Fulbright Scholar 2020-2021 Program Announcement

The COVID-19 global pandemic has created extraordinary circumstances around the world and enormous challenges for the Fulbright Program. As sponsors of the Fulbright Program, the United States Department of State’s highest priority is the health and safety of all participants. Please know that our goal is to work flexibly with you to ensure you can have a safe and successful overseas experience.
 
As you may be aware, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State issued a global Level 4 Travel Advisory on March 19, which advised U.S. citizens to avoid international travel. Current U.S. Fulbrighters were directed and assisted to return to the United States at that time. Additional information about the U.S. Department of State policy and plans related to the COVID-19 virus can be found online.
 
It is not clear at this time when the State Department travel advisory will be reduced. This is an essential requirement for the resumption of travel for U.S. Fulbright participants. There is also uncertainty about the potential for a resurgence of the virus in the fall. Fulbright acts in partnership with educational systems in the United States and around the world, many of which are also in flux and may not open their physical facilities on a normal schedule this fall.
 
Therefore, ECA will delay the start date of the 2020-2021 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Programs until after January 1, 2021 to give selected candidates, host institutions, and program partners worldwide as much information as possible in order to plan for the coming academic year. This revised January start date assumes that the travel warning level has been reduced by that time. We regret that, for many participants, the total duration of your Fulbright grant may be shorter than anticipated.
 
If the travel and health warnings for each country are reduced to a level that permits exchanges to take place, U.S. Fulbrighters will be able to begin their exchanges after January 1, 2021, with exact start and end dates to be agreed in advance with the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section in the host country.
 
Please be aware that we will not approve departure on a U.S. Fulbright exchange to countries where a Level 3 or higher State Department Travel Advisory or CDC Level 3 Warning is in place at the proposed time of departure. All U.S. Fulbrighters must also follow their host country’s travel guidance and instructions.
 
We are committed to moving forward with the Fulbright Program to the full extent possible. At the same time, it is too soon to know what the specific parameters of the program will look like during the coming academic year, and whether every country overseas will be able to move forward with programming starting after January 2021.
 
We sincerely hope that you will still be able to take part in the Fulbright Program with this timeline change. Please note that the Fulbright Program policies do not permit the grant to be postponed to the subsequent academic year.
 
IIE or the Fulbright Commission in your host country will keep you updated with more specific information as it relates to your host country and the corresponding timeline in the coming weeks. In addition, we will be updating the Fulbright Scholar websites with any developments in response to this evolving situation.
 
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and flexibility. We look forward to continuing to work with you as you embark on your Fulbright experience.