New York, NY (May 1, 2005) - The Institute of International Education (IIE), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholaship Board, is pleased to announce the launch of the 2006-2007 Fulbright U.S. Student Program competition.

For more than 58 years, the U.S. Government-sponsored Fulbright U.S. Student Program has provided future American leaders with an unparalleled opportunity to study, conduct research and teach in other nations.  Fulbright student grants aim to increase mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchange while serving as a catalyst for long-term leadership development.

The U.S. Student Program awards approximately 1,100 grants annually and currently operates in over 140 countries worldwide.  Fulbright full grants generally provide funding for round-trip travel, maintenance for one academic year, health, and accident insurance and full or partial tuition.  Fulbright travel-only grants are also available to limited countries.

Applicants to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program must be U.S. citizens at the time of application and hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent by the beginning of the grant.  In the creative and performing arts, four years of profedssional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement.  (Professional applicants lacking a degree but with extensive professional study and/or experience in fields in which they wish to pursue a project may also be considered).  The Fulbright U.S. Student Program does not require applicants to be currently enrolled in a college or university.  Applicants from young professionals interested in an international experience are also encouraged.

For more information, applicants should visit the Fulbright U.S. Student Web site at www.fulbrightonline.org.  Students currently enrolled at SUNY Oswego should contact the campus Fulbright Program Advisder, Professor Walter Opello for application forms and further inforamtion. 

Applications must be submitted in full to Professor Walter Opello by the campus closing date of Monday, October 2, in order to be received by IIE by the national deadline.