Fulbright-National Geographic Award

The 2025-2026 application is now closed. The 2026-2027 competition will open in Spring 2025.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program applicants may apply for the Fulbright-National Geographic Award Program and propose up to $20,000 in additional grant funds from the National Geographic Society to expand their research and/or help bring their stories to life and, if selected, join the National Geographic Explorer community. 

This program provides grants to American bachelor-degree recipients of all ages and disciplines (doctoral-degree holders are ineligible) to spend one academic year in France, and/or other countries (up to three countries).

The Fulbright-National Geographic Award Program is seeking proposals that undertake an in-depth examination of a globally relevant issue as an add-on to the applicant’s Fulbright Open Study/Research project. Funded projects will incorporate science, storytelling, and/or education, and must align with one or more of the Society’s five focus areas: Ocean, Land, Wildlife, Human Histories and Cultures, or Human Ingenuity.

The US Student Program is administered by the Institute for International Education (IIE). For further information, and to apply to the fellowship, please visit the institute’s program page.

National Geographic Press release: Meet the 2024 Fulbright-National Geographic Award Recipients

Fulbright Press release: the 2024 Fulbright-National Geographic Award Recipients