Fulbright: Faculty Opportunities

International Exchange with Fulbright

Fulbright provides faculty opportunities to engage in international exchange through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, Fulbright U.S. Specialist Program, and Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program.

Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The Fulbright Program awards approximately 8,000 grants annually. Roughly 1,600 U.S. students, 4,000 foreign students, 1,200 U.S. scholars, and 900 visiting scholars receive awards, in addition to several hundred teachers and professionals. Approximately 370,000 "Fulbrighters" have participated in the Program since its inception in 1946.

UNT has produced over 35 UNT Fulbright Scholars since 2005 and hosted several visiting Fulbright Scholars at UNT.

Share your Fulbright Experience! 

Contact UNT’s Fulbright Scholar Liaison or UNT’s Faculty Associate for Fulbright Programs to receive more information about Fulbright and assistance with your application.

Opportunities for Teaching, Research, and/or Teaching and Research Abroad

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers approximately 800 awards for U.S. faculty to undertake teaching, research, a combination of teaching/research, or other professional projects and seminars in 135+ countries. The grant duration varies from 2 to 12 months based on the specific award.

Award types include:

  • Core: Comprises the majority of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program with awards for applicants at all career-levels
  • Postdoctoral/Early Career: Provides opportunities for applicants who have received their PhD within the last five years
  • Distinguished Scholar: Provides opportunities for applicants who have seven or more years of professional experience
  • Global/Multi-country: Enables applicants to engage in multi-country, trans-regional projects
  • Public Policy Fellowship: Provides early and mid-career professionals and practitioners in the public policy field to serve in professional placements in a foreign government ministry or institution
  • International Education Administrators: Offers a two-week seminar for individuals working in international education and senior higher education officials (application deadline varies by country)

Individuals must be U.S. citizens at the time of application. 

Opportunities for Project-Based Engagement

The Fulbright U.S. Specialist Program supports short-term projects with host institutions abroad. The program pairs highly qualified U.S. faculty and professionals with host institutions abroad to share their expertise, strengthen institutional linkages, hone their skills, gain international experience, and learn about other cultures while building capacity at their overseas host institutions. The grant duration is between 2 to 6 weeks.

Examples of Projects include:

  • Delivering a seminar or workshop
  • Consulting on faculty or workforce development
  • Developing academic or training curricula and materials
  • Lecturing at the graduate or undergraduate level
  • Conducting needs assessments or evaluations for a program or institution

Individuals must be U.S. citizens at the time of application. U.S. faculty apply to join the Fulbright Specialist Roster. If the panel approves the applicant, the U.S. faculty is placed on the Fulbright Specialist Roster for a three-year tenure as a Fulbright Specialist Candidate. The Fulbright Specialist Roster has multiple application deadlines each year.

The host institution submits a project proposal for approval. Approved project proposals are matched with appropriate Fulbright Specialist Candidates.

Opportunities for Hosting Visiting Scholars

The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program provides grants to scholars from selected countries to conduct research, lecture, or pursue combined research and lecturing in the U.S. There are around 900 faculty and professionals from more than 155 countries who participate in the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program each year. Scholars apply directly for a Fulbright award. The U.S. university provides a letter of invitation as part of the scholar’s application.

The Outreach Lecturing Fund allows a U.S. university to host a Fulbright Visiting Scholar who is already in the U.S. for a short-term stay of 2-6 days. The Fulbright Visiting Scholar participates in lectureships focused on their academic discipline and cultural understanding. Fulbright covers the roundtrip airfare for the visiting scholars while the U.S. university generally covers accommodations and meals. The U.S. University applies to host a Fulbright Visiting Scholar.