLOWS AWARDS (FOR POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH/PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT)
Post-doctoral and professional candidates should submit a letter of invitation from their proposed host institution with their application form.

Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Awards: two awards of £15,000 are offered to academics or professionals to facilitate lecturing and/or research, in any discipline, for a minimum of three months. The 2008-2009 competition is now closed. Please check back in late summer for announcement of the 2009-2010 competition.

Fulbright-AztraZeneca Research Fellowship: one award of £17,500 plus economy round-trip travel, offered in conjunction with AstraZeneca, to a post-doctoral scientist with an invitation to work for a minimum of ten months at a leading research centre on an aspect of Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or Bio-informatics.
The 2008-2009 competition is now closed. Please check back in late summer for announcement of the 2009-2010 competition.


Fulbright-Robertson Visiting Professor in British History: an award of $47,500 (plus round-trip travel for up to four dependents) for a professor of British history to lecture at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri.
The 2008-2009 competition is now closed. Please check back in late summer for announcement of the 2009-2010 competition.


Fulbright Police Research Fellowships: two awards to enable serving police officers or civilian staff to spend a minimum of 3 months researching and developing professional expertise in a specific area of policing. Awards are for £10,000.
The 2008-2009 competition is now closed. Please check back in late summer for announcement of the 2009-2010 competition.


Fulbright Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) Fellowships
Awards of $25,000 (covering travel, accommodation, general living costs and associated research fees) are offered to senior civil servants in Northern Ireland to pursue research for between three and six months, affiliated with a relevant US institution. Applications are made via the Dept of Finance and Personnel, Northern Ireland.
The 2008-2009 competition is now closed. Please check back in late summer for announcement of the 2009-2010 competition.

General Conditions:

Fulbright awards are offered to UK citizens (regardless of where they currently reside) only. Non-UK citizens are required to apply through the Commission in their country of citizenship. Dual UK citizens must apply in the country in which they currently reside; if not resident in either country then applications must be made through the Commission in the country in which they have resided the longest period of time.

EU nationals currently resident in the UK who began their applications prior to 12 March 2008 may submit finalised applications and will still be considered. From 12 March 2008 all non-UK citizens are required to apply through the country in which they hold citizenship. For more information on citizenship and eligibility for US-UK Fulbright Awards please contact us.

US nationals, those with dual US-UK citizenship and those resident in the US may not apply.

Successful candidates are required to attend a 2-day orientation programme in London before departure for the United States, the aim of which is to introduce them to aspects of the social, political, economic and cultural issues of their host country.

All Fulbright scholars travel to the United States on a J1 visa which requires them, on completion of their study programme, to return to their home country for a cumulative total of two years before they become eligible for a temporary worker's visa or for permanent residence in the United States. Tourist travel during this time is not affected. The Fulbright Commission undertakes to process all visa paperwork for the successful candidates and the visa fee is waived for Fulbright scholars.

All Fulbright scholars are required to undergo a comprehensive medical examination before departure. The costs incurred are payable by the scholar.

Three years must elapse from the date of return to the UK before any Fulbright scholar becomes eligible for another Fulbright award.

Fulbright scholars are required to submit reports at specified times during or immediately after their stay in the United States.

Fulbright scholars staying for a full academic year (9 months) in the United States may travel outside the US for a maximum of 3 weeks. Travel beyond this limit – unless required by their academic course – may affect the amount of their grant.