Fulbright Commission
The US-UK Fulbright Commission is a bi-national educational exchange organisation established by treaty in 1948. It administers merit-based scholarships, research grants, and teaching awards enabling postgraduate students, scholars, and professionals to study, research, or teach between the United States and the United Kingdom.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fulbright Commission does
The US-UK Fulbright Commission (legally "US-UK Fulbright Commission", DBA Fulbright/Fulbright Commission) is a bi-national, independent educational exchange organisation established by treaty between the United States and United Kingdom governments in 1948. It is headquartered in London (Unit 302, Camelford House, 89 Albert Embankment) and staffed by 51-100 employees. The Commission's functional role is to administer merit-based scholarships, research grants, and teaching awards that enable postgraduate students, academics, and mid- to late-career professionals to study, research, or teach across the Atlantic in the partner country, having facilitated more than 25,000 exchanges historically and approximately 1,500 during the 2019-2025 tenure of its outgoing Executive Director. Core products include the UK Postgraduate, Scholar, and Professional Fulbright awards flowing to the USA; the US Postgraduate, Scholar, and Professional awards flowing to the UK; the Fulbright Specialist Programme and Distinguished Awards in Teaching; UK Summer Institutes for US undergraduates; the Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme for widening participation; specialist named awards (American University, University of Maryland, New School, Nursten Food Security, Fulbright-BAFTA, Alistair Cooke in Journalism); the Global Challenges Teaching Awards for virtual exchange; and signature events including USA College Day (Europe's largest US college fair), the Fulbright Distinguished Lecture, and the Fulbright Eccles Lecture.
The Commission's underlying delivery model is event- and partnership-driven rather than technology-platform-based. There is no proprietary software product; operations rely on standard SaaS (Salesforce, Mailchimp, WizeHive, Google Analytics) and a community app, the Fulbrighter network (>35,000 users). The technology thesis is institutional coordination, not automation.
The Commission's revenue model is a hybrid of four streams: treaty-anchored funding from the UK and US governments; 60+ university partnerships that co-sponsor awards through tuition waivers and stipends; trusts and foundations (Rita Allen Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Wallit Foundation); and corporate partners (Elsevier, Lloyd's of London, JetBlue, Lois Roth Foundation, BAFTA). Pricing to grantees is structured as fully-funded awards (living stipend, tuition, travel) rather than commercial fees — examples range from a £19,027 annual stipend for an All Disciplines Award at an institution outside Greater London to up to $66,000 under the Independent Placement model for US-to-UK postgraduate awards. Customer segments are primarily postgraduate students and academic scholars (both flagged as primary personas), with secondary segments in mid/late-career professionals, undergraduates, and EducationUSA advisees. Distribution combines direct online applications, the EducationUSA UK advising network, university partnerships, and the Sutton Trust channel. The organisation is governed by an independently appointed Board of Commissioners and is structurally a quasi-governmental educational exchange body rather than a conventional private company.
Fulbright Commission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fulbright Commission
- Legal name
- US-UK Fulbright Commission
- Website
- https://fulbright.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The US-UK Fulbright Commission is a bi-national educational exchange organisation established by treaty in 1948. It administers merit-based scholarships, research grants, and teaching awards enabling postgraduate students, scholars, and professionals to study, research, or teach between the United States and the United Kingdom.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fulbright Commission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Education Exchange
- NAICS
- International Affairs (92812), International Affairs (928120), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- International Affairs (9721), Foreign Governments (8888), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Government-Sponsored Scholarships & Exchange Funding (EDAIAOAF), Merit-Based Scholarships (Academic Excellence) (EDAIAOAA), University/Institutional Scholarships & Tuition Waivers (EDAIAOAG), International Student Funding & Mobility Grants Administration (EDADAHAL), Donor Coordination & Aid Effectiveness (BPADAOAA)
Keywords
Where Fulbright Commission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fulbright Commission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Funded by both UK and US governments as established by the 1948 treaty between the two nations.
- University Partnerships: Over 60 universities provide funding support for co-sponsored Fulbright awards.
- Trusts and Foundations: Supported by trusts and foundations including Rita Allen Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Wallit Foundation.
