The Fulbright Program at St. Ambrose University

Advisor: Professor of English, Dr. Barbara Pitz

Is there a Fulbright in your future?
St. Ambrose students who would like to pursue a year of post-graduate study overseas, or those who would like to teach English as a second language in another country, may find opportunities available to them in the US Student Fulbright Program.

The Fulbright program’s mission is to “foster mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchanges.” It began as an alternative to armed conflict, and it continues to provide America’s future leaders with the skills they need for the developing global environment.  Most former grantees say that their experience enriched and changed their lives.

Are St. Ambrose students able to compete successfully with larger schools for these awards?

Yes! 

Lacey Jacobs '04 studied advertising in Germany.

Anna Anderson '05 was an English teaching assistant in South Korea. Read her story.                  

Travis Leggett '06 was a teaching assistant in Austria while studying World History and European Studies at the University of Vienna.    

Jenna Stevens '08 was awarded a scholarship to teach ESL in South Korea.  Read her story.

Samantha Lee '09 will study user comfort with identification and tracking methods of AIDS patients in Trinidad and Tobago. 
 

What types of student grants are available?
You can apply for a one-year graduate study grant in one of over 140 countries for:

·         Courses at the host country’s universities

·         Independent library or field research

·         Classes in a music conservatory or art school,

·         Special projects in the social or life sciences,

·         Positions teaching English as a foreign language (available in 32 countries).  In addition, special opportunities in Mexico and Spain are available for Business students, and 47 countries welcome applications in the creative and performing arts as well as in creative writing and journalism.  Finally, some countries provide additional opportunities for language training.

Am I eligible to apply?
If you are a U.S. citizen, will have an undergraduate degree by the start of the award, are in good health, and have a real interest in another culture, then you are eligible to apply. There are grants for any major.

Do I need to know the language of the host country? 
Some awards require that you have a reasonable knowledge of the language to study in the host country, but many do not. Some ask that you know only enough of the language to communicate with the people in the country, but some will also provide a way for you to learn the basics of the language. Many have no language requirements.

What does the grant consist of?
Most are full grants. That means they provide round-trip transportation, language/orientation courses where appropriate, living expenses and maintenance, and generally tuition forgiveness for one academic year. They also provide supplemental health and accident insurance.

When is this year's application deadline?

The SAU application deadline is September 28, 2009.

When are new award opportunities announced?
New award opportunities are announced on May 1, 2010 for the 2011-12 academic year. 

What steps do I need to take to apply?

·         Look over the list of new awards as soon as possible after May 1^st. These are available from the St. Ambrose Fulbright Program Advisor, Dr. Barbara Pitz, in Ambrose Hall 319. You can make an appointment at 333-6391 or at PitzBarbaraA@sau.edu.

·         Discover more about Fulbright at http://www.fulbrightonline.org  Look for "Student Programs."  Decide where your interests best fit the awards that are offered. You might want to see the application so that you know what you will need to do to apply. This is available at:  http://us.fulbrightonline.org/forms.html  You can also take a look at various Fulbright multimedia resources.  

·         You might also explore the websites for the host countries that have Fulbright Commissions. These are available in the country’s award announcement.

·         Think further about what you want to study and why you want to study in a particular country.  Take a look at this website for personal testimonials from previous Fulbright recipients.

·         Consider attending a teleconference in Chicago hosted by the Institute of International Education, the group that recommends Fulbright applicants. While this step is not necessary, many of your questions can be answered there.

·         Work with the SAU Fulbright Program Advisor to further define your goals, expectations, and contributions to the host country.

·         Apply on-line when you think your application is complete and ready to be submitted.

After you have applied, you will meet with a small committee of SAU faculty, often including your advisor, who will discuss with you your goals and help you explore your suitability for living and studying in the host country. Their recommendation is passed along to the Institute of International Education as part of your application.