Applications Open for Australian-American Fulbright Commission Scholarship 2019

Deadline: 15 July 2019

The Australian-American Fulbright Commission offers scholarships to Australian citizens across all career stages. Awardees take part in an academic and cultural exchange, pursuing research or study at a U.S. institution, experiencing life abroad and bringing back their knowledge and experience to share with their communities in Australia.

The Australian-American Fulbright Commission promotes education and cultural exchange between Australia and the United States in order to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen relations between the two countries. The Commission facilitates this through the implementation of the Fulbright program and other scholarships and exchanges.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for a Fulbright scholarship through the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, applicants must meet and/or be aware of the following requirements:

Citizenship
- Applicants must be an Australian citizen (by birth or naturalisation)
- Applicants can not hold dual US-Australian citizenship or U.S. permanent residency (Green Card)
- Applicants must residing in Australia at the time of application (exceptions: applicants serving overseas in the Armed Forces, Australian diplomats posted overseas) Applicants who are on vacation/work commitments at the time of application may still apply.
Visas
- Fulbright Scholars must travel on a valid Australian passport
- Fulbright scholarships are contingent upon the candidate’s ability to secure and travel to the U.S. on an Exchange Visitor non-immigrant visa (J-1 visa) (administered and sponsored by the Commission) inclusive of medical clearance and security processes.
- The J-1 visa carries a 2 year home-residency requirement (clause 212e), meaning recipients must return to Australia for a cumulative total of two years at the end of their program before becoming eligible to apply to live/work in the United States. Clause 212e is in keeping with the exchange nature of the Fulbright program and encourages recipients to return to Australia to share their knowledge and experiences. J1 recipients will not be prohibited from travelling to the U.S. for short-term visits on the visa waiver program, or on a non-immigrant visa. Clause 212e does not prohibit scholars from gaining residency or work visas in other countries (e.g. the United Kingdom).
- If applicants have previously held a J-1 visa and subsequent DS-2019, please upload it with their application. Please be aware that if clause 212e or the 24-month bar is in effect from a previous J-1, applicants will be unable to accept the Fulbright award, should it be offered to applicant, within the 24-month/212e period. Scholarships cannot be deferred until the 24-month/212e period has passed.
Engagement
- Applicants must not have already commenced studies/research in the U.S.
- Australian scholars can start their programs from July 2020, but must finish their program by June 30, 2021. Australian degree-seeking students must start their program in the U.S. 2020 fall (July/August session). Partial degree-seeking students (e.g. only 1-2 semesters of an Australian masters) can begin in either 2020 fall or 2021 spring sessions.
- Applicants must secure placement with a primary U.S. host institution at the time of application (please note, this is not a requirement for Postgraduate degree-seeking students). Scholarships are conditional on acceptance to an approved institution for the allocated period of research or course of study.
- Applicants must not hold another major grant (during the Fulbright program) if it duplicates funding received from Fulbright. Funding/grants must be declared at the time of application and/or award acceptance, and are subject to approval.
- Fulbright scholarships cannot be deferred.
- Medical professionals can apply for a Fulbright Scholarship to undertake medical research, but such research should not be directly involved with clinical practice.
- Recipients should plan to be in Australia to attend the Fulbright Orientation Program and Gala Presentation Dinner, which runs late February/ early March annually.
Qualifications
- Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree or equivalent at the time of application. Postgraduate applicants in the final semester of their undergraduate degree will also be eligible (pending good academic standing). Postdoctoral candidates will also be considered if they can provide a letter from their adviser that outlines that their PhD will be conferred prior to July 1 2020.
- For undergraduate students yet to graduate – please upload a university transcript of their academic performance to date showing their credit points obtained. Please note this must be accompanied by a signed letter from their university stating applicant are on track to graduate in the year of application.
- Postgraduate and Anne Wexler applicants will be required to pass GRE testing, dependent on host institution requirements. Successful applicants will be provided with a voucher to cover the costs of testing.
- Applicants whose primary language is not English may be required to provide language proficiency test results at the time of application.