"Focus on Fulbright"

Fulbright logo

This page includes information on the following topics:

  • Process for Joining Rice University as a Fulbright Student from Abroad (inbound)
  • Process for Joining Rice University as a Fulbright Scholar from Abroad (inbound)
  • While at Rice University
  • Resources for Rice students interested in Fulbright (outbound)
  • Key Fulbright Contacts at Rice University

Process for Joining Rice University as a Fulbright Student

1) Fulbright student applicants must work directly with the Rice University department of interest. You are also encouraged to notify the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) and the Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) of your intent to apply to Rice University as a Fulbright student. For more information, please see https://fulbright.rice.edu/.

2) Submit documentation to OISS through the OISS Portal so we may start a file for you and send a pre-arrival welcome packet. For a list of documents, please see the OISS Portal information page. (Note: Financial proof is not required for Fulbright students.)

3) Fulbright issues the immigration form DS-2019 and the Fulbright student secures a J-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate. For more information, please see our Pre-Arrival Information webpage.

4) Upon arrival, Fulbright students must attend an immigration check-in with OISS, as well as the mandatory Graduate International Orientation. Attendance at the Rice General Graduate Orientation is also mandatory, and you may also need to attend a departmental orientation. The Academic Department will be able to provide information on all orientation requirements.

5) If you will be receiving funding from Fulbright, please confirm with your sponsor contact to which Rice office the check will be mailed.

Process for Joining Rice University as a Fulbright Scholar

1) Fulbright scholars apply directly with the Rice University faculty member and/or department of interest. The Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) will partner with inviting department's key contact to facilitate arrival and welcoming process.

2) Fulbright Visiting Scholar Institutional Response Form is sent to Maria Corcuera at OISS (mec3@rice.edu), who will work in partnership with the inviting department to confirm the details of the visit and complete the form.

3) Inviting department will initiate the administrative process at Rice through the Visitor Management System (VMS), which is intended for processing all visitors who are not receiving Rice funding.

4) Fulbright issues the immigration form DS-2019 and the Fulbright scholar secures a J-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate. For more information, please see our Pre-Arrival Information webpage.

5) Upon arrival, Fulbright scholar must check in with inviting department, and attend an OISS immigration check-in and orientation.

6) If you will be receiving funding from Fulbright, please confirm with your sponsor contact to which Rice office the check will be mailed.

While at Rice University

1) All Fulbright students and scholars are encouraged to attend any and all OISS events and programs (schedule of events available on the OISS Event Calendar).

2) Connect with the local Houston Chapter of the Fulbright Association.

3) Stay connected to OISS and GPS (Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies), and join the regular Rice Fulbright gatherings.

4) (students only) Consider joining the International Friends at Rice Program

5) (students only) For information on work authorization, contact your J program sponsor (from Fulbright).

6) (students only) For information on transferring your J program sponsorship from Fulbright to Rice University, please see below, and contact Larissa Romero (lr58@rice.edu). Please note that this process requires direct and clear coordination between your Fulbright program sponsor, Rice's J Program Responsible Officer, and yourself.

Transferring J-1 Visa Sponsorship from Fulbright to Rice (Students only)

Transferring your J-1 visa sponsorship to Rice requires direct and clear communication between your Fulbright program sponsor, Rice OISS, and yourself. Here are the steps:

1) Get a letter of financial support from your academic department, clarifying any Rice funding (e.g., tuition waiver, stipend, etc.)

2) Reach out to your Fulbright program sponsor to confirm the steps on their end, and to coordinate the agreed-upon date when they will transfer your SEVIS record to Rice University. Please make sure to CC Larissa Romero (lr58@rice.edu) in this communication.

3) Schedule an appointment with a J-1 ARO in the OISS to sign your DS-2019 and complete a brief transfer check-in/orientation. This should ideally be in the early afternoon on your SEVIS transfer date.

4) Visit Rice's Human Resources with your new DS-2019 issued by OISS to update your I-9.

Resources for Rice Students Interested in Fulbright

Undergraduate students

The Fulbright Scholarship provides financial support for program study, research, or teaching in a single country. The program allows for individually designed study/research projects or an English Teaching Assistantship. To learn more, please visit https://ccl.rice.edu/fellowships-overview.

Graduate students

The Fulbright-Hays Program provides grants to fund individual doctoral students to conduct research in other countries in modern foreign languages and area studies for periods of six to twelve months. This program holds an annual competition. Projects deepen research knowledge on and help the United States develop capability in areas of the world not generally included in U.S. curricula. Projects focusing on Western Europe are not supported. To learn more, please visit https://graduate.rice.edu/resources/search-fellowships.

Key Fulbright Contacts at Rice University

Fulbright Scholars (inbound, prospective and while at Rice): Maria Corcuera (mec3@rice.edu)

Fulbright Graduate Students (inbound, prospective): Dr. Seiichi Matsuda, Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (matsuda@rice.edu) & Jennifer Hunter (jkh6@rice.edu)
Fulbright Graduate Students (inbound, while at Rice): Larissa Romero, International Services Specialist (lr58@rice.edu)

Rice Undergraduates interested in applying for Fulbright (outbound): Center for Civic Leadership (cclfellowships@rice.edu)

Rice Graduate Students interested in applying for Fulbright (outbound): Kate Cross, Assistant Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (katec@rice.edu)