The US-UK Fulbright Commission is an organisation dedicated to fostering research connections between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Every year they offer postgraduate scholarships to talented British students to help them study at an American university (and vice versa).
A Fulbright Postgraduate Award offers the following benefits:
- A contribution towards your tuition fees (this could cover the first year of fees or fully-fund the entire degree, depending on the award and institution)
- Health insurance cover
- Visa sponsorship
Fulbright Scholars will also gain valuable networking opportunities through a global alumni organisation, as well as support during their studies from the Institute of International Education (IIE).
There are a range of Fulbright Postgraduate Awards available, with some providing a fully-funded PhD degree and others only offering a one-year tuition fee waiver. You can check out the Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarships on their website.
Eligibility for Fulbright Postgraduate Awards
The main eligibility requirement for a US-UK Fulbright Award is, unsurprisingly, that you must be a British citizen. However, if you’re a foreign national settled in the UK you may also be able to apply.
You’ll also need an undergraduate result of at least a 2.1 (although a 2.2 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis).
As the primary goal of the US-UK Fulbright Commission is to foster new connections between the countries, the ideal candidate won’t have spent more than six months in the United States already.
Applying for a Fulbright Postgraduate Award
The application process for a Fulbright Award usually opens in August, with a deadline in early November.
You’ll need to make an online application with the following documents/details:
- Academic transcripts
- CV
- Passport photo
- Personal statement
- References
- Research objectives
You’ll also need to complete a separate application to the university you want to do your PhD at.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview in the following February.
Other Fulbright PhD scholarships
The above information focuses on the US-UK Fulbright Commission, which is part of a much larger network of organisations devoted to helping talented international students attend American universities.
Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Fellowships, for example, offer Indian students the chance to complete a funded research placement (six to nine months) in the USA.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program provides Nigerian doctoral students with the opportunity to conduct PhD research in the United States.
Fulbright Germany’s Doktorand:innenprogramm (PhD student programme) is a similar scheme to help German researchers complete work in the USA.
You can view Fulbright programmes by country on the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs website.
Federal Student Aid for US students
If you’re a US citizen, you may be able to receive financial aid from the government to help fund your studies. Generally, international students are not eligible to apply except in very specific circ*mstances.
You’ll also need to have financial need, but there is no income cut-off to qualify for financial aid. Rather, there are several factors considered when assessing your application.
Unlike undergraduate students, Masters and PhD applicants are considered independent for financial aid purposes, meaning only your own income and assets are taken into account, as opposed to your parents’.
The types of federal aid available for postgraduate students include:
#1 Federal loans
Loans available for Masters students include Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans.
For Direct Unsubsidized Loans, your university determines how much money you’re eligible to receive, up to an upper limit that depends on your personal circ*mstances. Find out more about Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits. Interest rates are currently set at 7.05% for the 2023-24 year.
Direct PLUS Loans don’t award a set amount. Instead, you can borrow up to the full cost of your Masters programme, minus any other forms of financial support you are receiving for it. Interest rates are set at 8.05% for the 2023-24 year.
To apply, you’ll need to be studying a course at 50% intensity or more (part-time programmes are eligible for direct plus loans, provided you study on a ‘half-time’ basis or greater). You’ll also need a good credit history to apply a Direct PLUS loan. You won’t normally be able to receive a Direct PLUS Loan if you have a record of credit default or overdue debt for existing loans. In some cases, a parent or other US citizen may endorse your application as a guarantor.
As a Masters student you won’t repay your loan until six months after you cease to be enrolled on your course. Note that this repayment period will normally still come into effect if you exit your graduate programme early.
Actual repayment plans vary, but you can view a set of guides from the US Department of Education.
#2 Work-study
Federal work study provides part-time jobs for US students who have financial need, to help them cover their living costs and tuition fees.
Roles can be on or off campus, and where possible related to your field of study. Off-campus jobs are generally for nonprofit organisations or public agencies, and must be performed in the public interest.
Postgraduate students may be paid by the hour or by salary, depending on the type of role performed. How many hours you’re allowed to work will be determined by your university’s financial aid office.
Federal work-study is generally not available for international students, but there are other ways to earn money alongside your studies. We cover this in our guide to working in the USA as a student.
Applying for financial aid
To apply for financial aid, you’ll need to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Filling in the FAFSA involves creating an online account and receiving a unique FSA ID.
You should have access to the following documents and information when filling in the FAFSA:
- Your social security number
- Your driving license number (if you have one)
- Your Alien Registration Number (of you are not a US citizen)
- Tax documents or tax returns for yourself and your spouse (if married)
- Records of any untaxed income, savings, cash or investments
The FAFSA form for becomes available for course starting the following year on 1 October annually. So if you’re planning to study a Masters or PhD starting in Autumn 2024, you’ll be able to fill in the FAFSA from 1 October 2023.
The FAFSA deadline for 2023-24 is 30 June 2024.
