Your Fulbright Grant to Greece is much more than a scholarship: we offer grantees the opportunity to have a transformative cultural and academic experience and provide support before you arrive in Greece and during your time in Greece. Receiving a Fulbright Grant opens many doors and provides professional, educational, and general networking opportunities both on a local and a global level. Fulbright Greece is also involved in a number of exciting activities aimed at advancing the interests of the Foundation and all of our programs through the organization of and/or participation in public lectures, training sessions and workshops, and other outreach events. Fulbright Greece encourages all of our grantees to stay in touch and involved.
Here is an Overview of Activities typically happening each year:
Before your arrival
Following your selection and the approval of your nomination, the Fulbright American Program Coordinator will contact you on the necessary steps to complete before your travel to Greece. Relevant information, instructions and documents on matters pertaining to your travel and stay in Greece in the following academic year will also be communicated. Areas addressed concern your grant documents/grant benefits, health records, process for obtaining a visa for your travel to Greece, airfare, settling-in, orientation sessions and other matters for a smooth transition to your host country. The American Program Coordinator will also discuss your grant travel dates/arrangements with you and approve the travel cost in advance.
Orientation Programs/Activities During the Academic Year
Pre-arrival online orientation (while still in the U.S.)
About two months before your grant begins, Fulbright Greece will organize an online pre-arrival meeting to discuss logistics and to meet your fellow grantees.
Welcome Orientation
This takes place in late September (exact date tbc). Grantees are required to attend this program, and their dependents are welcome to attend as well. Both Greek and American speakers address a variety of subjects at orientations, and social functions are included. For those who will arrive later in the year, the Fulbright Foundation will provide assistance on an individual basis.
Spring Get-Together
Grantees present and provide updates on their projects. The program also includes an educational and cultural component. Grantees are required to attend this program, and their dependents are welcome to attend as well.
Throughout the academic year, Fulbright Greece informs its grantees about cultural enrichment activities and forwards invitations to events/lectures. It is important that you maintain regular contact with the American Program Coordinator to ensure that you keep abreast of events and other information important for your Fulbright year. Informal gatherings (“get-together meetings”) are arranged periodically as an opportunity to meet with other Fulbrighters and discuss projects and other areas of interest.
There are also other gatherings and important events for Fulbrighters arranged throughout the year. In mid-December, the Fulbright office hosts a holiday gathering that brings together alumni, current grantees, U.S. Embassy staff, friends, and supporters of the Fulbright program in Greece.
The highlight event of the year is the Annual Awards Ceremony, which takes place at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in mid to late June to honor U.S. and Greek Fulbright grantees and acknowledge donors and supporters of the Fulbright program in Greece.
*During the global pandemic, programs may be held online as necessary
Support on the Ground
Fulbright Greece staff will offer you its support and assistance for the duration of your Fulbright grant in Greece. The Foundation’s Financial Administrator will assist you throughout the year on matters related to grant benefits and payments.
Your hosts will support your research, lecturing or other assignments. You should keep Fulbright Greece abreast of your collaborations during your grant period.
U.S. Embassy in Athens: Public Diplomacy and American Services sections are available to help out American citizens on a variety of issues and work closely with the Fulbright Foundation in Greece.
Emergency Action Plan for U.S. Grantees
The purpose of the Emergency Action Plan is to ensure adequate preparation for grantees and staff in the event of emergency and crisis situations and to effectively manage them.
This document outlines safety procedures to be applied in case of emergency.
Emergency and crisis situations include natural disasters, civil unrest, incidents of violence, pandemics or other broad health-related crises, or other emergency circumstances that may affect Fulbright grantees.
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Academic and Exchange Programs (ECA/A/E) has overall responsibility for the Fulbright Program worldwide under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, which was renamed the Fulbright-Hays Act.
In crisis situations, it is critical that Fulbright Greece consult closely with the relevant ECA/A/E regional Fulbright Branch, the U.S. Embassy in Athens, and the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding any decisions concerning the safety of Fulbright participants in Greece. In consultation with the U.S. Department of State’s Europe/Eurasia Regional Bureau and the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section, the ECA/A/E will make the final determination on any case of Program suspension or reinstatement.
Engaging with Fulbright Greece
Fulbright Greece organizes and participates in a variety of outreach events throughout the year and asks grantees for their active participation. U.S. Fulbright scholars may also be asked to participate in review committees for the Greek scholarship program.
Fulbright Greece is involved in educational outreach programs and activities to promote studies in the U.S. and in Greece, and the Fulbright Scholarship Programs.
Your participation and support will be requested for some activities throughout your grant term, and we hope to make this part of your Fulbright grant experience. Through your knowledge and experience of the U.S. educational and university system and your Fulbright grantee status, you have a lot to contribute to Greek student audiences.
Reports
U.S. grantees are required to submit a brief, one-page monthly report via the Fulbright Greece Portal.
In addition, the Institute for International Education (IIE) requires all grantees to submit a final report and U.S. student grantees to provide an interim report.
Documentary Material
Fulbright Greece encourages all grantees to submit or collect stories, video clips and photographs to document their stay and to share their experience with current and future candidates. We will channel these efforts, called Grantees Speak and Alumni Speak, into an apprehensive overview of past and current impressions. The Foundation will take it for granted that any documentation, including quotes, can be used for public dissemination to promote the Fulbright programs and objectives (website, social media¸ videos) unless otherwise stated. Please visit the Fulbright website for updates, sign up for the Newsletter, like our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter and YouTube. Whether you are a student, a researcher, an artist, or a teacher, whether you stay for 5 weeks, 5 months or 5 years, we would very much like to hear from you!
After Completion of your Fulbright Grant
Your Fulbright experience doesn’t have to end just because you returned home. There are many ways to stay involved and engaged with Fulbright Greece following the completion of your grant. Join the diverse and energetic Fulbright Alumni community https://www.fulbright.gr/en/alumni/get-involved
Fulbright Year Calendar
Listed below are important dates for all U.S. Programs:
September 1
Official start of the grant term for English Teaching Assistants (Fellows)
September 15
Official start of the grant term for the U.S. Fulbright Student Program
September 1 – 10
(approximately)
English Teaching Assistants (Fellows) – Welcome Orientation
September 10
(varies)
Elementary and Secondary School Terms Begin
Late September
Welcome Orientation for all programs: U.S. Students - English Teaching Assistants (Fellows) and U.S. Scholars with Fall Semester Grants
October 1
Official start of the grant term for the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program
October
(first or second week)
Virtual U.S. University Fair, an event organized by Fulbright Greece. U.S. Fulbright grantees can offer their services at this event
Mid-December
Pre-holiday season get-together in Athens
Last week of December through first week of January
Christmas and New Year’s Break (winter break)
January 7
Schools in Greece back in session
Grantees must report back for continuation of grant term
January-February
Arrival of Fulbright U.S. Scholars with Spring Semester Grants
February 15-20
Mid-year reports due for all U.S. Fulbright Students (does not apply to Scholars)
March - Early April
Spring Get Together for U.S. Fulbright Scholars, Students and Teaching Fellows
April – early May
(varies)
Greek Orthodox Easter Break
Mid-June
Final Reports due for all U.S. Fulbright Students (Does not apply to US Scholars)
Mid to end of June
Final Reports due for U.S. Fulbright Scholars
Mid-June
Annual Reception honoring Fulbright Grantees, Donors and Friends of Fulbright Greece
Mid to end of June
Official end of the U.S. Fulbright Student and Scholar grant terms
Mid-July
Official end of the Fulbright Teaching Assistants (Fellows) Program