Applications for academic year 2025-26 are now open, and will close on Monday 6th May, 2024 at 5PM GMT. Click here to learn how to apply.

Aimed at anyone looking to pursue a master’s or PhD in the USA, our Fulbright Postgraduate scholarships, known as 'Fulbright Awards' provide the only scholarships for academic work in any graduate programme at any accredited US university.

The All Disciplines Award can be applied to any master's or doctoral degree at any accredited US university, as well as for independent research projects. We also offer several Awards partnered with US universities and professional or charitable bodies who are looking for Fulbrighters interested in specific academic disciplines.

1. Be a UK citizen

Applications from non-UK citizens based in the UK and committed to a life and career in the UK may also be considered. You will be required to follow these steps: 

• Contact the Fulbright Commission/post in your home country to check if you are eligible to apply through them. You can submit an application to us only if your home Commission/post do not accept your application due to your residency in the UK. You will need to obtain a written confirmation (e.g., an e-mail) and upload it as part of your application to the US-UK Fulbright Commission.  
• In addition to your passport copy, please provide evidence of your legal status in the UK (e.g., settled/pre-settled status, Indefinite Leave to Remain). Please note that we are unable to accept applications from non-UK citizens on a student visa.  
• All non-UK nationals meeting the above criteria will be expected to demonstrate commitment to returning to the UK after their proposed academic study in the US. Please note that this will be assessed at the application review stage by reading panellists.
• Dual US-UK citizens, US Green Card holders, or individuals who are resident in the US at the time of application are ineligible to apply.
• We welcome candidates from British Overseas Territories.

2. Hold or expect to attain an undergraduate degree with at least a 2:1 overall undergraduate result

• We may accept applications from individuals with a 2:2 overall result in some exceptional cases. If you have obtained a 2:2, in order to be considered, you must submit a form providing an explanation as to why you did not obtain a 2:1 and why you believe you would be a competitive applicant to the Fulbright programme. We will evaluate these applications separately and on a case-by-case basis will determine if the application will be included in the competition.

The US-UK Fulbright programme aims to foster cultural understanding between our two countries. Preference is therefore given to applicants who do not have extensive experience (six months or longer) in the USA. Applicants with extensive US experience should explain in detail how further experience in the USA will fulfil the Fulbright mission in ways that their prior visits did not.

We are looking for applicants who can engage with the USA in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding. 

Academic excellence is important, but we are looking for more than that. The best applications are from well-rounded students who can demonstrate: 

• Strong academic proposals and/or research projects 
• Ambassadorial skills 
• Intercultural sensitivity  
• Genuine desire to learn more about the USA and to share aspects of British culture 
• Extracurricular activities 
• Community involvement 
• Leadership potential 
• Plans to further the Fulbright mission and give back to the UK upon returning

With this placement model, you can apply for a Fulbright Award without having to choose which US university to apply to. The IIE Placement track is for students interested in exploring postgraduate education in the US and who are willing to approach finding a university with flexibility and an open mind.

Applicants on this track who are successful at the interview stage will have an application submission plan created for them by an educational advisor at the IIE to find the best academic and funding fit for the student. Their Fulbright application will be submitted to those universities for consideration and the IIE will cover the costs of admission and admission tests. Applicants on this track should not reference any U.S. universities in their Study Objective or Personal Statement.

If you have a specific institution – or several institutions – that you wish to apply to on your own, then Independent Placement is the model for you.

The Independent Placement track is ideal for students who come to the Fulbright application with specific universities in mind that they wish to apply to, or hold deferred offers from universities in the United States. Students who select this track will be expected to make applications to their chosen institutions independently. Before commencing with a Fulbright award, candidates will be required to have secured admission at a university in the U.S. However, you do not have to have submitted any applications by the time that you apply for a Fulbright Award. If you select the Independent Placement track, you MUST reference the institutions that you are applying to/hold a deferred offer from, in the Study Objective essay.

Choosing the right university for you requires plenty of research. The selection committees and interview panels will be looking for clear reasons for your US university preference. We expect candidates to conduct a thorough university search and to identify institutions that are a strong fit for their academic, personal and professional goals. 

When choosing the US universities to apply to, applicants are encouraged to be open-minded and flexible, and consider the many excellent universities throughout the US. For more guidance on choosing a US institution, review our EducationUSA advice pages.

Please note that the Fulbright Opportunity Fund will not be available to selected candidates for Independent Placement. The Fulbright Opportunity Fund is only available to selected candidates for IIE Placement.

Visit our how to apply section for details on the application process.

N.B. Please note If you choose the IIE placement option and then decide to go to an institution which is not suggested by the IIE, you will no longer be able to participate in the Fulbright programme.

Would you like to connect with one of our past Fulbrighters to find out more about the Fulbright Awards? Chat to one of our alumni to hear about their experiences, and to discover tips and advice for applying. 

The US-UK Fulbright Commission is committed to widening access to the UK Fulbright Programme. We do this by maintaining equitable application and selection processes and providing the opportunity -- for students who otherwise could not afford to participate in the programme -- to apply for additional financial support since we recognise that the cost of taking up a US education, even with a standard Fulbright Award, is a barrier for many UK students.  

The Fulbright Opportunity Fund is designed to provide further financial support for students who are selected to receive a standard Fulbright Award, but who do not have the means to fully fund their US study after exhausting all options to find other funding. Thanks to additional sponsorship from the UK government, we are now delighted to be able to offer an increased number of fully funded awards that cover the cost of a two-year master’s degree and living costs in the US. In 2022, we also introduced the IIE Placement model,  supporting successful Awardees with expert guidance to negotiate financial packages with their host university and to find an institution that is the right academic and personal fit for them. Both of these offerings provide our Fulbright UK Students with substantial help in managing  the cost of a US education. It is important to note that the Opportunity Fund is only available to applicants who opt for the IIE placement model from academic year 2025-26. You can read more information about the placement types here.

We invite students of all backgrounds to explore the exciting possibility of a Fulbright Award. The Opportunity Fund exists to help students overcome the financial barriers which might prevent them from taking up an Award, and we particularly encourage those who are first generation university students, received free school meals, or were state school educated to apply. 

If you have any questions, please email programmes@fulbright.org.uk. 

See below for two webinar recordings on applying for a Fulbright Postgraduate Award, which focus on our Partner Awards and on what we look for when reviewing applications.