This program targets students who hold a Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution of higher education in Greece and have a strong academic record. Grants are awarded in most fields to pursue graduate study in the United States and contribute to the first academic year. Equal preference is given to applicants in the Humanities, Business, and the Social, Natural, and Formal Sciences.
For candidates in the field of Law, you can still review the recordings of the fall 2021 webinar series on LL.M. Programs in the U.S.!
STEP 1. REGISTRATION PERIOD:
Tuesday, October 5, 2021 – Friday, January 14, 2022
No registration will be accepted beyond January 14, 2022 at midnight EET
STEP 2. ONLINE APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
Friday, February 11, 2022
No applications will be accepted after February 11, 2022 at midnight EET
Overview and Guidelines
The Fulbright Foundation in Greece will award up to five grants for the academic year beginning August/September 2022 to Greek graduate students who wish to obtain a Master's degree at a university in the United States. Awards are open to graduate students in all fields of study except medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science or to those who wish to enter residency training programs. A very limited number of awards will be offered for architectural and law degrees, and toward Ph.D. degrees.
Candidates should already have applied to U.S. universities or be in the process of applying when they submit their Fulbright application. Admission to a U.S. university is not required at the time of application but is mandatory for the award of the grant. Candidates are selected on the basis of academic excellence, potential for professional development, civic engagement, extra-curricular activities, and personal qualities/abilities to serve as a cultural ambassador for Greece. All awards are subject to the Fulbright Foundation policies, in compliance with the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) guidelines, and all governmental regulations regarding visas, immigration, travel, and residence.
Fulbright Awards offer financial support toward only the first year of study, but do not cover the full amount (university fees plus the cost of living). The candidate is responsible for securing additional and adequate funding from personal and/or other sources and will need to provide financial evidence.
Studying in the United States can be expensive. However, there are many opportunities out there and U.S. universities are often willing to aid students financially. Earning the Fulbright title is a good step in the right direction and some universities are prepared to offer special scholarships to Fulbright nominees. These include Kennesaw State University (MS in Conflict Management), Fordham University School of Law (LLM), University of New Hampshire (Graduate Study), Pepperdine University (LLM), Georgetown University (MA in German and European Studies), Bentley University (MBA), Stanford University (Leadership), University at Buffalo - SUNY (Engineering), University of Kentucky at Lexington (all fields), University of California Hastings at San Francisco (LLM, MSL), Western Michigan University (all fields), Georgetown University (MA in Environment and Sustainability Management). The Foundation does not have collaborations with these universities and you will need to apply directly. For information contact the Greek Program Coordinator.
Prospective Fulbright participants should be aware that public health conditions, availability of consular services and travel, as well as U.S. institutional operating status and policies may affect their ability to travel to the U.S. and participate in academic programs.
"This year in the U.S. was a sweet challenge for me: living abroad for the first time, studying in another language, communicating with students from other countries and with different mindsets were some of the challenging parts of this experience. The Fulbright family and support as well as the opportunities for exchange of ideas and cultural customs were the sweet parts.As I am writing this report, sitting in my old office at home where I first dreamed of this adventure, where I first applied for studies in the U.S., where I received the “Congratulations” emails, where I learnt that I was selected as a Fulbright scholar, I am sitting here ten months later, not feeling the same person at all. Nothing is the same. What changed? People from over 80 countries shaped my heart and mind this past year. I let them do it. That is the key. I went there with no fear, no shields, no prejudice and that made it easier for me to connect and live this experience to the fullest. My best friend from India calls me on Skype; my friends from Los Angeles are visiting me this summer; my friends in Brussels try to convince me to work for the European Union and my friends from Germany still reminisce about the Greek dinner I prepared for them before leaving the country."
Eleni Serifi, International Business Law, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2016-2017 Fulbright Graduate Student
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to apply for a grant, each candidate must
- hold Greek citizenship and a valid Greek passport. Candidates with dual citizenship (U.S./Greek) or permanent residence in the United States are not eligible.
- have permanent residency in Greece and commit to returning to Greece following the academic program to fulfill the mission and aim of the Fulbright grant.
- hold a Bachelor Degree from a Greek institution of higher education with a grade point average (GPA) of 8.0 (out of 10.00) and above or a degree from Deree–The American College of Greece or Anatolia College with a GPA of 3.4 (out of 4.0) and above. For those students who are in their last year of undergraduate study, a GPA is required on the basis of their previous performance.
- pass English language fluency tests, TOEFL or IELTS, GRE and/or GMAT, as required by the individual U.S. university.
