Letters of Recommendation: Fulbright Study/Research
The Fulbright US Student Program funds one-year post-graduate awards for study and research in more than 130 countries. The following are some suggestions for writing effective recommendations for students applying for research-based Fulbright Grants:
Address the applicant's "Fulbrightness." Fulbright applicants are evaluated on:
- Quality and feasibility of the proposal as described in the Statement of Grant Purpose.
- Academic and/or professional qualifications and achievement.
- Language preparation.
- Extent to which the candidate and the project will help to advance the Fulbright aim of promoting mutual understanding among nations through engagement in the host community, among other activities.
- Ability of the supervising agencies abroad to arrange/confirm supervision and facilitate research clearance, if necessary.
- Evidence of maturity, motivation, and ability to adapt to a different culture.
- Knowledge of the host country.
Since the student you are writing for is applying for a research-type grant, your letter should address the merits of the proposed project and as many of the other criteria as you feel you can speak to. Keep in mind that the Fulbright program is not only an educational exchange program; it is a cultural exchange program for which the applicant’s potential for cultural engagement will also be assessed. Additional information can be found here.
Tell "stories." The letter must bring the student to life with specific examples of achievement and ability as they relate to the aims of the Fulbright program and the evaluation criteria.
Write about the applicant. Fulbright selection committees don't care about an institution's US News ranking or other bragging points. Nor are they interested in the recommender's credentials and accomplishments, except as they may provide important background and context for the letter. In short, put the spotlight on the applicant.
Speak to Your Audience: You can assume that the people who will read your letter for the Fulbright competition are academics and diplomatic officials who have an expertise in the region the student is applying to. However, they are most likely not experts in the subject the student is studying. Think of them as a highly-educated lay audience. Readers will be looking to you to add depth and perspective to the student regarding their "Fulbrightness," their intellectual ability and potential as a cultural ambassador, so be sure to address those topics. Finally, keep in mind that letters that are too short or too long may hurt the applicant. Generally speaking, a one to two page single-spaced letter suffices for this competition. Letters should be signed, on letterhead, and uploaded as PDFs.
Letters can be addressed to: Fulbright Selection Committee.
All recommendation forms are submitted online: When the applicant registers you in the Institute of International Education (IIE) Application system as a recommender, you will receive a message from IIE with directions for accessing your form. IMPORTANT: After the recommendation is submitted, it cannot be edited. However, if there is a significant error and you want to submit a revised recommendation, you may be able to do so. You must ask Fulbright by email that the letter be "unsubmitted" and returned to you by sending a request to FBstudentsupport@iie.org (detailed instructions are on the Fulbright site under "recommendations"). The system does not allow Reed College faculty or staff to do this for you. If you have any questions, please reach out to clbrfellowships@reed.edu.