The Fulbright/University of Bristol Award is a partnership award of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, offered by the US-UK Fulbright Commission with the University of Bristol.
It sends one American graduate to Bristol, England, to begin a taught master’s or research degree in any field the university offers. Only the first year of study is funded.
Benefits & funding
- Full tuition waiver for the first year of study
- £1,999.10 a month (about £19,991) over a 10-month grant
- US$1,500 travel stipend, plus travel and accommodation for required Commission enrichment events
- Accident and sickness cover and a 24/7 mental health line
- Later years of a longer degree are not covered
Eligibility
- US citizens or nationals at the deadline; permanent residents are not eligible; dual US-UK citizens may apply
- Must not be a UK resident; six or more months in the UK in the year before the grant bars you, unless you were there on an undergraduate study-abroad programme
- Extensive earlier UK experience: the award page lists it as a bar, while the Commission page treats it as a preference against
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent professional training or experience) before the grant starts
- Not eligible: PhD holders at grant start, or anyone who lived abroad five or more of the six years before the deadline
- Part-time and distance-learning courses are not covered
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.
“Applicants must have a conferred bachelor's degree or equivalent before the start of the grant period. … Applicants who currently hold or will hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) by the national application deadline. … Anyone who has resided abroad for five or more years in the six-year period preceding the national application deadline. … Applicants are ineligible for the 2027-2028 awards if they are residing or studying in the UK during the 2026-2027 academic year unless the applicant is in the UK for an undergraduate study abroad program.” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
USA
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Application process
- 1Submit the Fulbright online application, choosing University of Bristol as the award, with three recommendations by 6 October 2026, 5pm ET.
- 2Apply separately to Bristol for your course, ideally before 13 January 2027.
- 3Shortlisted applicants have a video interview, which cannot be rescheduled.
Program timeline
6 October 2026, 5pm ET
Fulbright deadline (2027–28 cycle)
Bristol application, ideally by
13 January 2027
interviews
February–March 2027
all candidates notified
April 2027
arrival in the UK
September 2027