- General
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How has COVID-19 impacted the Fulbright Program?
The global Fulbright Program, including Fulbright Canada, was suspended for a period of time in 2020. Students and scholars whose grant period was interrupted were offered the choice of sheltering in place or returning home. Fulbright Canada offered additional financial support for all grantees. Moreover, for that cohort, we exercised considerable flexibility with respect to deferrals and no-application renewals.
While the program resumed later that year, the border remained closed until mid-August of 2021 and officially until September 7, 2021. Prior to those dates, Fulbright students and scholars were allowed to transit the border with some restrictions. Since September of 2021 the border has remained open to fully vaccinated travelers. Quarantine requirements varied, but have since been removed for fully vaccinated individuals.
Please note that border restrictions are subject to change. All grantees are required to follow the policies set out by the two governments and are strongly encouraged to adhere to the policies and practices of both home and host institutions.
Most Fulbright Canada programs are currently operating on an in-person basis (with limited exceptions). Please check with our office for the current status and requirements for each of our programs. Updates are also available on this page.
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How has COVID-19 impacted the Fulbright Program?
- U.S. Students and U.S. Scholars
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I am a degree-seeking student and have learned that my host institution is not offering in-person classes in the autumn. Can I still receive a Fulbright grant and take courses online?
Degree-seeking students are allowed to travel to Canada to start degree programs on time if their host university is open and offering in-person classes. If classes are being offered only online grantees will be allowed to start online coursework from their home country, with the understanding that they plan to travel to Canada and participate in person when possible. These grantees will be considered full-time Fulbright grantees and will receive their grant payments as usual. ASPE coverage will be available when the student arrives in the country.
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I am a degree-seeking student and my host institution is offering both in-person and online classes. Can I still receive a Fulbright grant to take courses online?
No. If classes at your host institution are available in-person, even if some classes are available online, grantees are fully expected to travel to Canada and take up the Fulbright award in person, visa arrangements and travel restrictions permitting.
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I am a graduate student undertaking fieldwork or a visiting scholar. Can I take up my award remotely?
No. Research only students and all scholars cannot take up their awards remotely. Given that this is a residential exchange program, they must be in-country to take up their award. Depending on circumstances, Fulbright Canada is able to amend grant dates and exercise a reasonable amount of flexibility.
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Are start and end dates flexible?
Yes. Fulbright Canada and most of our partner institutions are open to flexible dates. Scholars in the current cohort have been encouraged to choose the January to May time frame. Students who are not formally enrolled in a graduate program are expected to take up their awards early in the new year and complete their exchange no later than August 31st. And, while flexible arrangements are possible, program end dates cannot be extended beyond August 31st.
Dates for the 2022/23 cohort are somewhat different. Students should plan to be in-country for the academic year (September through May) while scholars can elect to be in-country for the fall term (September to December), the Winter term (January to May) or both. Summer or intersession dates are possible under some circumstances.
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Can I postpone my grant until the next academic year?
Yes, under some circumstances, grants can be deferred on a no-application basis to the following year. However, students and scholars may have to re-apply if they want to take up their grant in the following year.
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Does Fulbright Canada make this decision?
No. Policy decisions of this nature are taken by the presidentially appointed Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB).
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I am a degree-seeking student and have learned that my host institution is not offering in-person classes in the autumn. Can I still receive a Fulbright grant and take courses online?
- Canadian Students and Canadian Scholars
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I am a degree-seeking student and my host institution is not offering in-person classes in the autumn. Can I still receive a Fulbright grant to take courses online?
Degree-seeking students are allowed to travel to the United States to start degree programs on time if their host university is open and offering in-person classes. If classes are being offered only online grantees will be allowed to start online coursework from their home country, with the understanding that they plan to travel to the United States and participate in person when possible. These grantees will be considered full-time Fulbright grantees and will receive their grant payments as usual. ASPE coverage will be available when the student arrives in the country.
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I am a degree-seeking student and my host university is offering both in-person and online courses. Can I still receive a Fulbright grant to take courses online?
No. If classes at your host institution are available in-person, even if some classes are available online, grantees are fully expected to travel to the United States and take up the Fulbright award in person, visa arrangements and travel restrictions permitting.
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I am a graduate student undertaking fieldwork or a visiting scholar. Can I take up my award remotely?
Research only students and all scholars cannot take up their awards remotely. Given that this is a residential exchange program, they must be in-country to take up their award. Depending on circumstances, Fulbright Canada is able to amend grant dates and exercise a reasonable amount of flexibility.
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Are start and end dates flexible?
Yes. Fulbright Canada and most of our partner institutions are open to flexible dates. Scholars in the current cohort have been encouraged to choose the January to May time frame. Students who are not formally enrolled in a graduate program are expected to take up their awards early in the new year and complete their exchange term no later than August 31st. And, while flexible arrangements are possible, program end dates cannot be extended beyond August 31st.
Dates for the 2022/23 cohort are somewhat different. Students should plan to be in-country for the academic year (September through May) while scholars can elect to be in-country for the fall term (September to December), the Winter term (January to May) or both. Dates will vary for schools that operate on a quarter system.
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Can I postpone my grant until the next academic year?
Yes, under some circumstances, grants can be deferred on a no-application basis to the following year. However, students and scholars may have to re-apply if they want to take up their grant in the following year.
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Does Fulbright Canada make this decision?
No. Policy decisions of this nature are taken by the presidentially appointed Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB).
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I am a degree-seeking student and my host institution is not offering in-person classes in the autumn. Can I still receive a Fulbright grant to take courses online?
