FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about
Fulbright Fellowships for Israeli Citizens
I hold dual citizenship - both Israeli and American. Am I eligible to apply for a Fulbright award?
No. Only Israeli citizens are eligible to apply. Israeli citizens holding citizenship of another country other than the U.S. in addition to Israel are eligible to apply.
How do I apply for an award?
You should read the Instructions and Information and use the Application Form attached. Applications which are not submitted on the form provided cannot be considered.
Are Fulbright grants available for Master's/ Bachelor's studies in the U.S.?
Fulbright grants are not available for undergraduate studies in the U.S. USIEF offers a Master's degree program, which is open to candidates in all disciplines, except business administration and fields in which clinical contact with patients is required.
Are Fulbright grants available for attending conferences, seminars and paper presentations in the U.S. and other countries?
Fulbright grants are not awarded for these purposes.
Can I avail myself of a Fulbright award for a project that I want to work on in Israel?
No. Fulbright awards are for study/research in the United States only.
Do I have to be in a certain field of study to qualify for applying for a Fulbright Scholarship?
Except in the case of specially designated partnership grants, applicants from all fields, other than clinical disciplines, may apply for both doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships. Medical doctors and dentists may apply for post-doctoral grants in support of research projects (clinical internships are not eligible for support). USIEF does not provide support for studies leading to the receipt of degrees in medicine or dentistry.
The USIEF Master's degree program is open to candidates from all disciplines, except clinical disciplines and business administration.
I am a qualified medical doctor. May I apply for the post-doctoral program?
Yes, if you intend to carry out research in the United States. Post-doctoral Fellowships are not available to support clinical internships.
I am already enrolled in a program in the U.S. May I apply for a Fulbright award to complete my program?
No. Fulbright awards are granted to applicants who have not commenced their programs in the U.S.
Can I apply for more that one Fulbright award category?
No. You should apply for only one grant. Applying for more than one award will not increase your chances of receiving a grant.
Will receipt of my application and letters of recommendation be acknowledged?
No. Applicants should check with the Foundation to ensure that all documentation regarding their application has been received.
Will I be at a disadvantage if I have studied previously in the United States?
Yes. While applicants who have had a previous U.S. experience may receive awards, preference will be given to applicants without such experience.
What grades are required to meet the criteria of the Fulbright award?
A mininum grade point average is required of candidates for the Master's degree program. In the doctoral and post-doctoral programs, no minimum grade point average is fixed by the Foundation. However, there are many applicants for each fellowship available, and thus candidates who do not have very high averages will be at a disadvantage.
May my spouse apply for a Fulbright grant at the same time that I apply?
Yes.
I have been awarded another grant(s) to study/conduct research in the United States. Am I eligible to apply for a Fulbright award?
Yes, recipients of other grants are eligible for Fulbright awards. Applicants, however, are encouraged to check with their U.S. universities/institutions/or other grant sources to ascertain if the Fulbright award will be deducted from their funding.
I have not been accepted at an American university yet. Should I still apply?
Yes. Most applicants have not been accepted at universities at the time of application. If you are interviewed and are successful, you will be offered an award on condition that you are accepted at an accredited institution in the United States.
Who is on the selection panel?
The selection panel is made up of Foundation Board Members and academic reviewers.
I am not able to be present at the interview. Can I be interviewed on the telephone and will my application still be considered?
No. Applicants are required to be present at the interview.
How soon after the interview will I hear the result?
Within one week.
Can the award be postponed until the following year?
No. Fulbright awards cannot be deferred until the following academic year.
Can you tell me why I was not selected?
No. Each year the number of well-qualified applicants exceeds the awards available. Final selection and the selection are determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the United States-Israel Educational Foundation.
Can I commence my Fulbright award prior to June 1 of the year the award is made?
No. Candidates must have received the approval of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB) in the United States before commencing their program, which generally makes its decisions in late May.
Is my spouse permitted to work or study during my grant period?
Yes. A J-2 accompanying dependent of a J-1 exchange visitor may request permission to work after arrival in the United States from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The accompanying spouse can study and hold an F-1 or J-1 visa.
Must I return to Israel after completing my degree/program in the United States?
Yes. Both the Fulbright Program regulations and the U.S. immigration regulations require foreign exchange students/scholars to return to their home country upon completion of their programs or the expiration of their awards.