Fulbright Grants

Open call for Bulgarian citizens!

Fulbright Bulgarian Leaders Grant for MA and PhD programs (self-placed students) – application deadline:
February 6, 2026

Upcoming info session

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Bulgarian citizenship

Excellent English language skills

For self-placed Bulgarian students

All fields except clinical medicine

CompetitionOPEN

Invite a US Specialist

For state and non-governmental organizations, universities, cultural and medical institutions.

Apply by January 10, 2026

CompetitionOPEN

Grant for 11-th graders

The Opportunity Funds Program for outstanding students who want to apply to universities in the U.S.

Apply by January 11, 2026

UpcomingCompetition

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Grant for School Teachers

6 weeks in 2027 spring or fall for teachers of students aged 12-18. Stay tuned and find out when the competitions starts accepting applications.

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Why apply for a Fulbright grant

The International Fulbright Commission was established in 1993 and is widely recognized across the globe as a renowned institution for educational exchange.

Opportunities for education in elite universities

Transparent and honest proceedings for applicants' selection

Objective application criteria

Funding of your tuition and stay in USA

Grants for Bulgarian citizens

Alumni Achievements

Other Services

The Commission offers free of charge education advising for high-school students who would like to pursue a university degree in the USA, as well as project management courses.

Education USA

One-on-one and group advising about the American educational system and the application process for admission with financial aid to accredited U.S. colleges and universities.

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Grants for High-School Students

Opportunity Funds – grants for secondary school students in year 11, showing financial need and demonstrating academic excellence to apply for US universities.

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Project Management Courses

Project Management training courses held in English. All participants become PMP® certified, when they meet the eligibility criteria.

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Total number of grantees

Grantees from Bulgaria for AY 2021-2022

Grantees from the US for AY 2021-2022

Javor Gardev

It was very easy for me to take the decision to apply to Fulbright. This coincided with the first Covid quarantine and seriously interrupted all the projects I was working on at the time. It appeared a really adequate thing to do at that specific moment, since I could make use of this major break in order to return to my academic activities.

Watch the interview

The prominent Bulgarian stage and film director was a Fulbright Visiting Researcher for AY 2021-22.

Excellent opportunity to join a network of top experts

An experience across state borders and human perceptions

Stimulating impact and exchange of ideas

Education as a function of freedom

Testimonials

“The Fulbright Program makes you feel you belong to an elite group of people, who are specialists and are exceptional at what they are doing. I would like to encourage you to apply to Fulbright, because the program trains diligence in you as well as critical attitude to your own environment.”

Ivan Genchev, lawyer

“I won a 6-month Fulbright grant at the University of Harvard in Cambridge. The cultural exchange which takes place during the grantees’ stay is truly dynamic. I can say from personal experience that Fulbright is an absolutely objective program which presents opportunities to virtually all people, from all possible fields of study.”

Borislav Momchilov, PhD student of History, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ochridsky”

“I was a guest lecturer at Meyo Clinic in Minnesota with Prof. Jennifer Westendorf who is in the top 20 scholars in the field of regenerative medicine all over the world. This gave me a new strategy for the therapy of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. On a personal level I found out how important it is to be tolerant and respect our differences.”

Assoc. Prof. Petya Dimitrova, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for a Fulbright grant if I have a dual citizenship?

All applicants need to have a Bulgarian citizenship. Persons with dual citizenship (Bulgarian and US) as well as those holding a working visa / Green Card are not eligible to apply. It is possible to have dual citizenship, different from US, for example Bulgarian and German. US citizens who come to Bulgaria on a Fulbright grant are being selected in the United States.

Can I apply for an MA degree in USA if I already have one?

Yes, but it is necessary to include clear argumentation in the application essay why you would like to complete another MA in the USA. You need to have a BA, though, completed within a certain period before you apply for the respective grad student program. You cannot apply only in case you are currently studying in the USA or if you have lived there for five or more consecutive years during the six-year period preceding the date of application.

Can I apply for a Fulbright grant if I have already been a Fulbright grantee?

Yes, but you need to wait at least 2 years after the end of the program, which you won the previous time round.

What does the grant cover?

Based on the respective program, the amount covers the tuition within certain limits, and for some programs the grant covers allowance for accommocation, visa expenses, plane tickets and U.S. health insurance.

What tests and exams do I have to take in order to apply to Fulbright?

Graduate and doctoral students’ applicants need to take TOEFL. Waivers or other equivalent tests are not admitted. All applicants for a Fulbright grant holding an MA or PhD in various fields, different from law or business administration, have to take GRE as well. For scholars and NGO representatives it is not mandatory to sit an English language test. Their language skills are being assessed on the basis of their application documents and during the interview.

What test results do I have to aim for at the English language test in order to have higher chances of winning a Fulbright grant?

The least permissible TOEFL score is 80, but ideally a score upwards of 100 gives you much higher chances of winning.