Go Abroad with the Fulbright U.S. Student Program

What exactly is 'the Fulbright'? How can a Fulbright help my career? Would I be a competitive applicant for this fellowship? The Fulbright U.S. Student Program sends thousands of U.S. students around the globe each year to study, research, or teach for 6 to 12 months. Most programs begin September 2026 or later. A Fulbright can help you grow as a professional, whether you are a master's students looking for a "gap year" or a PhD student hoping to conduct research in another country. Many just want to spend a year growing their expertise abroad.

The fellowships team in GRAD is here to help you become a competitive applicant for this program. We’d love to learn about your goals at an upcoming info session. Register for a session or join Fulbright on Canvas to learn more.

Note that only citizens and nationals of the United States are eligible to apply for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. If you are an international applicant, we recommend that you discuss alternatives with a fellowships advisor.

March Dissertation Write-in
Monday, March 17–Thursday, March 20, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

Are you looking to jump-start your next dissertation chapter or move past a roadblock in your writing? Don’t miss UChicagoGRAD’s March Dissertation Write-In, an intensive four-day group writing retreat designed to help you build community and make meaningful progress on your work.

Family Mixer
Saturday, March 22, 3:00–5:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

Come and connect with fellow university families at this free monthly mixer. RSVP requested for planning. While we are gathering in a UChicagoGRAD space, all families are invited—not just Grad students.

Funding for Dissertation Research Abroad  
Monday, March 24, 1:00–2:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

Are you a current PhD student who wants to conduct research abroad for your dissertation or other projects? This session will review funding for international fieldwork expenses for both short-term and long-term research stays, including: travel and accommodations, field equipment, document reproduction, participation incentives, and dependent support (ex. spouses and children).

IGSAB Tax Filing Drop-In II        
Wednesday, March 26, 2:00–4:00 p.m., UChicagoGRAD HQ

It's tax season! If you were present in the U.S. in 2024, you are required to file tax forms with the government. Feel free to join us for a drop-in session to meet fellow international graduate students like you and gain some company while filing taxes together. Light refreshments will be provided. Also, do note that this is a support group and not one with instruction, so there will not be any individual tax advice, but a space to hold people together to file taxes and support each other with the process!

GRADUCon: A Career Exploration Conference 
Friday, March 28, 2025, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Ida Noyes Hall

GRADUCon is the university’s annual career exploration conference exclusively for graduate students, postdocs, and recent graduate alumni. Each year the conference brings together hundreds of participants for a full day of career-themed panel discussions and one-on-one conversations with UChicago alumni mentors. By centering the advice of alumni who have been in your shoes, GRADUCon inspires and empowers you to achieve your professional goals.

Domestic and international graduate students are eligible to apply for on-campus jobs.

Office Assistant - University of Chicago - University Registrar

TAPSA/Southern Asia Seminar Coordinator - The University of Chicago- Committee on Southern Asian Studies

Classics Graduate Assistant - University of Chicago, Classics Department

CSRPC Multimedia and Marketing Assistant - Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture @UChicago

Arts & Humanities Student Writer and Content Creator - Division of the Humanities at University of Chicago

Barista / Counter Staff: Grounds of Being - Grounds of Being: The Divinity School Coffee Shop

Spring Soiree
Saturday, May 3

Step into an evening of elegance and celebration as UChicago Graduate Council presents Spring Soirée on May 3 at the Museum of Science and Industry. This exclusive, formal affair is the perfect way to close out the year—think glistening cocktails, enchanting music, and a night of dancing beneath dazzling lights in one of Chicago’s most iconic venues. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of sophistication and revelry. Round 1 tickets go on sale March 28—stay tuned!

Missed getting a ticket, but still want a chance to join in on the fun? Join the waitlist for these sold-out events on the Graduate Council Eventbrite!

Generative AI and Academic Integrity: Some Considerations
Wednesday, March 19, 2:00–3:00 p.m., Virtual

Many instructors are concerned about the risks associated with generative AI: how students may use it and how instructors may prevent its use. This one-hour workshop will touch on ways that you can limit dishonest use of these tools, whether in academic writing, computer code assignments, or other fields. 

The Power of Connection
Thursday, March 20, 1:00–1:45 p.m., Virtual

In a world where human connection is more essential than ever, how can we build relationships that support our happiness, health, and longevity? Join Allison Gilbert, co-author of The Joy of Connections with Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer, and Kasley Killam, author of The Art and Science of Connection, for a conversation on the vital role of social health. Together, they will explore how meaningful connections can combat loneliness, enhance well-being, and ultimately help us lead longer, healthier lives.

Thinking with the Steppes as an Environmental, Socio-Political, and Epistemic Space
Monday, March 24, Social Science Research Tea Room, 1126 E 59th St

The steppe has often been seen as a background against which (hi)stories of the land forming today’s Qazaqstan have been narrated. How does our understanding of these (hi)stories change when instead, the steppe comes to the fore? In this discussion, Gail Bratcher (PhD candidate in History, University of Chicago) and Olga Mun (PhD candidate in Education, University of Oxford) reflect on the ways in which environmental approaches shape their research into the (hi)stories of the steppe.

POTUS Power Plays: Hear from the Fired
Tuesday, March 25, 5:30–6:45 p.m., Ida Noyes Cloister Club, 1212 E 59th St

Featuring Jennifer Abruzzo, former NLRB general counsel, Rohit Chopra, former Commissioner of the CFPB and Michael Missal, former Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Moderated by former Director of the Office of Management and Budget and IOP Pritzker Fellow Shalanda Young. 

An Evening of Japanese Paper Films
Thursday, March 27, 7:00–9:00 p.m., Logan Center, 915 E 60th St

In this glimpse into early Japanese film and animation, Eric Faden presents a slate of recently restored Japanese paper films. The program includes both silent and sound paper films with each title running 1-4 minutes. For titles without a soundtrack, Duo Yumeno will provide live accompaniment, blending traditional Japanese music with Western classical music influences. 

Graduate Lectureships in Human Rights
Apply by Sunday, March 23

Advanced doctoral students interested in designing and teaching their own Human Rights course (with support from a $5,100 stipend) should apply for a 2025–26 Pozen Center Graduate Lectureship. Enhance your CV, explore new topics, and present your disciplinary expertise to broader audiences.

Mindfulness Meditation
Courses start Monday, March 24             

Join Student Wellness to learn mindfulness, meditation and other mind/body techniques to help reduce stress, improve sleep, deepen awareness and strengthen resilience. In Spring Quarter, we will host a Basic course and an Advanced course. All classes take place in the beautiful Bond Chapel and are 4 weeks long.

Professional Development Workspace: Strategic Career Planning with Lucy Wark
Email Lauren Sheely (lsheely@uchicago.edu) by Thursday, March 27 to receive the link for this event on Monday, March 31, 4:00–5:30 p.m., Virtual

UChicago graduate and Fuzzy co-founder Lucy Wark presents a session to break down top career strategies.

This Spring: Take an Academic Writing Class with the ELI!
Register by Friday, March 28, 5:00 p.m.

Academic Writing Conventions focuses on producing written work that expresses clear, well-connected ideas that a North American audience will find easy to read and understand.  We will focus on standards and conventions for clear and formal expression found across fields in North American academic writing.