The United States Government is inviting applications for the 2026 Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship Program for qualified graduate students worldwide.
The Fulbright Scholarship 2026 is a fully funded opportunity that supports successful applicants with full tuition, accommodation, living stipends, travel expenses, visa support, and other study-related costs to pursue postgraduate and doctoral studies in the United States of America.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: United States of America (USA)
- Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | PhD Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Reward: Full Scholarship | Living Stipends | Travel Costs | Accommodation
- Deadline: June 1, 2026
Scholarship Details
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is a prestigious international exchange initiative that enables graduate students, young professionals, and artists from different countries to study, teach, or conduct advanced research in the United States. The program operates in more than 160 countries globally and awards approximately 4,000 scholarships to foreign students each year.
The program is administered through binational Fulbright Commissions or Foundations, as well as U.S. Embassies in participating countries. These offices are responsible for managing the application process, reviewing submissions, and selecting candidates in line with country-specific guidelines. The scholarship is designed to foster academic excellence, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding between the United States and participating nations.
Eligibility Criteria
To be qualified for the United States Government Fulbright Scholarship 2026, applicants must:
- Be citizens or nationals of Nigeria, or permanent residents holding a valid Nigerian passport
- Be doctoral or PhD students who have completed a substantial portion of their doctoral programme in Nigerian universities
- Have official endorsement from their home institution
- Possess an outstanding academic record and a high level of English language proficiency
- Meet the minimum required standardized test scores, including TOEFL
- Submit TOEFL results by September 2026
- Attain a minimum TOEFL score of 90 to be considered for placement
- Demonstrate strong motivation and commitment to completing the programme and returning home upon completion
- Submit a strong research proposal clearly outlining research objectives, methodology, timeline, and justification for conducting the research in the United States
- Preferably not have studied previously in the United States
- Not have received more than one Fulbright Student grant, including the Humphrey Program (FLTA alumni are exempted)
Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program 2026 will receive:
- Round-trip airfare to and from the United States
- Settling-in allowance
- Monthly living stipend
- Housing allowance
- Books and supplies allowance
- Computer allowance
- Primary university health insurance coverage
- Fulbright ASPE health benefit as secondary insurance
Required Documents
To apply for the Fulbright Scholarship 2026, applicants must prepare to submit:
- A completed online application form
- A clearly written research objective
- Professional résumé or curriculum vitae
- Three letters of reference highlighting academic, professional, and personal competence
- Scanned copies of academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- TOEFL score report
- Hard copies of official academic transcripts sent by regular mail
How to Apply
To apply for the Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship Program 2026:
- Visit the official Fulbright application portal
- Use the dropdown menu to select your home country
- Carefully review the country-specific requirements and required documents
- Complete the online application form and upload all supporting documents
- Submit the application before the deadline
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email.
To apply for this scholarship, click HERE
To receive more scholarship updates, click HERE
To join EDUSPUR WhatsApp Channel, click HERE
