The Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship for South African Students is offered by the Fulbright Programme through the US Embassy and Consulates in South Africa. Based in the United States, the Fulbright Programme is funded by the US Congress. In addition, the US Department of State along with other foreign governments, private foundations and learning institutions are sources of indirect and direct funds.
The programme was introduced as a bill by Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946 as a foreign effort that seeks to promote international goodwill via the exchange student programme in the areas of culture, science and space.
Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship Programme for South African Postgraduate Studies
The Fulbright Programme provides bursary grants for South African students who wish to pursue a postgraduate degree in an American university. The bursary will cover studies in any subject as long as it does not include contact with patients. Bursary benefits cover two years of study towards a Master’s or Doctoral degree.
Candidates can expect a rigid and thorough selection process – starting from application to the interview phase. However, selected candidates can look forward to:
- Visa processing (J-1 visa)
- Health insurance
- Travel allowance from SA to US destination
- Coverage of settling in costs upon arrival
- Tuition fees
- Coverage of book and computer expenses
- Monthly living allowance
Note: Coverage benefits may vary depending on the scholarship programme
Requirements or Eligibility
To become eligible for the Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship Programme, the following basic requirements must be met:
- A South African citizen
- Completed a four-year undergraduate degree or a four-year B-Tech study
- A graduate of a three-year undergraduate degree with honours year
- Doctoral degree students must have a Master’s degree
- Students pursuing non-degree qualifications must have registration with an SA university for PhD studies
In addition, the Fulbright Programme prefers applicants who are:
- Academic achievers
- Graduate Record Exam and Test of English as a Foreign Language passers
- Culturally sensitive and highly interested in pursuing studies in the US and sharing the South African culture to Americans
- Interested in pursuing community and extracurricular activities
- Ambitious and eager to lead
- Interested in furthering the Fulbright Programme and giving back to the country upon return
How to Apply
Qualified applicants will need to set up an account in order to complete the online application. Keep in mind that the application page is for applicants from all over the world – be sure to indicate your home country (South Africa). Also, don’t forget to choose the programme being applied for (Fulbright Foreign Student Programme 2019-20).
Moreover, the following documents will need to be uploaded during the application process:
- Academic record with breakdown of subjects and grades acquired
- Final graduation certificate
- Explanation of your university’s grading system
- Writing sample
- TOEFL and GRE scores
- Letter of reference
Important reminders:
- Upload these documents for each degree finished
- All documents must be in English
- Be sure to scan certificates, explanation sheet and transcripts into a single file
Access the application by clicking the link below:
https://iie.embark.com/apply/ffsp
For more information about the application process, click the link to access the Fulbright Programme advert:
Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship Programme South Africa 2019-2020 Advert
The application process is quite long with very specific instructions to follow. Click here to know more:
https://za.usembassy.gov/fulbright
Opening and Closing Dates
Applications will close on 19 April 2019.
Contact Information
Email your enquiries to: Fulbright_Program_SAfrica@state.gov