Discover Fulbright Opportunities: Buffett Institute for Global Affairs

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Discover Fulbright Opportunities

The Fulbright Program provides grants to thousands of students and scholars each year to travel abroad and conduct research, carry out professional projects, study, or teach.

Funded by the U.S. government, Fulbright offers international education and cultural exchange programs to foster mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and those of other nations. For 22 years, Northwestern University has been recognized as a top producer of Fulbright student awardees. Additionally, in 2023, a Northwestern graduate student and faculty member received awards under the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Explore the full directory of recipients >>

Northwestern Fulbright Week

Northwestern’s Fulbright Week (April 20–24, 2026) offers faculty, students, and staff opportunities to learn about Fulbright grants, make new connections, and increase their chances of a successful application. Fulbright Week is organized by the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs and supported by the Office of Fellowships, Office of the Provost, and Office of the Vice President for International Relations.


Fulbright ETA Information Session with Current Fulbrighter Dena Chers-Fil (Vietnam) for Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students Monday, April 20 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Online via Zoom	Interested in teaching English abroad after graduation on a Fulbright? Meet a current fellow in Vietnam and get all your questions answered! Fulbright English Teaching Assistants strengthen English-language instruction in over eighty countries worldwide. Applicants select one country of application. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university language departments. Some countries require host country language skills; others do not. Awards are an academic year in length. REGISTER
Fulbright ETA Information Session with Current Fulbrighter Breanna Hibbert (Spain) for Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students Monday, April 20 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Online via Zoom	Meet a current fellow in Spain and get all your questions answered! Fulbright English Teaching Assistants strengthen English-language instruction in over eighty countries worldwide. Applicants select one country of application. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university language departments. Some countries require host country language skills; others do not. Awards are an academic year in length. REGISTER
Fulbright Week Keynote & Reception with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins for Northwestern community and general public Monday, April 20 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. Reception to follow Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs 720 University Place Second Floor Evanston, IL	Join the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs and the School of Communication for Northwestern University’s 2026 Fulbright Week Keynote with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Professor in the Practice of Theater and Performance Studies at Yale University. In conversation with the School of Communication’s Dean E. Patrick Johnson, Jacobs-Jenkins will discuss the global experiences that informed his bold, genre-defying plays. In particular, Jacobs-Jenkins will share how his Fulbright experience in Berlin provided the distance to rethink home, history, and heritage—ultimately influencing works that examine race, family, and national identity. Together, they’ll explore how cultural exchange fuels artistic innovation and how encountering new perspectives can transform both identity and craft. Conversation \| 4:30–5:45 p.m. Reception \| 5:45–7:00 p.m. Following the keynote, join us for a reception to connect with fellow Fulbright grantees and advocates across campus. REGISTER
Fulbright ETA Information Session with Current Fulbrighter Tomas Gordo-Churchill (Morocco) for Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students Tuesday, April 21 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Online via Zoom	Meet a current fellow in Morocco and get all your questions answered! Fulbright English Teaching Assistants strengthen English-language instruction in over eighty countries worldwide. Applicants select one country of application. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university language departments. Some countries require host country language skills; others do not. Awards are an academic year in length. REGISTER
Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Information Meeting for Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students Tuesday, April 21 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Online via Zoom	Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project. REGISTER
Fulbright ETA Information Session with Current Fulbrighter Helen Zhu (Taiwan) for Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students Wednesday, April 22 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Online via Zoom	Meet a current fellow in Taiwan and get all your questions answered! Fulbright English Teaching Assistants strengthen English-language instruction in over eighty countries worldwide. Applicants select one country of application. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university language departments. Some countries require host country language skills; others do not. Awards are an academic year in length. REGISTER
Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Information Meeting for Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students Wednesday, April 22 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. 1940 Sheridan Road Conference Room Evanston, IL	Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project. REGISTER
Fulbright ETA Information Session with Current Fulbrighters Alena Haney & Mariam Adesiji (Colombia) for Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students Thursday, April 23 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Online via Zoom	Meet two current fellows in Colombia and get all your questions answered! Fulbright English Teaching Assistants strengthen English-language instruction in over eighty countries worldwide. Applicants select one country of application. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university language departments. Some countries require host country language skills; others do not. Awards are an academic year in length. REGISTER
Staff can be Fulbrighters, too: International Education Administrator (IEA) Seminars for Northwestern staff Thursday, April 23 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Online via Zoom	Join this online information session about IEA seminars. These 2-week programs for international education staff and administrators take place in various countries around the world. We will highlight details of the program, the experiences of previous participants, and tips and factors to consider when applying. REGISTER
Fulbright ETA Information Session with Current Fulbrighter Divya Gupta (Spain) for Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students Friday, April 24 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Online via Zoom	Meet a current fellow in Spain and get all your questions answered! Fulbright English Teaching Assistants strengthen English-language instruction in over eighty countries worldwide. Applicants select one country of application. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university language departments. Some countries require host country language skills; others do not. Awards are an academic year in length. REGISTER
Application Workshop: Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Awards for Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students Friday, April 24 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. 1940 Sheridan Road Conference Room Evanston, IL	Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project. REGISTER
Northwestern's Fulbright Alumni & Student Meet-and-Greet for current Fulbright students and Fulbright alumni Friday, April 24 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. 720 University Place Second Floor Evanston, IL	Northwestern is proud to host an intentional collaboration with the Fulbright Chicago Association (FCA) for a special afternoon of community-building. This event is designed to introduce the NU community to the FCA’s local network, specifically targeting current Fulbright students and alumni looking to stay engaged with the mission of international exchange. Join us for snacks, beverages, and a presentation of resources. The FCA is the local chapter of the Fulbright Association, a non-profit organization of Fulbright alumni and supporters. It serves the Chicagoland area by providing a hub for professional networking, cultural enrichment, and community service, ensuring the Fulbright experience continues long after the grant period ends. REGISTER
IIE Advising Session for Faculty Applicants for Northwestern faculty Tuesday, April 28 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Online via Zoom	The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program gives opportunities to U.S. citizens to teach, research, and carry out professional projects around the world, offering more than 400 awards annually in over 135 countries. The Institute of International Education (IIE) invites Northwestern prospective faculty applicants to an information session that will provide an overview of award options, eligibility requirements, and the application process as well as the opportunity to ask questions live to IIE staff. Come prepared with your questions or simply listen along to learn from the conversation. REGISTER

