Skip to main content

Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program is a prestigious international exchange opportunity supported by the U.S. Department of State since 1946. It provides funding for American citizens to study, teach, or conduct research in 140+ countries outside the U.S. The Fulbright Program also provides funding for students and faculty from overseas universities to study or conduct research in the U.S.

Please note that the Office of Student Fellowships and Awards works exclusively with UTEP students applying to study, teach, or conduct research abroad via the Fulbright Program. Although we are not the point of contact for incoming Fulbrighters or their departmental hosts, please see below for some general guidance.

Hosting a Fulbright Scholar

Please note that the Office of Student Fellowships and Awards works exclusively with UTEP students applying to study, teach, or conduct research abroad via the Fulbright Program. While we are not the point of contact for Fulbrighters coming to UTEP from overseas, please see below for some general guidance.

Definition of Fulbright Scholar

Fulbright Scholars are individuals affiliated with an overseas university who have earned a terminal degree in their field and wish to conduct research in the U.S. via this program.

If you have been contacted by a postdoc or faculty member from an overseas university who wishes to conduct research at UTEP, it is important to know the following:

  • The decision to host a Fulbright Scholar is entirely at the discretion of the academic department at UTEP. 
  • Fulbright Scholars are like any other visiting researcher with a terminal degree EXCEPT for the fact that a third party will be managing their visa (IIE, AMIDEAST, Laspau, etc.). Therefore, UTEP’s Office of International Programs will NOT have access to the student’s visa information.
  • Before making the commitment to host a Fulbright Scholar, academic departments should establish a vetting process that includes an interview with the department chair and relevant faculty.
  • If the academic department decides to host a Fulbrighter Scholar, it will need to provide them with a letter of invitation signed by the department chair.
  • Several months prior to their departure, the Fulbright Scholar will present the academic department with an institutional response form. This is ostensibly a contract between the Scholar and the department specifying what resources will be available to them. 
  • IMPORTANT! IIE, Laspau, Amideast, or whichever third party is assisting the Scholar on Fulbright’s behalf will manage all things related to their visa. Your department will be their point of contact at UTEP, not the Office of International Programs.

Hosting a Fulbright Student

Please note that the Office of Student Fellowships and Awards works exclusively with UTEP students applying to study, teach, or conduct research abroad via the Fulbright Program. While we are not the point of contact for Fulbrighters coming to UTEP from overseas, please see below for some general guidance. 

Definition of Fulbright Student

Fulbright Students are individuals who have applied for or received a Fulbright award and hope to undertake graduate study or mentored research at UTEP.  

First,  determine whether the prospective Fulbright Student plans to matriculate in a Master’s or PhD program OR whether the prospective Fulbrighter wishes to conduct research for an academic year or less. It is crucial that you have this information before reviewing the guidance below.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY A PROSPECTIVE FULBRIGHT STUDENT WHO WISHES TO MATRICULATE IN A UTEP MASTER’S OR PHD PROGRAM:

  • The decision to admit a prospective Fulbright student is entirely at the discretion of the academic department/graduate program.
  • Any supporting documentation required by the Fulbright, such as a letter of invitation or an institutional response form, will be provided by the academic department/graduate program.
  • The Fulbrighter will be treated like any other prospective graduate student EXCEPT for the fact that a third party will be managing their visa (IIE, AMIDEAST, Laspau, etc.). Therefore, UTEP’s Office of International Programs will NOT have access to the student’s visa information.
  • Incoming Fulbrighters do not receive any sort of preferential treatment. The graduate program reviews their application and renders a decision just like it would for any other international applicant.

IF YOU’VE BEEN CONTACTED BY AN INCOMING FULBRIGHT GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHER WHO WISHES TO USE THEIR FULBRIGHT AWARD TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AT UTEP FOR AN ACADEMIC YEAR OR LESS:

  • The decision to host a visiting Fulbright graduate student researcher is entirely at the discretion of the academic department.
  • The Fulbright graduate student researcher will be treated like any other visiting researcher EXCEPT for the fact that a third party will be managing their visa (IIE, AMIDEAST, Laspau, etc.). Therefore, UTEP’s Office of International Programs will NOT have access to the student’s visa information.
  • Before making the commitment to host a Fulbright graduate student researcher, academic departments should establish a vetting process that includes an interview with the department chair and relevant faculty.
  • If the academic department decides to host a Fulbright graduate student researcher, it will need to provide them with a letter of invitation signed by the department chair.
  • Several months prior to their departure, the Fulbright graduate student researcher will present academic department with an institutional response form. This is ostensibly a contract between the graduate student researcher and the academic department specifying what resources will be available to them.
  • IMPORTANT! IIE, Laspau, Amideast, or whichever third party is assisting the graduate student researcher on Fulbright’s behalf will manage all things related to their visa. Your department will be their point of contact at UTEP, not the Office of International Programs.