The 2025-2026 application is now closed. The 2026-2027 competition will open in Spring 2025.

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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship

 

The Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship (Fulbright-John Lewis) honors the legacy of John Lewis, civil rights leader and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, by promoting a greater understanding of the history and tenets of nonviolent civil rights movements. This fellowship, awarded to selected Fulbright U.S. Student Program finalists, provides expanded learning opportunities to enable participants to enhance the reach and impact of their Fulbright experience, and to promote studies, research, and international exchange on nonviolent movements that establish and protect civil rights around the world.

In addition to receiving the standard Fulbright U.S. Student award benefits, Fulbright-John Lewis participants will join a global community of Fulbrighters with access to additional opportunities, such as a dedicated lecture series, leadership training, and other professional development activities, as well as a capstone seminar after the completion of their Fulbright Program. These activities are in addition to, and complement, the Fellows’ Fulbright projects. By bringing together this community of researchers before, during, and after their Fulbright experience, the Fulbright-John Lewis Fellowship will help Fulbrighters form stronger bonds with their peers, conduct more meaningful research, and promote the Fulbright Program’s goal of cross-cultural exchange and mutual understanding. Up to twenty-five individuals are expected to be selected for this fellowship.

For the 2024-25 academic year, current Fulbright U.S. Student Program Study/Research Finalists, with an academic focus in a variety of disciplines may apply for the Fulbright-John Lewis Fellowship. Interested Fulbright U.S. Student Finalists will complete a brief application and propose how their past experience and current Fulbright project relates to the Fellowship topics of nonviolent movements and civil rights across the globe, and how the Fellowship's additional opportunities will expand their research and contribute to their future engagement in the field of nonviolent movements and/or civil rights.

 

Application & Selection Process

 

Eligible candidates for the Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship are current 2024-2025 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Finalists for Study/Research Awards.

To apply for the Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship, you must be pursuing study or research related to nonviolent movements and/or civil rights during your Fulbright experience. 

Candidates may not change the nature or focus of their Fulbright grant proposal to fit the requirements of the Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship. Please only apply if your grant proposal relates to the Fellowship theme of nonviolent movements and/or civil rights.

Eligible candidates will submit by Monday, July 15, a short answer response to the following prompts:

  • How do your past experience and your current Fulbright project proposal relate to the legacy of John Lewis and the history of nonviolent movements and/or civil rights in the United States or elsewhere across the globe? Be clear and specific. (Max character count: 1500 characters)
  • How would being selected as a Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellow enhance your current Fulbright project research and contribute to your future engagement in the field of nonviolent movements and/or civil rights? (Max character count: 1500 characters)

Recipients of the fellowship will be informed after all submitted applications and essay responses have gone through a merit-based review process.

 

Fellowship Benefits

 

In addition to receiving the standard Fulbright U.S. Student Program award benefits, Fellowship recipients will join a global community of Fulbrighters with access to special opportunities and enrichment activities throughout the Fellowship period. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Fulbright-John Lewis Fellows will participate in a virtual fellowship orientation, virtual enrichment activities while on their Fulbright grants, and an in-person capstone seminar after the completion of their Fulbright Program. The goals of the Fellowship are as follows:

  • Provide Fellows with an understanding of the life and legacy of Rep. John Lewis.
  • Build a cohort of Fellows and (future) alumni who seek to make an impact (professional or academic) in the fields of civil rights, conflict resolution, peace studies and human rights. 
  • Provide professional development opportunities to support Fellows' on-grant activities and future career paths
  • Create a forum to share research with colleagues

Fellowship recipients will be given further details on these enrichment activities leading up to and during their grant period.

 

FAQ

 

Can I apply for the Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship if I am an English Teaching Assistant finalist?

The Fellowship is only available to Study/Research Award finalists whose projects are related to nonviolent movements and/or civil rights. English Teaching Assistant finalists are not eligible for consideration.

 

I am a current applicant for the 2025-2026 award cycle. How can I apply for consideration for the Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship? 

Currently, only 2024-2025 award finalists for Study/Research Awards will be considered for the Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship.

For the 2025-2026 award cycle, eligible semi-finalist candidates will be offered an opportunity to apply for consideration for the Fulbright-John Lewis Fellowship after semi-finalist notification.

For additional questions about the Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship, please contact us at fbstudent@iie.org.