The Fulbright Scholar Program offers grants for university faculty, as well as for professionals and independent scholars, to have the opportunity of lecturing and research abroad. The grants are designed to promote understanding among countries and individuals and academic and professional development. Nearly 1,000 awards in some 130 countries are available. Grant benefits vary by country program and type of award. Untenured faculty and professionals outside academe are encouraged to apply.
Grantees plan their own programs.
Projects may include university coursework, independent library or field research, classes in a music conservatory or art school, special projects in the social or life sciences, or a combination of these areas. A limited number of travel grants are available to a few selected countries as well as grants for teaching English in secondary schools. The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program provides opportunities for qualified teachers and administrators at the elementary through university level to participate in direct exchanges of positions with colleagues from other countries for six weeks, a semester, or a full academic year. In general, exchange teachers are granted a leave of absence with pay and use their regular salary to cover daily expenses while abroad. Foreign teachers are also generally paid by their home schools, and replace their U.S. counterparts at no additional cost to the hosting school.