LATEST NEWS FROM FULBRIGHT

Visit the News Archive

£100k in New Scholarship Funding for Exchanges to the United States

The US-UK Fulbright Commission opens competition for its prestigious awards for postgraduate study, research and lecturing in the US in 2011-12, with approximately £100k in new scholarship funding available.

 

This year, more outstanding British men and women will have the chance to win an award. Grants will be offered in a variety of fields and the Programme will include two new schemes the Fulbright Diabetes UK Research Award and Fulbright Scottish Studies Scholar Award.

 

For the first time an award will be available for academics interested in researching the clinical or biomedical aspects of diabetes, or the social or economic issues faced by people living with the diabetes. Offered in partnership with Diabetes UK, the Fulbright Diabetes UK Research Award provides a £75,000 grant to conduct research on the disease.

 

Through funding from the Scottish Government, the new Fulbright Scottish Studies Scholar Award fosters mutual understanding between the United States and Scotland. This new award aims to develop the 'Scottish Studies' discipline within US Higher Education and encourage further exchange opportunities to/from Scotland. One scholar will be awarded £23,500 to undertake lecturing and/or research in relevant subject areas such as Scottish history, law, art, music or politics.

 

Alongside these new schemes, Fulbright remains the only organisation offering scholarships for postgraduate study or research in any field, at any accredited US university.  In addition to its all-discipline awards, Fulbright will offer its Alistair Cooke Award in Journalism, MBA Awards and International Science and Technology Awards schemes for postgraduate study in the United States.  Funding is also available for scholarly work related to multiple sclerosis, British history and biochemistry, as well as professional exchange opportunities for UK civil servants, Northern Irish public sector administrators and police officers.

 

Responding to the increased awards, Penny Egan, Executive Director, said:
"The United States remains the destination of choice for UK students eager to further enhance their education.  A prestigious Fulbright award does more. It opens doors and enriches awardees, affording a truly unique opportunity for those with ambitions to immerse themselves in the world’s leading economy at a pivotal moment in its history. We are therefore delighted that once again we have been able to increase the number of awards that we can offer UK applicants.”

 

It is not only the generous grant that makes the Fulbright experience unique. Whether studying as a postgraduate student or going to the US to lecture, conduct research or gain professional experience, Fulbright provides its scholars assistance every step of the way. Staff coordinate a university placement process to help postgraduate students find the right degree programme, as well as visa processing and a three-day orientation programme with a reception hosted by the US ambassador. Awardees also benefit from opportunities for cultural enrichment whilst in the US and joining our alumni network on their return.

Commenting on the new Fulbright partnership awards, Michael Scott Kline, Fulbright Awards Director, said:
“Our two new awards - for diabetes-related research and Scottish studies - represent the Programme's strength in adapting to the needs of a changing world, and we're thrilled to be collaborating with Diabetes UK and the Scottish Government to offer these unique, transformational opportunities.”

Further details regarding the awards, including biographies of this 2009-10 scholars, can be found on our website at: www.fulbright.co.uk.  The deadline for application is 31 May 2010.

 

Contacts:

US-UK Fulbright Commission

Michael Scott-Kline

Director, Fulbright Awards Programme

020 7539 4409 or 077 0807 1970

michael@fulbright.co.uk

 

Monique Aronsohn

UK Programme Coordinator

0207 539 4410 or 075 3964 4360

maronsohn@fulbright.co.uk

 

Notes to Editors:

About the US-UK Fulbright Commission:The US-UK Fulbright Commission was created by treaty on 22 September 1948. The Fulbright Commission offers grants at postgraduate and postdoctoral level for study in any discipline and at any accredited institution in the US. During the last six decades, approximately 15,000 UK nationals have studied in the US and 12,000 US nationals in the UK as part of the Fulbright Programme. Prominent alumni of the UK Fulbright programme include poet Sylvia Plath, the Scottish politician Charles Kennedy, the journalist and playwright Toby Young and the economist and noble prize winner Milton Friedman.

About the Fulbright Programme Worldwide:Created in the aftermath of the Second World War through the vision of US Senator J. William Fulbright, the Fulbright Programme promotes the twin goals of academic excellence and cultural understanding. It operates in more than 150 countries, providing students, scholars and professionals with the opportunity to observe each others’ political, economic and cultural institutions, exchange ideas and embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world’s inhabitants.