United States Fulbright Scholarships

There are scholarships opportunities for international students from some selected Pacific Islands countries. The scholarship is called  William Fulbright Graduate Scholarship Program for citizens of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.  The scholarship pays for up to two years of graduate study in the United States. 

One Fulbright scholarship recipient will be chosen for his or her academic merit and leadership potential.  Only online applications will be accepted this application cycle. 

The successful candidate will be able to earn a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Public Administration (MPA), or a Master of Law (LLM) degree.  Scholarship recipients receive a tuition grant for their coursework and a monthly stipend to cover living expenses at their host institution.  Recipients also receive roundtrip transportation and health benefits.  In addition, recipients may also attend special enrichment activities throughout their program.  These activities are excellent opportunities to network with fellow international Fulbright recipients and to interact with prominent Americans across a range of professional fields.  

About the J. William Fulbright Program

The J. William Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.  In addition to receiving the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, recipients will also become part of the global network of renowned Fulbright Alumni who have achieved distinction in countless fields including government, science, the arts, and business:

Forty four Fulbright alumni from 12 countries have been awarded the Nobel Prize
28 alumni are MacArthur Foundation Fellows
81 alumni have received Pulitzer Prizes
Twenty nine Fulbright alumni have served as heads of state or government
For more information about the Fulbright Scholarship program, please visit http://eca.state.gov/Fulbright.


Eligibility Requirements 

• Applicants must be citizens of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu and currently reside in these countries
  
• Applicants must have a four-year bachelor’s degree (undergraduate) and a strong academic background demonstrated by their post-secondary transcripts
  
• Applicants must have a minimum have two years of professional work experience
  
• Applicants must demonstrate leadership qualities -- including volunteer experience and involvement in their communities
  
• Applicants must have excellent English communication skills
  
• Applicants must present three letters of recommendation from their professors and/or employers.  Two from professors and one from an employer is highly recommended.
  
• Applicants must submit two application essays (a Personal Statement and a Study Research Objectives) with clear goals, well-reasoned statements describing why a specific academic track is the best fit, and tying their academic plans to longer term professional goals
  
• Applicants must be committed to returning to his or her country of citizenship and outline a specific plan for using their Fulbright experience in their professional lives and in service to his or her country
  

Strong preference will be given to applicants who have not had extensive or recent experience in the United States 

Ineligibility Factors

• Persons who have NOT been conferred their bachelor’s degree
  
• Persons with a dual U.S./ Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu nationality
  
• Persons who have a spouse, parent, fiancé, or child over 18 years of age who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  
• Persons who have a pending application for immigration to any country (this includes Special Immigrant Visas)
  

Employees of any U.S. government agency (U.S. Embassy, USAID, CDC, DOD) 
Scholarship Program Restrictions

No Dependents:  The Fulbright Graduate Scholarship Program in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu is provided for the recipient only; dependents cannot be supported.  There are no exceptions. 

J-visa requirements: All scholarship recipients are required to return to their country of citizenship for at least two years at the conclusion of their scholarship in compliance with the J-visa requirements, to promote mutual understanding, and serve as future leaders in the public and private sectors of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.  After recipients return to their country of citizenship and establish themselves in their careers, it is still possible to get a temporary visa to the U.S. allowing travel back and forth for business and tourism purposes.  The restriction is on permanent work or immigration U.S. visas.

Application Instructions

Step 1: Determine eligibility.  Read the instructions carefully.  Before you apply, be sure that you qualify.

Step 2: Create an Embark account with a valid e-mail address at https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/international/20/.  You do not have to complete the entire application in one sitting; you can continue the application later using your Embark account information. For more information visit: United States Scholarships