Northwestern Faculty and Administrators

The Roberta Buffett Institute serves as the Northwestern's Fulbright Scholar Liaison, facilitating increased participation in the Fulbright Scholar Program via institutional level support and peer-to-peer engagement.

Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers over 800 awards in more than 135 countries for U.S. citizens to teach, conduct research, and carry out professional projects around the world.

The Pre-Application Travel Grant for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offered by the Roberta Buffett Institute provides Northwestern faculty members funding to visit international partners and collaborators abroad in advance of applying for a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Award. The deadline to apply for this grant from Buffett is March 15.

Potential applicants to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program are encouraged to review Fulbright applicant resources.

Fulbright Specialist Program

The Fulbright Specialist Program is an opportunity for U.S. academics and established professionals to engage in two- to six-week project-based exchanges at host institutions across the globe. For questions, please contact Meghan Ozaroski.

Fulbright International Education Administrators Program

The International Education Administrators (IEA) seminars program helps international education professionals and senior higher education officials from the United States create empowering connections with the societal, cultural and higher education systems of other countries. Please contact Kim Rapp, Assistant Vice President for International Relations, for more information including assistance with the IEA application.

International Scholars

Northwestern faculty and departments that want to host an international scholar through Fulbright should look into the following programs.

Fulbright Visiting Scholars

The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program provides grants to approximately 850 foreign scholars from over 100 countries to conduct post-doctoral research at U.S. institutions. These relationships between Northwestern faculty hosts and visiting scholars are typically organically developed and managed by Northwestern faculty's home department. The Roberta Buffett Institute serves as an Administrative Official for the program and offers guidance to faculty who wish to host Fulbright visiting scholars. Please contact Meghan Ozaroski for more information or assistance with completing the Institutional Reply Form.

Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program

The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program allows institutions to host a scholar from outside of the U.S. for a semester or full academic year to teach courses, assist in curriculum development, guest lecture, develop study abroad and/or exchange partnerships, and engage with local communities. This institutionally driven program accepts a maximum of one application per university in non-consecutive years. The Roberta Buffett Institute will send out a call when the application opens in a given academic year. Fulbright typically issues its call for applications approximately 15 months before the anticipated start of the grant, with deadlines 11–12 months ahead of a grant’s start date.

Fulbright Outreach Lecturing Fund

The Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF) provides funding for campuses to host Fulbright Visiting Scholars, already in the United States, for short-term speaking engagements. The OLF award is designed to enrich both institutions and Visiting Scholars through lectures that will promote academic disciplines and cultural understanding. For questions, please contact Meghan Ozaroski.

Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program

Learn more

For more information, contact Meghan Ozaroski.

U.S. Students

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers students and recent alumni the opportunity to research, study or teach English abroad and is open to students of all disciplines.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Learn more

Northwestern’s Office of Fellowships assists Northwestern students and alumni through the Fulbright application process. Contact Steve Hill if you are interested in applying for a Fulbright award to fund your research, study or a project in the creative or performing arts. Contact Amy Kehoe if you are interested in teaching English abroad. Undergraduates may schedule appointments with Steve and Amy through ConnectNU.

International Students

Northwestern hosts numerous Fulbright student grantees each year. International students who are interested in pursuing a Fulbright opportunity at Northwestern should explore opportunities available to individuals from their home countries through the program below.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Learn more

Fulbright international students who are already on campus, or who have been accepted to participate in their program, may contact their Fulbright adviser or Ryan Radebaugh in Northwestern's Office for International Student and Scholar Services (OISS) for assistance.