UMD: A Globally Connected University

Fulbright

Fulbright

 

Incoming Fulbrighers

Welcome to the University of Maryland! We're delighted that you've chosen UMD for your Fulbright grant. Whether you will be here for one year as a visiting researcher or student; will pursue a two-year master's degree; or will be with us for your doctoral degree, we're looking forward to having you join our UMD community composed of students and scholars from around the globe. 

Please don't hesitate to be in touch with questions about arrival, academics, housing and life in Maryland. For assistance at UMD, you may contact International Students and Scholar Services.

Placement

The placement process for each individual is handled by many different contributing groups. These groups include the incoming student’s/researcher’s placement organization, such as the Institute of International Education (IIE), The Academic and Professional Programs for the Americas (LASPAU), or the America-Mideast Educational and Training Services (AMIDEAST) organization. The IIE, LASPAU, or AMIDEAST organizations represent each student/researcher, and assist with their application process as well as coordinate funding opportunities. 

The type of program you are arriving on determines who you will interact with at UMD and the process you will follow.  There are three main categories of Fulbright awards.

  • Degree seeking student (admitted to UMD)
  • Visiting Scholar
  • Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs)

UMD degree seeking student (IIE, LASPAU, or AMIDEAST )

UMD degree seeking students are fully admitted graduate students who will pursue their full degree at the University of Maryland.  The application and admission decision are for a specific degree program at the University of Maryland.

Once an application has been submitted, a placement specialist will contact the Graduate School on behalf of the student, to notify the University of a prospective Fulbright student. At this time, The Graduate School will notify the applicant’s appropriate department of the application and begin to track their admission status.

If a student is admitted as a Graduate student, ISSS will be informed of the admission and the student will receive an ISSS checklist.  Students are required to upload the Fulbright DS2019 to the checklist so ISSS is aware of the program dates.  Students will receive all ISSS pre-arrival information as a newly admitted student.  You are encouraged to attend the ISSS pre-arrival webinars, read weekly tips of the week and enroll in online ISSS orientation and attend our in person welcome week prior to the start of the semester.

Arrival at UMD

Incoming Fulbright students should review the pre-arrival information for all new international students at UMD available on the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) .

New incoming foreign Fulbright students are encouraged to attend ISSS orientation and graduate school orientation and to check-in with ISSS.  Click here for more information about student pre-arrival and arrival events.

ISSS Contact:  Jody Heckman Bose, 301-314-7742, heckmanj@umd.edu

UMD Visiting Scholar (IIE, LASPAU, or AMIDEAST)

This category of visiting scholar IIE works with the Office of International Affairs (OIA) to assist in the collaboration with faculty at UMD. OIA is responsible for completing the Institutional Reply form (IRF).  Lucie Covey is the contact person in the office for this form, signing that UMD as an institution accepts the scholars.  This form is shared with ISSS (Connie Lira) who will now include the scholar in ISSS communication and provides information about Scholar orientation.

Arrival at UMD

  1. Your host department will process an appointment to grant you access to services, such as a university ID card, email, and access to transportation.
  2. You are welcome to attend our virtual J-1 orientation held every other Thursday morning from 10:00 am - 12:00pm. Orientation provides helpful information about your immigration status, the campus and local community, culture and resources that are available to you. The orientation will also provide you with an opportunity to meet with other international J-1 scholars visiting our campus. Please email us upon arrival to register for an upcoming orientation at cjl@umd.edu.

ISSS Contact: Connie J Jesse Lira, Telephone 301-314-5823, Email cjl@umd.edu

Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs) (IIE, LASPAU, or AMIDEAST )

A visiting student researcher is typically a current doctoral student in their home country who wishes to advance their research for a short period of time (typically 6-10 months) at a U.S. institution. They seek an affiliation with a specific faculty member at an institution and do not take credit-bearing classes. As their research is intended to be a full-time activity, visiting student researchers cannot engage in other work opportunities. Visiting student researchers are expected to start their programs within the academic year (August – May) following selection. As Fulbright is both an academic and cultural exchange program, visiting student researchers must live in the U.S. community of the host institution where they are affiliated and are expected to engage with the local U.S. community.

These research arrangements are mostly self placed and coordinated by the visiting researcher/student.  Paperwork needed by IIE or  LASPAU is typically signed by the faculty member who agreed to host the researcher.  Because these arrangements are arranged in a decentralized manner, it’s important that the VSR reaches out to ISSS and the Department to inform us of your arrival.

Arrival at UMD

  1. Your host department will process an appointment to grant you access to services, such as a university ID card, email, and access to transportation.
  2. You are welcome to attend an ISSS virtual J-1 orientation held every other Thursday morning from 10:00 am - 12:00pm. Orientation provides helpful information about your immigration status, the campus and local community, culture and resources that are available to you. The orientation will also provide you with an opportunity to meet with other international J-1 scholars visiting our campus. Please email ISSS upon arrival to register for an upcoming orientation at cjl@umd.edu.
     

ISSS Contact: Connie J Jesse Lira, Telephone: 301-314-5823, Email: cjl@umd.edu