LL.M. programs are, without a doubt, expensive. For students interested in pursuing an LL.M. in the U.S., one of the most effective (and prestigious) ways of reducing the costs of the program is by way of a Fulbright scholarship (or Fulbright award).

Each year the Fulbright Foreign Student Program awards almost 4000 scholarships for study at American universities to students from over 155 different countries. The amounts of the awards vary from country to country, but they can be up to half the total cost of study in the U.S.

Fulbright awards are administered by Fulbright Commissions or Offices in the applicant’s home country. Since the application system is not centralized, application requirements can vary.  The only general rule of eligibility is that the candidate’s home country must be a Fulbright partner. The pull down menu here lists countries that are eligible.

While application materials for the Fulbright may vary by country, generally the application requires applicants to submit information on study/research objectives and a personal statement in addition to other background information.

The study/research objective section asks applicants to provide detailed descriptions of their study objectives as well as reasons for wanting to pursue them. Applicants must indicate their major field of study as well as any specialized interests within the field in addition to the type of program expected to be undertaken and how the study plan will fit with their previous experience/training and future objectives. Applicants are given roughly one page (or fifty lines of text) for completion of this section.

Fulbright applications also require applicants to complete a personal statement, or a narrative statement describing how the applicant has achieved his/her current goals. The personal statement component asks applicants to include information about education, practical experience, special interests, number of years of practical experience in the field, and career plans as well as any significant factors that have influenced the applicant’s educational or professional development (see our separate post for tips on the LL.M. personal statement, which in part also apply for the Fulbright personal statement).  Again, applicants are given roughly one page (or fifty lines of text) to complete this section.

Applicants are further required to provide three letters of reference.  Generally, one of these letters should be an academic reference letter while another should be a professional letter. Applicants must also submit a detailed CV as well as information on future plans.

Fulbright season generally opens in early or  late summer (depending on the country) and applications are normally due in mid Fall. As with all applications, they should be commenced (and completed) well before the deadline.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program awards are one of the most competitive scholarships available.  Some applicants may find, however, that the amount of work needed to complete a detailed Fulbright application is not commensurate with the amount of scholarship money awarded since the award money will in most cases not be sufficient to cover all of the study and living costs associated with an LL.M. in the U.S. In most cases, Fulbright award recipients are also required to leave the United States after completion of their degree, meaning that recipients may not be able to complete work experience at a U.S. law firm after they have graduated, which for some may be necessary to recoup study costs.

Nevertheless, Fulbrighters (as recipients of the award are known) can carry the prestige of their Fulbright Scholarship well after completion of their LL.M. degrees.  Fulbright Scholarships are universally viewed as being bestowed on the best and the brightest of their country.  For that reason, the pursuit of a Fulbright award, for many, is well worth the effort.

For more information on the Fulbright award, visit their Home Page.

See also our growing list of LL.M. scholarships and funding instruments.

 

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