The Fulbright/University of Sussex Award is a Fulbright U.S. Student Program partnership award, run with the US-UK Fulbright Commission, that sends one American graduate to the University of Sussex near Brighton, England.
It funds the first year of any taught master’s or research degree the university offers, in any field. Later years of a longer degree are not covered.
Benefits & funding
- First-year tuition waived by the University of Sussex
- Living stipend of £1,999.10 a month over a 10-month grant (£19,991), an estimate subject to change
- US$1,500 travel stipend, plus travel and accommodation for required Commission enrichment events
- Accident and sickness cover; no support for dependants
Eligibility
- US citizens or nationals at the deadline who are not UK residents; permanent residents are not eligible; dual US-UK citizens may apply
- A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant field, before departure; PhD holders at grant start are not eligible
- Not eligible: anyone living or studying in the UK in 2026–27, or six or more months there in the year before the grant (undergraduate study abroad excepted), or with extensive UK experience
- Not eligible: anyone who lived abroad five or more of the six years before the deadline
- Part-time, distance-learning and medical degrees 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.
“Hold a Bachelor degree or equivalent professional training/experience in a relevant field before departure to the UK … 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 this award, by 6 October 2026, 5pm ET (campus applicants face an earlier campus deadline).
- 2Apply separately to Sussex for your course, ideally before 13 January 2027; Fulbright does not pay that application fee.
- 3Arrange your own letter of affiliation or support; Sussex does not issue one to master’s applicants.
- 4If shortlisted, interview by video call in February–early March 2027; slots cannot be rescheduled.
Program timeline
6 October 2026, 5pm ET
Fulbright deadline (2027–28 cycle)
Sussex application, ideally by
13 January 2027
interviews
February–March 2027
all applicants notified
April 2027
arrival and orientation in the UK
September 2027