Fulbright U.S. Student Program
KU International Affairs coordinates the applications by students at the University of Kansas for grants under the auspices of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
All enrolled KU students should apply for Fulbright through the internal KU campus process; alumni are also welcome, though not required, to apply this way.
Applications for the 2027-28 Fulbright grant competition will open in early April 2026. They will be due at 8:00 AM on Sept. 9, 2026 and must be completed via the online national application. To access the application, visit the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website, mouse over the "Applicants" menu, and select "Fulbright Online Application" to get started. Your application must be in "locked for campus review" status for the campus deadline. Applicants whose materials are not in "locked" status by the campus deadline of Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 at 8:00 AM will not be permitted to participate in the KU campus process.
Types of Fulbright Grants
Study/Research Fulbright grants provide round-trip travel, maintenance, a research allowance and often a tuition waiver, if applicable. Most grants are for one academic year of study or research. All grants include health and accident insurance.
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program places grantees in schools overseas to supplement local English language instruction and to provide a native speaker presence in the classroom.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- be U.S. citizens at the time of application
- hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent by the beginning date of the grant (current undergraduates can apply in September of their senior year)
- not hold a Ph.D. at the time of application
Drafting a Statement of Grant Purpose
The Statement of Grant Purpose is the central component of the Fulbright application; it describes what you plan to do while abroad on a Fulbright grant, as well as the qualifications you have to make your plans feasible.
Study/Research
Study/Research grants require a Statement of Grant Purpose that is two pages, single-spaced. See the Fulbright website for guidelines on formatting and what to include in your Study/Research statement.
English Teaching Assistant
English Teaching Assistant grants require a Statement of Grant Purpose that is one page, single-spaced. See the Fulbright website for guidelines on formatting and what to include in your ETA statement.
Fall 2026 application timeline
Important dates for 2027-28 grant cycle
| Date | Action Required |
|---|---|
| Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, 8:00 AM Central | Optional deadline for draft of Statement of Purpose. Send your draft as a Microsoft Word .doc via email to rachelsj@ku.edu. (8:00 AM Central) |
| Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, 8:00 AM Central | Completed online Fulbright application due by 8:00 AM Central time. Your application should be in "locked for campus review" status. DO NOT CLICK "SUBMIT" FOR THIS DEADLINE. After your interview, KU International Affairs staff will unlock your application so you can make final edits before officially submitting. |
| Sept. 16- Oct. 6, 2026 | Campus interviews held; 30-45 minutes for each interview. All interviews will be held via Zoom. |
| Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 | Fulbright Workshop This is the final opportunity to work with Dr. Sherman Johnson to polish your statements, incorporate the feedback you received from the Campus Committee during your interview, and make sure your entire application is complete and ready to submit. All KU applicants will receive an invitation to this session in October. |
| Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, 4:00 PM Central | Anticipated deadline* for electronic submission of final applications to IIE through the online application by 4:00 PM (CST). Students are responsible for ensuring their applications are complete and submitted by the national deadline. Once your application is submitted, it cannot be unsubmitted. *Based on past years. Official deadline date will be announced in April 2026. |
| End of January 2027 | Results of national review; applicants notified about whether their applications are moved on to the country committees |
| March-June 2027 | Notification of grant status |