Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
About the Program
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers over 400 awards in more than 135 countries for U.S. citizens to teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects around the world.
College and university faculty, as well as artists and professionals from a wide range of fields can join over 400,000 Fulbrighters who have come away with enhanced skills, new connections, and greater mutual understanding.
There are many types of Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards, including:
- Fulbright Scholar Awards
- Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Awards
- Fulbright Postdoctoral Awards
- Fulbright International Education Administrator Awards
Awards are available for scholars with a variety of academic interests, experience levels, and career profiles. Opportunities range from a few months to a full year. Interested faculty and staff should explore the awards to determine which award is right for them.
Apply for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
Competition for the 2026-2027 academic year is now open. The deadline to apply to U.S. Scholar awards is September 15, 2025 (5:00 pm Eastern).
About the 2026-2027 Competition
The deadline to apply to U.S. Scholar awards is September 15, 2025 (5:00 pm Eastern (UTC -5:00)). The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is offering more than 380 awards in more than 130 countries this year. Visit fulbrightscholars.org/us-scholar-awards for more information.
If you are interested in learning more about the program and/or applying to the U.S. Scholar Program, we encourage you to:
- Schedule a meeting with Penn’s Fulbright U.S. Scholar Liaison, Scott Moore (see below for contact information)
- Watch Fulbright’s Recorded Webinar, which offers a sneak peek into the 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Competition
- Join one of the upcoming Fulbright webinars
- Ask questions during Fulbright’s interactive office hours
We also encourage you to share these opportunities with your faculty, staff and administrators who would make great Fulbrighters, and refer them to the program.
Scott Moore
Contact Penn’s Fulbright U.S. Scholar Liaison
If you are a Penn faculty or staff member interested in applying to the Fulbright U.S. scholar program, contact Scott Moore, Penn’s Fulbright U.S. Scholar Liaison, to schedule a meeting.
Program Resources
Program Award Search
To search all awards (by region, country, discipline, type, length, and other criteria visit the Fulbright Scholar Program Award Search page.
Fulbright Scholar Directory
Search the complete Fulbright Scholar Directory to see all past awardees.
Fulbright Events
Attending one or more of the Fulbright events is strongly recommended to anyone considering applying to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. For information about upcoming events and webinars, visit the Fulbright Events page.
Tax Information
For tax information for Fulbright grants, visit the IRS Fulbright Grants resource page.
Speak to
Program Alumni at Penn
Penn faculty members interested in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program may wish to speak to other Penn faculty members about their experiences. Former scholars are an excellent resource for current and potential applicants. The following Penn faculty members are past Fulbright U.S. Scholars who would be happy to speak to you.
Sunday Akintoye
Associate Professor, School of Dental Medicine
Email: akintoye@upenn.edu
Lisa Mitchell
Associate Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
Email: lmitch@sas.upenn.edu