Overview

Hosted as a partnership between the US-UK Fulbright Commission and United Kingdom universities, the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes (UKSI) are three to four week programs for US undergraduate freshman and sophomore students, who have no or very little travel experience outside North America. Participants can explore the culture, heritage and history of the UK while experiencing higher education at a UK university through themed summer programs.

Through the UKSIs and other exchange programs, the Fulbright Program's ultimate goal is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries.

2022 Institutes Available

• Scotland (Glasgow School of Art and University of Strathclyde)
  • Technology, Innovation, and Creativity
  • July 16-August 16, 2022
• Aberystwyth University
  • Farming and Agriculture- contemporary issues
  • July 8-July 29, 2022
• University of Bristol
  • Arts, Activism, and Social Justice
  • June 19-July 9, 2022
• University College London
  • Geography and the Built Environment
  • July 3-July 23, 2022

Eligibility

• Be a US citizen and possess a US passport
• Have had no or very little study/travel experience outside of North America*
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.7
• Be at least 18 years old by the start of the program (in summer 2022)
• Be able to participate in the program in its entirety
• Be a freshman or sophomore by graduation date: have at least two years of undergraduate study remaining after the Institute finishes (i.e. after summer term 2022)

*What is meant by ‘little or no travel experience’?

Preference will be given to strong applicants who do not have extensive experience outside the US. Applicants who have spent more than four weeks outside of the US/North America in the last five years would not be eligible. Exceptions are being made for refugees and/or students from a different cultural background who have spent time abroad due to family emergencies. Candidates who have never left the US and are unlikely to without support will be prioritized.

Selection Criteria

The best applications are from well-rounded students who can demonstrate:

• Genuine desire to learn more about the UK and to share aspects of American culture
• Strong academic ability
• Ambassadorial skills (such as friendly, good listener, openness to new ideas and activities, etc.)
• Intercultural sensitivity (such as tolerant, inclusive, compassionate)
• Extracurricular activities, community involvement, and leadership potential
• Plans to further the Fulbright mission and give back to the US upon returning

The Fulbright Commission aims to select a diverse cohort. We explicitly prioritise applicants who have never left the US and are unlikely to without our support: many of our participants are low income and/or first-generation students. We are looking for a diverse range of backgrounds.

Program Benefits

UKSI participants will study alongside leading academics and professionals while developing interdisciplinary knowledge, experiencing cultural and social events, and visiting UK cultural sites and areas of scenic beauty. Other benefits include:

• Receive academic credit to transfer to your home institution
• Meet people from different backgrounds and cultures
• Become an ambassador for studying in the UK, for the Fulbright Commission and your host institution(s)
• Covered round-trip airfare
• Covered tuition and fees at the host institution
• Provided accommodations

Email NIF for Canvas resources: early January 2023

External Deadline: mid-February 2023

(for summer 2023 grant applicants)

Optional Advising Available

Enrolled undergraduate students may contact Courtney Santos, Director of National & International Fellowships, courtney.santos@unl.edu for access to our Canvas advising course resources and personalized application materials feedback. You can also book a National Fellowships advising appointment through MyPLAN.