Applications are now open for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program’s Open Study/Research Awards for the 2026–2027 academic year. This flagship international exchange initiative by the U.S. Department of State allows American citizens to chart their own academic and research journeys at institutions across more than 140 countries worldwide. Whether your goal is graduate study, advanced research, or a blend of both, this opportunity puts you in charge of designing a meaningful, global academic experience.
What Is the Open Study/Research Award?
The Open Study/Research Award allows applicants to:
- Propose self-designed projects focused on graduate-level study or research
- Partner with foreign universities or research institutions
- Immerse themselves in global academic and cultural environments
- Build long-term professional networks and gain cross-cultural competencies
Applicants are strongly encouraged to first consult the country-specific program summaries for tailored requirements, including eligibility criteria, language proficiency, academic prerequisites, and host institution details.
Creative Arts? Journalism? Science? There’s Something for Everyone
In addition to general study/research awards, the Fulbright program also offers field-specific and country-specific awards tailored to specific disciplines and areas of study. Here’s a glimpse of the diverse options:
Arts & Humanities
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- France: Harriet Hale Woolley Awards in the Arts for visual fine arts and music students.
- Ireland: Master’s in Creative Writing at University College Cork.
- UK: LAMDA Award for Classical Acting, Trinity Laban Award for Music & Dance.
- Netherlands: Multiple awards in Dutch and Netherlandish Art, including hands-on work at the Mauritshuis Museum.
- Taiwan: Master’s in Creative Industries Design at National Cheng Kung University.
STEM & Environmental Studies
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- Austria: Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Award in Science and Technology.
- Australia: Research at Western Sydney University in environmental studies and public health.
- Chile: Science-focused research at Chilean centers under the Science Initiative Award.
- Hungary: Intensive mathematics studies at Budapest Semesters in Mathematics in collaboration with the Rényi Institute.
- Iceland: Arctic-focused research through the National Science Foundation Arctic Research Grant.
- Saudi Arabia: Fully funded STEM Master’s degrees at KAUST.
- South Korea: STEM research grants through the U.S.-Korea Presidential STEM Initiative.
- Taiwan: Awards in Global Health, Biodiversity, and Mind-Brain-Consciousness programs taught in English.
Public Policy & Business
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- Australia: Anne Wexler Scholarship in Public Policy for Master’s degrees in key areas like sustainability, energy, and governance.
- Mexico: Binational Internships for students combining business or law studies with hands-on corporate experience.
- Spain: IE Business School MBA Awards and Master’s programs in business analytics, human resources, digital marketing, and more.
Journalism & Media
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for:
- Graduating seniors
- Recent graduates
- Master’s and PhD students
- Early-career professionals
Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application and hold a bachelor’s degree before the grant begins. Applicants of all academic disciplines and backgrounds are encouraged to apply https://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/types-of-awards/study-research.
Application Deadline
The last date to submit applications for the Open Study/Research Award under the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is Tuesday, October 7, 2025, by 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
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