Fulbright Program (ETA, Research, NatGeo)

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of both the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Harvard campus endorsement process.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program eligibility requirements include:

• U.S. citizenship at the time of application
• A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) by the start of the grant period
• Sufficient preparation for the proposed project and host country, including language proficiency where required

Harvard campus process eligibility:

• Graduating Harvard College seniors are eligible to apply through the Harvard campus endorsement process

Alumni applicants:

• Harvard College alumni who are not currently enrolled in a graduate program must apply through the At-Large process. This allows candidates to apply directly through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program without institutional endorsement. At-Large applications are submitted via the Fulbright website by the national October deadline. When prompted for institutional affiliation, applicants should indicate that they have none.
• Harvard College alumni who are currently enrolled in a graduate institution must apply through that institution’s campus review process and adhere to its deadlines and requirements.

Approximately 2,000 Fulbright grants are awarded annually across all fields of study in more than 140 countries worldwide.

Awards typically include:

• round-trip transportation
• a living stipend covering room and board (based on the cost of living in the host country)
• funding for incidental expenses
• accident and sickness health benefits

In some countries, grants may also provide:

• book and research allowances
• full or partial tuition support
• language study programs

Following the Harvard campus deadline and Campus Committee Evaluation, applications move forward to the national Fulbright selection process.

Timeline

• October: National Fulbright application deadline
• November–January: U.S.-based review and selection process
• Spring: Applications reviewed by host countries
• March–early summer: Final award decisions released

Selection Criteria

Fulbright applications are evaluated based on:

• the quality and feasibility of the proposed project as described in the Statement of Grant Purpose
• academic and/or professional record
• personal qualifications and preparedness to carry out the project
• language preparation (where applicable)
• the ability of host institutions or supervising agencies abroad to provide appropriate support, including research clearance if required
• specific requirements and priorities of the host country (which may include preferences for advanced-degree candidates or limitations on certain fields of study)

Harvard applicants must follow the appropriate application pathway based on their current academic status (see eligibility). 

Step 1: Determine Your Application Pathway

• Graduating Harvard College seniors apply through the Harvard campus endorsement process.
• Harvard College alumni not currently enrolled in a graduate program apply through the At-Large process and submit directly to Fulbright by the national October deadline.
• Harvard College alumni currently enrolled in a graduate program must apply through their current institution’s campus process. Follow your institution’s procedures 

Step 2: Submit Intent to Apply (Required) 

(Only for graduating Harvard College seniors) 

All Harvard College seniors must first submit an Intent to Apply form through the Harvard University Funding Portal (see link below) before beginning the campus endorsement process. Submitting this form allows URAF to: 

• plan an appropriate campus review committee
• invite you to Fulbright writing workshops and advising opportunities
• connect with your House or academic program to support your application 

Intent to Apply Deadline: July 15, 2026 

In the Intent to Apply we ask you to share the following:

• The location of your proposed Fulbright
• Your Fulbright type (Study/Research or English Teaching Assistantship)
• A brief title for your Fulbright project
• A summary of what you think you'll be doing for the Fulbright year at this point in time
• A tentative project field, so we can best identify reviewers

All of this can change -- but the more you know and we know, the better.

Step 3: Submit Your Fulbright Application for Campus Deadline

Current Harvard seniors, submit your full application through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website by the Harvard campus deadline.

Campus Deadline:  September 1, 2026 

Step 4: Campus Review (Harvard Seniors Only) 

Applications from graduating Harvard seniors submitted by the campus deadline will receive a Campus Committee Evaluation (CCE). The Campus Committee is composed of Harvard faculty and staff with expertise in the applicant’s regional or academic area and provides feedback ahead of the national deadline.