Transform Your Research: Fulbright Open Study & Research Awards 2026

 

Program Details

• Program Name: Fulbright U.S. Student Program – Open Study/Research Award
• Host Countries: Approx. 140 countries worldwide; you tailor your own project with guidance from host-country academic advisers 
• Eligible Levels: Bachelor’s (final year), Master’s, or Doctoral students based in the U.S. 
• Grant Duration: Typically 9 months, starting around September 1, 2026, ending ~May 31, 2027 (e.g. Egypt awards) 
• Proposal Ownership: Applicants create their own study/research program, choosing institutions, advisers, and objectives 

 Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a U.S. citizen at the time of application (permanent residents are not eligible)
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree (or be in final year), or already be enrolled in an eligible Master’s/PhD program by start of grant period
• Proposed project should be focused, feasible within the timeframe, and ideally connected to your current academic degree/dissertation
• Language proficiency as required by host country (e.g. Arabic for Egypt awards) 
• Not be employed by the U.S. State Department, its contractors, or Fulbright Commission personnel—or immediate family—during application or grant

Benefits & Support

• Full funding: Includes tuition support (if required), research expenses, living stipend, and cultural engagement 
• Round-trip international airfare to and from host country 
• Health insurance coverage for the entire grant period 
• Cultural and professional programming to help integrate into the host community
• Lifetime membership in the Fulbright alumni network of scholars and leaders worldwide 

 How to Apply

Review host-country summaries on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website to ensure alignment with your research goals