The University of Washington is one of the nation’s top producers of Fullbright scholars. According to a list released by the Chronicle of Higher Education, ten students from UW—including undergraduate, graduate, and recent alumni—were awarded Fullbright grants for 2015-16.
The Fullbright Program is operated by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It’s the government’s first international educational exchange program, and since its inception in 1946, it has provided more than 360,000 participants an opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. In the past ten years, the number of applicants has nearly doubled to more than 10,000 each year.
The Program awards approximately 8,000 grants annually to students, professors, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, and independent scholars. It’s funded through an annual appropriation from Congress, and its goal is to fund individuals who teach and/or conduct research in international locations about international concerns. The Program is seen as an excellent opportunity for students to add international experience to their resume.
The University of Washington was one of several dozen research institutions that produced the highest number of Fullbright students for the 2015-2016 year. The UW tied for #15 alongside George Washington University, Penn State University, Stanford University, and the University of Louisville. Harvard University came in first on the Fullbright list with 31 scholars out of 139 applicants.
The UW press release revealed that Fullbright students have the opportunity to study, teach, or conduct research in Russia, Jordan, Brazil, Indonesia, Romania, Rwanda, Germany, Turkey, and the Philippines. A list of current Fullbright scholar profiles can be found here.
To learn more about the various scholarships, fellowships, and awards available for students studying at the University of Washington, visit the school website. There are even a multitude of fellowships, assistantships, and awards available for Graduate students.