The Fulbright Canada Graduate Studies Award is a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award in Canada, a State Department program administered by IIE.
It offers up to nine American students support for the first year of a Master’s or PhD at an accredited Canadian university. All fields are open; areas of particular interest include Arctic studies, AI, economics, Canadian-American relations, energy and environment, Indigenous studies, law and policy, and public health.
Benefits & funding
- US$25,000 fixed sum for one eight-month academic year (September–April), meant to help offset tuition, fees and living costs; tuition is not covered beyond this sum.
- Supports the first year of the degree only; not renewable.
- International travel, accident and sickness coverage, and 24/7 mental health support.
Eligibility
- US citizens or nationals at the application deadline; permanent residents are not eligible. Dual US–Canadian citizens are eligible.
- A bachelor’s degree conferred before the grant starts (graduating seniors may apply).
- Anyone holding a PhD by 31 December 2027 should apply to the Fulbright Scholar Program instead.
- No residence in Canada of 3 months or more in the year before the grant; anyone who lived abroad five or more of the six years before the deadline is ineligible.
- French at the institution’s level if enrolling at a francophone university.
- State Department, USAID and exchange-administrator staff (e.g. IIE) and their immediate family are barred until one year after leaving.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant … Applicants who will have received a Ph.D. by December 31, 2027, should apply to the Fulbright Scholar Program.” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
USA
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Apply directly to your Canadian graduate program, ideally at the same time as Fulbright; finalists must show an acceptance letter before the grant starts.
- 2Submit the Fulbright online application with three recommendation letters by the national deadline (6 October 2026 for 2027–28).
- 3National screening panels review applications; recommended candidates go to Canada for final selection.
Program timeline
6 October 2026
2027–28 application deadline (closed)
Recommended / not-recommended notice
End of January 2027
Final selections
March–June 2027
Spring 2027
2028–29 application opens
September 2027
Grant typically starts (to April)