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners including Elsevier and Lloyd's of London sponsor discipline-specific awards.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | All Disciplines Award (US to UK): Living stipend outside Greater London |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | All Disciplines Award (UK to US): Independent Placement model |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | American University Award |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | University of Maryland School of Public Policy Award |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | New School Award |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Nursten Food Security Award at University of Florida |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Fulbright Commission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Fulbright Commission is a bi-national organization established by treaty in 1948 between the United States and the United Kingdom that administers Fulbright scholarships, awards, and educational exchange programs for postgraduate students, scholars, and mid-career professionals moving between the two countries. It also delivers EducationUSA advising services, runs widening participation initiatives, and convenes alumni, lecture, and industry events that support the broader UK–US academic relationship.
Product overview
The US-UK Fulbright Commission offers a comprehensive portfolio of education exchange programmes facilitating study, research, and teaching between the United States and United Kingdom. The core offerings include Fulbright Scholarships to the USA (for UK students, scholars, and professionals) and Fulbright Scholarships to the UK (for US students, scholars, and professionals), along with specialised awards such as the Distinguished Awards in Teaching and Fulbright Specialist Programme for collaborative institutional projects. Additional programmes include UK Summer Institutes for US undergraduates, the Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme for widening participation, and EducationUSA Advice services. The Commission also manages subject-specific awards including the All Disciplines Postgraduate Award, university partnership awards (American University, University of Maryland, University of Florida, The New School), the Fulbright BAFTA Scholarship, and the Alistair Cooke Journalism Award. Signature events include the annual Fulbright Distinguished Lecture and the Global Challenges Teaching Awards programme for virtual exchange. The Commission has facilitated over 25,000 exchanges since 1948.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fulbright Scholarships and Awards Core Fulbright scholarship programme for UK and US postgraduate students, scholars, and professionals to undertake study, research, or lecturing in the opposite country.
- Fulbright All Disciplines Postgraduate Award
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% of alumni say the exchange had a significant impact on their life
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Fulbright Commission
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fulbright Commission technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Fulbright Commission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Sutton TrustcorePartnership to support high achieving state school students from low income families across the UK to explore US study opportunities and apply for admission to top US universities with comprehensive financial aid. The Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme has helped 430+ low-income, first-generation UK students.
- EducationUSAcoreEducationUSA offers programs, events and advice for UK students interested in studying at accredited US higher education institutions. Fulbright Commission hosts EducationUSA UK.
- American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)corePartnership to deliver Global Challenges Teaching Awards program supporting VE/COIL courses between US and UK university classrooms addressing global challenges including Climate Action, Health Inequality, Disinformation, and Peace and Justice.
- ElsevierminorCorporate partner on discipline-specific awards focused on data analysis. Collaborated to study impact of Fulbright research scholars, examining 97 scholars from cohorts 2008/09, 2013/14, 2018/19.
- Lloyd's of LondonminorInsurance market partner on discipline-specific awards focused on risk.
- JetBlueminorSponsor of USA College Day event, Europe's largest US college fair.
- Lois Roth FoundationminorSponsor of the annual Fulbright Distinguished Lecture.
- BAFTAminorPartnership providing Fulbright-BAFTA Postgraduate Scholarship for UK students to pursue film or related disciplines at US universities.
- UK Universities (50+)coreUK universities including Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Dundee, Durham, East Anglia, Edinburgh, Imperial, King's College London, LSE, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford (Pembroke), Queen Mary, Queen's Belfast, Reading, Roehampton, Royal Holloway, Sheffield, Southampton, St Andrews, Stirling, Strathclyde, Sussex, UCL, Warwick, York and many more provide co-sponsored Fulbright Awards.
- US UniversitiescoreUS university partners including American University, University of Maryland School of Public Policy, University of Florida, The New School, Brown, Elon University, Indiana Maurer School of Law, University of Oregon, and many more host UK Fulbright scholars and students.
- University of West LondonminorProfessor Graeme Atherton at University of West London collaborated on Widening Participation Fund evaluation through surveys and focus groups with alumni.
- LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art)minorHost venue for US Forum opening and roundtable on Emerging Technologies and the Future of the Arts.
- British Library Eccles InstituteminorHost venue for Fulbright Eccles Lecture exploring theatrical relationship between UK and US.
- National Black Police AssociationminorNew institutional partner introduced during Maria Balinska's tenure.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fulbright Commission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fulbright France (Franco-American Commission for Educational Exchange): The bilateral Fulbright commission between France and the US, structurally identical to the US-UK Commission: treaty-established, government-funded, administering scholarships in both directions. It is the closest organizational analog in a different national corridor.
- German-American Fulbright Commission: Bilateral Fulbright commission between Germany and the US, offering the same exchange architecture (scholars, students, teachers, specialists) and the same dual-government funding model. Directly comparable in mission, governance, and product structure.
- Rhodes Trust: Administrator of the Rhodes Scholarships, the most prestigious single-country postgraduate scholarship sending non-US students to Oxford. Comparable in mission (international postgraduate funding) and in operating as a UK-based, endowed, non-profit exchange organization.
- Marshall Scholarships: UK government-funded postgraduate scholarships for US graduates to study in the UK. Directly comparable on one direction of Fulbright's flow (US-to-UK) and operates with the same bilateral funding logic.
- Gates Cambridge Trust: Administers Gates Cambridge Scholarships for non-UK students to pursue postgraduate study at Cambridge, funded by the Gates Foundation. Comparable in operating as an endowed, scholarship-administering charitable trust targeting international postgraduate students.
- EducationUSA: The US Department of State's global advising network for US higher education. The US-UK Fulbright Commission actually hosts EducationUSA UK as one of its core programmes, making it both a partner and a structural peer in the US international-education ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- British Council: The UK government's principal cultural and educational relations body, operating globally with a much larger footprint. Overlaps with the Fulbright Commission on UK-anchored educational exchange, advising, and partnership brokering, but at vastly greater scale and scope.
- Chevening Scholarships: UK Foreign Office's flagship scholarship programme for emerging leaders to study in the UK. A broader-incumbent peer with much larger scale; comparable in being UK government-funded and brand-led, but covers a global applicant pool rather than a single bilateral corridor.
- DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service): Germany's national agency for international academic exchange, the largest such organization globally. Comparable in administering scholarships and academic exchange for a single country, but at much greater scale and breadth than the US-UK Fulbright Commission.
Emerging players
- Sutton Trust: UK social-mobility charity running the Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme in partnership with the Commission. Comparable in addressing access to international education for low-income UK students, with overlapping programme delivery and shared applicant funnel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fulbright Commission social profiles
Digital presenceFulbright Commission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fulbright Commission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Fulbright Commission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Fulbright Commission M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Fulbright Commission
What does Fulbright Commission do?
The Fulbright Commission is a bi-national organization established by treaty in 1948 between the United States and the United Kingdom that administers Fulbright scholarships, awards, and educational exchange programs for postgraduate students, scholars, and mid-career professionals moving between the two countries. It also delivers EducationUSA advising services, runs widening participation initiatives, and convenes alumni, lecture, and industry events that support the broader UK–US academic relationship.
Is Fulbright Commission a public or private company?
Fulbright Commission is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Fulbright Commission founded?
Fulbright Commission was founded in 1948. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Fulbright Commission based?
Fulbright Commission is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Fulbright Commission make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are university Partnerships, trusts and Foundations and corporate Partnerships.
Who are Fulbright Commission's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fulbright France (Franco-American Commission for Educational Exchange), German-American Fulbright Commission, Rhodes Trust, Marshall Scholarships, Gates Cambridge Trust and EducationUSA. Broad incumbents are British Council, Chevening Scholarships and DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). Sutton Trust is listed as an emerging player.
Does Fulbright Commission have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fulbright Commission.
What industry is Fulbright Commission in?
Fulbright Commission's product category is International Education Exchange. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADALAA, Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs, with a secondary code of EDAIAOAF, Government-Sponsored Scholarships & Exchange Funding. Its NAICS code is 92812 and its SIC code is 9721.