Fulbright scholarship is an award by the United States government for research, teaching, or graduate study. The scholarship program was begun under the Fulbright Act of 1946, named for its sponsor, Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. It seeks to promote better understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries.
The annual awards allow U.S. citizens to study or work in other lands and permit people of other countries to study or work in the United States. More than 150 countries participate in the program annually.
Money for the awards came at first from the sale of surplus World War II equipment to other countries. The U.S. government and participating countries and universities now fund the program. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State oversees the program.
The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board selects the award winners. The Fulbright Program’s websites at http://www.fulbrightonline.org and http://fulbright.state.gov provide additional information.
