Applications for the 2017-2019 Fulbright Foreign Student Program are being accepted now through May 1, 2016

Post date: Feb 24, 2016 8:54:38 AM

Program Information

This prestigious scholarship program, launched by the U.S. Congress and the late U.S. Senator William J. Fulbright in 1946, allows outstanding students and professionals worldwide to study at U.S. universities to further their careers as well as promote international cultural understanding.

Here in Iraq, participation in the Fulbright Foreign Student program allows exceptional Iraqis to experience life and education in the United States first-hand. Fulbright students also have the opportunity to share Iraq's rich culture with Americans they meet and to serve as "student ambassadors" both in the classroom and in everyday life.

The Fulbright scholarship will fund up to two years of study at the Master’s degree level at a U.S. university starting in the fall of 2017. All disciplines and academic fields of study are available under this program, with the exception of medicine and other clinical studies.

The program provides funding for tuition, round-trip international travel, living stipends, and health insurance. Iraqis, both men and women from all parts of the country who have outstanding academic records and work experience are urged to apply.

Who Can Apply

Applicants must:

• • Be Iraqi citizens who are resident in Iraq and demonstrate a clear commitment to return to Iraq at the conclusion of their program.

  • Hold a B.A. or B.S. degree from an accredited institution of higher education at the time of application.

  • Have a minimum of two years of work experience.

  • Be proficient in English with the ability to score 80 or more on the internet-based TOEFL exam.

  • Write their research objective and personal statement themselves, without copying from the Internet or any other source. Such copying is considered plagiarism and will result in applicant’s immediate disqualification.

    • How to Apply

    • To apply for the 2017-2019 program, please visit the following link to create a user account and to complete an application form https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/international/20/

    • For guidelines on writing a successful essay, please consult the PDF document “Successful Fulbright Application Strategies” that can be found on this web page.

    • http://iraq.usembassy.gov/fulbright-foreign-student-program.html

    • Policies of the Iraq Fulbright Program:

    • While there are overarching policies to which all Fulbright scholarship recipients from around the world must adhere to, there are also policies which are country-specific:

  • Two-year home residency requirement: The J-1 visa is an exchange visa which requires all Fulbright scholarship recipients to return to their home country for at least two years upon successful completion of the program.

  • Intention to return to Iraq: Your eligibility for a Fulbright scholarship is based, in part, on your intention to return to Iraq immediately following your program. If you show intent other than to remain in the U.S. for a temporary, specific, limited period (such as applying for an immigrant visa to the U.S., asylum in the U.S., or residency in a country other than Iraq) you will be ineligible to receive the Fulbright scholarship. Please carefully review the J visa policies for further information.

  • No-dependents: J visa sponsorship is offered only to the Iraq Fulbright scholarship award recipient. J-2 visa dependents (spouses and children under the age of 21) cannot accompany the Iraqi scholarship recipient on his/her study program.

    • The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

    • For questions about the program, please send an email to: FulbrightIraq@state.gov

    • Application deadline is May 1, 2016.