Writing a Letter of Recommendation: Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Thank you for taking the time to write a letter of recommendation for a nationally competitive scholarship application. Yours is a valuable contribution to this formative process and we appreciate your advocacy on behalf of the applicant.

Please be aware, it is a matter of NCS policy that applicants must waive their right to see your letter of recommendation. We also cannot accept letters authored by applicants; the endorsement must be from the letter-signer.

At any time in the process, from brainstorming the first draft to finalizing your letter, we are delighted to help. Please contact ncs-ousf@duke.edu if you would like to discuss further or for questions or concerns.

Guidelines
	Study/Research	English Teaching Assistantship (ETA)
Criteria	Proposal Strength Validity Feasibility Methodology Strengths of research affiliation/host institution Appropriateness of the choice of location Arts Applicants: Technical and professional accomplishment in discipline Preparation Research or transferrable experience Academic background Language ability (as needed) Potential as a US cultural ambassador Interest in learning from the host country community beyond research or study agenda Maturity, adaptability, flexibility Knowledge of country’s culture, society, news, or history	Preparation for Teaching Experience or capacities for teaching or mentoring Strong communication skills Academic background Potential as a US cultural ambassador Capacity to respond well to challenges Maturity, adaptability, flexibility Engaging students, teachers, and community Knowledge of a country’s culture, society, news, or history
Number of Recommendation Letters	3	3

Application Timeline
Stage	Description	Deadline
Duke Campus Deadline	NCS convenes a faculty committee to evaluate the applications	August 22
National Foundation Submission		October 11

FAQs

Where do I submit my letter?

You will receive a link by email from the national foundation (check your spam folder) and should submit the letter online by the campus deadline. It should be a signed PDF on letterhead. NCS cannot submit the letter on your behalf, nor can it be altered after it has been submitted.

To whom do I address the letter?

Please address your letter to the “Fulbright Selection Committee”.

What might the letter contain?

How does the applicant meet the Fulbright criteria? What is outstanding about their scholarship, leadership, and/or character?
Why is the proposed host country the best place for them to study?
How does their study plan fit into their future ambitions?
What examples can you share that illustrate your strong endorsement for the candidate?
How does this applicant compare to other people you have taught/supervised?

Further Resources

Advice from the Fulbright Program to recommendation letter writers.