The University of North Georgia is one of the top universities in the nation when it comes to students earning the prestigious Fulbright grant to study internationally, the U.S. Department of State has announced.

For the 2017-18 school year, eight UNG students were awarded Fulbright grants, placing UNG second nationwide among master’s universities — UNG’s category in the Carnegie classification system used by education researchers to distinguish between different types of colleges and universities. Initially, nine UNG students were awarded finalist spots, but one student was unable to accept the award due to a conflict. An additional UNG student was an alternate. 

UNG and Emory University were the only two universities in Georgia, public or private, to be designated as top producers of U.S. Fulbright students this year.

“UNG is proud to be a state leadership institution, and this achievement is an indicator of the excellent academic and leadership development opportunities that we provide for our students,” UNG President Bonita Jacobs said. “I am pleased that our students are well prepared to take advantage of the transformational experiences provided through the Fulbright program and other nationally competitive scholarships."

UNG students awarded Fulbright grants are currently studying in countries around the world, including South Korea, Germany, Senegal, Bulgaria, and Poland.

The opportunities afforded to students through a Fulbright grant can be game-changers for their academic and professional careers.

"This is an amazing opportunity for my personal, student and professional career,” said Faith Brown, a 2017-18 Fulbright Scholar and the first student from UNG’s Gainesville Campus to be selected as a finalist. “I intend to go to graduate school for multimedia studies when I return for Bulgaria, and Fulbright is going to open so many doors to help make that possible."

For 2018-19, eight additional UNG students have been selected as Fulbright semifinalists. They are waiting on decisions from potential host countries.

"Our students continue to showcase their academic prowess by being selected for renowned national scholarships," said Dr. Tom Ormond, UNG provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "The Fulbright Program selects fewer than 2,000 students across the nation each year and for eight finalists to come from UNG is a remarkable feat."

The Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 300,000 participants — chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research; exchange ideas; and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Each year, UNG assists students, recent graduates and faculty as they work through the Fulbright application and interview process.

Since 2013, more than 75 UNG students have received a nationally competitive scholarship. Students interested in learning about nationally competitive scholarships like the Fulbright should contact Dr. Anastasia Lin in the Nationally Competitive Scholarships Office.