- apply to more than one U.S. institution.
Also note that
- candidates applying for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) should have at least two years of full-time relevant work experience since their graduation. Part-time employment while in school is not considered satisfactory work experience.
- preference will be given to candidates below the age of 28 at the time of application and to those with a student profile.
- students who have already begun their studies in the United States are not eligible to apply. Applicants who have previously studied abroad in the U.S. will be expected to explain how their return to the U.S. for further study will add to their previous experience.
"Academically, I had the opportunity to study in one of the top U.S. law schools. The competition was very intense, and I had to spend long hours in the library to cope with it, especially during the first quarter. Nonetheless, being exposed to the U.S. legal system and education was incredibly rewarding. Our professors did not just teach us the black letter law, which was taken for granted. On the contrary, their goal was to instill us a method of thinking and give us the tools to argue about future applications of the law that had not come up yet, where they had to provide arguments for both sides. Moreover, we had to deliver weekly written assignments, improving thus our lawyer skills and competencies. What I found the most important was the variety of classes we were able to take such as Structuring Financial Instruments, Behavioral Law and Economics, and Private Equity Agreements. On another topic, I was very impressed by the openness of American people, how willing they were to speak with us and initiate conversations. They were not afraid to talk and deliver their thoughts to us, and they would never make us feel like strangers. Accordingly, our professors were very open to listening to our ideas, and they were very eager to work with us, either by co-authoring papers or offering us research assistant positions. Even though it is a cliché, America is the land of opportunities to people who are willing to work hard (and, of course, have a bit of luck). I will always be grateful to the Fulbright Foundation for helping me achieve my dream and transform as a person."
Odysseas Theofanis, Financial Law, The University of Chicago, Illinois, 2016-2017 Fulbright Graduate Student
Grant Benefits
Fulbright Awards offer financial support for study in the U.S. However, Fulbright is much more than a scholarship: we offer fellows the opportunity to have a transformative cultural and academic experience and provide unrivaled support both during and after the Fulbright year. While a Fulbright Award is toward the first year of study only, the benefits do not end there; receiving this award opens many doors and provides unparalleled global networking opportunities.
"The Fulbright Association treats its members as if they are a part of a very large family. Their work is very important for giving to highly educated students the chance not only to pursue their studies in the U.S. but to connect and create long-lasting friendships with other Fulbright Scholars of different academic backgrounds. [...] I am very proud for having been chosen as a Greek Ambassador to the U.S. I hope that one day I will be able to give back to the Foundation the support that I was given because it is very important for this program, which is 73 years old in Greece, to continue its beneficial act for ambitious students."
Dimitra Theochari, Sustainable Design, University of Texas at Austin, 2010-2011 Fulbright Graduate Student
The Fulbright grant is a non-renewable grant that provides an allowance towards tuition and/or living expenses for the first year of study only, roundtrip airfare, and limited health and accident insurance. The amount of this allowance depends on the Foundation's budget for each year and cannot exceed the amount of $20,000 (maximum $2,000 per month for 10 months or one academic year).
More specifically, grant benefits include
- a round-trip travel allowance according to Fulbright Travel Policies & Regulations.
- limited health and accident insurance (for recipient only). All participants receive the Department of State's health insurance coverage (A+SPE) of $100,000 per illness or per injury with co-pays of $25 per medical visit and $75 for hospitalizations or emergency entries for the duration of the program. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Some U.S. universities require that you enroll in their health insurance plan. Make sure to inquire whether there will be any additional cost.
- free advising and counseling services on academic issues.
- an invitation to the Finalists Workshop.
- a pre-departure orientation session.
- participation in the Annual Awards Ceremony.
- a Fulbright Certificate of Award.
- J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa
- the Gateway Orientation, Enrichment Seminars, Pre-Academic Programs, and other benefits/invitations offered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the cooperating agency in the United States.
- membership in the online global communityfor all participants of U.S. government–sponsored exchange programs (such as the Fulbright program). International Exchange Alumni website
Terms and Conditions
- Registering before applying is mandatory. The registration serves to establish eligibility, which cannot be established through e-mail communication.
- An external Selection Committee appointed by Fulbright will interview shortlisted candidates on specific dates. Candidates will be informed of their interview appointments with the Selection Committee by email. Interviews last for about 15 minutes, are conducted in English, and are held virtually.
- Candidates will be informed of their nomination status on the day following the end of the interview cycle. Candidates will be designated as 'primary', 'alternate', or 'non-selected'. Alternate candidates will remain on standby until the overall budget is reviewed and finalized.
