The Fulbright Student/Research Program

Students are chosen based on their academic merit and leadership potential. The Fulbright Program expects their grantees to demonstrate outstanding academic performance and actively contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding as unofficial “ambassadors" of their country. Many Fulbright grantees are early-career professionals who will return to Sweden or the U.S. to assume leadership positions, often working at universities or in government service. The Swedish Fulbright Commission issues grants to outstanding Swedish and American students and scholars who embody the mission of the Fulbright program. Grants are available for graduate study/research at universities in the United States for master’s, doctoral or non-degree programs for an entire academic year. Grantees receive cash awards from the Fulbright Commission and will be eligible for additional financial aid and/or cost-sharing from U.S. universities for the academic year. The Fulbright Commission cooperates closely with the Institute of International Education (IIE), under contract of the U.S. State Department, to assist in the placement of selected candidates at U.S. universities.

In cooperation with IIE, the Fulbright Commission will apply for admission and for supplementary financial assistance at the grantees' preferred U.S. universities. Awards from institutions in the United States vary in amount, depending upon a grantee's qualifications and field of study, and there is no guarantee that every grantee will succeed in winning additional financial aid nor that all costs for the academic year will be covered. Applications will be accepted in all fields, except medicine (not including public health or medical research), dentistry, and veterinary medicine.

Note that the Fulbright program may not be appropriate for students or scholars wishing to pursue programs/projects that involve human or animal subjects. More information regarding this policy can be found here.

Note: applicants who are already enrolled in a Ph.D. program in a country outside of Sweden are not eligible.

Preference will be given to candidates who have not recently studied for an extended period of time at a university in the United States.

For field-specific information (MBA, LL.M. etc), please see the attached General Admissions Guidelines. This document provides information regarding testing and required competitive scores, necessary work experience and other important information.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applicants are encouraged to print out the following instructions and linked documents (essay tips and checklist) to complement the general online instructions. Applicants are not required to contact the Swedish Fulbright Commission before applying. The online application is best accessed via Chrome and Firefox.

⚬ Eligibility Requirements
⚬ Swedish citizenship
⚬ Fluency in English
⚬ Excellent academic record
⚬ Swedish or EU/UK university degree completed prior to departure for the U.S., not just the 
equivalent number of points

In the following cases, applicants are NOT eligible to apply for a Swedish Fulbright graduate student grant:
⚬ No Swedish or EU university degree prior to departure to the U.S. 

⚬ Dual citizenship with the U.S., a resident of the U.S., or in possession of a "green card"
⚬ Already enrolled in a U.S. graduate study program

Degree Requirements: 
Master’s degree candidates must have completed a bachelor's degree or a master's degree (or equivalent) to apply. The time required for a master’s degree is one or two academic years, so a student should expect to spend from at least one summer session to an additional academic year to complete the academic requirements. Programs for a master's degree in Law (LL.M.) are for one year. 


Visiting Student Researchers (non-degree) must be enrolled in a graduate program and intend to conduct between 6-10 months research in the U.S. Applicants at the doctoral level must be enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Sweden and have a developed Ph.D. dissertation topic.

Ph.D. degree admission is highly competitive. Candidates should have at least two academic years beyond the Master’s degree and have published work in addition to a Master's thesis. Most doctoral programs are four or five years in length and given the objectives of the Fulbright program, candidates are required to demonstrate their intent to return to Sweden.

Testing:
Finalists will be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and potentially, depending on the field of study, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Tests are not required to be taken by the time of the application; however, high test scores will strengthen the candidate’s application to the Fulbright program and increase placement opportunities at a preferred university. 
Grantees in Law will be required take the TOEFL test only. Costs for the above tests will be covered by the Fulbright Commission for selected finalists.

Curriculum Vitae (CV):
Many resources are available online and provide writing and organizing tips for academic CVs. If possible, please limit the CV to two pages. The CV should be clear and simple. Dates should be written in the American way: month, day, year (MM/DD/YYYY). The CV should be formatted to include bullets and shortened descriptions of your professional experience. Furthermore, include proper headings and titles for your academic and professional work experience. It is recommended to incorporate any published works, volunteer organizations or professional organizations the applicant is involved with, and to add other extra-curricular activities or personal interests outside of academic and professional experiences.

Application Essays (2)
The applicant will be asked to prepare a two separate essays for the application, a Study/Research Objective essay and a Personal Statement. The essays are one of the most essential and important aspects of the application. Helpful hints for writing the essays can be found here. Please do not mention specific U.S. universities at which you would like to study in your essays.

The Study/Research Objective Essay:
You should take great care to write a clear and very detailed description of the program you want to pursue. Clearly identify the area(s) within your field of study in which you want to specialize or concentrate. If there is specific research that you want to accomplish, please describe. Treat this question as if you were competing for a job or research position against hundreds of applicants. 


Personal Statement:
This is a narrative statement, written in first person, in which you can include information about your education, practical experience, special interests, career plans, and your purpose in applying for study in the U.S. It should not be a mere listing of dates and facts. It should be well organized, concise, and well-written. This exercise allows the selection committee to measure your writing skills and also provides you with an opportunity to share those personal, academic, and professional characteristics you feel important to emphasize in your application.

Reference letters: 
You must have three confidential letters of reference (recommendations) submitted on your behalf. All recommendations should be written by professors under whom you have studied or pursued research or by someone who has supervised you in work related to your proposed field of study. Letters of reference should not be written by persons related to you either by blood or marriage, or personal friends, and not by teachers from your gymnasium. 


Grant and Travel Plans:
Swedish applicants are not required to submit financial information at the time of application. However, please provide your passport and dependent information for legal spouse and/or children. Note: "sambo" relationships are not recognized as dependents under U.S. law.

Checklist: Click here for a checklist to ensure your application is complete.

Interviews and notification:
Preliminary notification of awards will be made in May. A personal interview and attendance at the orientation in Stockholm is mandatory
 for the dates listed in the program information. 


For questions regarding this program, please contact the Commission at fulbright@fulbright.se / 08 534 818 85.