- Candidates selected must provide the Foundation with proof of admission to a U.S. university and sufficient financial resources—in addition to the Fulbright award—before the issuance of the J-1 visa.
- Candidates selected for a Fulbright grant are required to submit a medical history and examination report before their grants can be finalized. The Fulbright office will provide the necessary Medical Health Form.
- Fulbright grant recipients are responsible for making travel arrangements in accordance with Fulbright Travel Policies & Regulations.Awards cannot be deferred to the following year.
- Fulbright policy limits a student's stay to a maximum of three years for a Master's candidate and five years for a Ph.D. candidate, including time spent for academic training (maximum 18 months). Academic training is limited under U.S. federal regulations and may not exceed the amount of time spent on academic studies. U.S. federal regulations also require that academic training commence within 30 days of completing the Fulbright study program.
- Male applicants are responsible for settling all relevant Greek military obligations.
- Fulbright grant recipients must travel on a J-1 visa sponsored by the Fulbright Program. It is a condition of the visa that, after completing the academic program, including studies and training, students must return to Greece and reside there for two years before being eligible to immigrate or apply for permanent residence or a work permit in the United States. The purpose of the two-year home residency requirement is to ensure that exchange visitors return to their home country and fulfill the exchange objectives of the Fulbright Program to broaden and strengthen mutual understanding between Greece and the United States.
Registration and Application Procedures
Step 1. Registration
The registration form is available online and serves to establish eligibility, which cannot be established through e-mail communication. Once submitted, it will be automatically available to the Fulbright Foundation/Greek Program Coordinator for a first review. You will receive a confirmation email in the week following your submission.
Step 2. Fulbright Online Application Procedure
Following successful registration and confirmation of eligibility, applicants will be given a link to complete the online Fulbright application in English (SLATE platform). Applications submitted without prior registration will not be accepted. When you begin your application, the platform will ask you to confirm that you have contacted the local office (registration) and that you are eligible for this award.
The Fulbright Foundation accepts ONLY applications submitted online through the SLATE platform. Faxed, emailed, or mailed copies of applications will not be accepted.
The following documents must be completed/uploaded as part of the online application:
- Online application form including GDPR consent.
- Detailed Curriculum Vitae.
- Degrees and transcripts of all university grades, in both Greek and English (Academic Materials section).
- TOEFL or IELTS, GRE and/or GMAT score reports in accordance with U.S. university requirements.
- Study/Research Objectives.
- Personal Statement.
- Letters of admission (if received).
- A scanned copy of your passport as well as a scanned copy of any valid U.S. visa issued within the last 4 years. If you do not yet have a passport, you will need to include a copy of your ID card.
- A digital portfolio for candidates in the fields of Architecture and the Arts (Additional Information - Supplemental Materials section).
- Three letters of reference. Your reference (the person writing the letter of recommendation) should complete and submit the forms through the online platform once you have registered them. All candidates should inform their references that all letters must be submitted online by February 8, 2022. All letters should be written in English. The letters of reference should be written by professors with whom you have studied or pursued research or by someone who has supervised your work as related to your proposed field of study.
All candidates are requested to submit one printout of their completed and submitted application, including portfolio (if applicable), to the Fulbright Foundation, 6 Vassilissis Sofias, 10674 Athens, (attn: Greek Program Coordinator) within 10 days of its online submission.
We encourage students to submit their final application in person to the Foundation, depending on the pandemic situation.
Contact
Greek Program Coordinator
The Fulbright Foundation
T 210 7241 811/2, ext. 3
E
Program Calendar
IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE 2022-2023 FULBRIGHT AWARDS FOR GREEK GRADUATE STUDENTS
October 5, 2021 – January 14, 2022
Registration Period
All candidates must register during this period
Friday, February 11, 2022
Online Application Deadline
Within 10 days of your final submission and no later than February 21
Materials Submission Deadline
One printout of the completed and entire application following submission plus portfolio if applicable
March 9, 2022
Interviews for applicants in STEM and Business /Finance
March 10, 2022
Interviews for applicants in Humanities and Social Sciences
March 11, 2022
Notification of results by email
April 20, 2022
Finalist Workshop
June 2022
Pre-Departure Orientation Session for Fulbright Grantees
attendance is required (virtual or in-person)
June 2022
AWARDS CEREMONY
attendance is required (if applicable)
August - September 2022
Academic Year begins in the United States
January 2023
Interim Grant Report and Letters of Appreciation
June 2023
Final Grant Report
