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Fulbright Student Scholar Library Guide: Literature Reviews

Library's guide in support of Fulbright grant applicants.

Even though the Fulbright does not require a research proposal with a literature review, the exercise can be essential in developing your proposal. A literature review will help you determine:

  • What information is already out there on my area of interest?
  • Who are the leading scholars or what are the leading institutions in this field?
  • Where does your research interest lie in the broader academic conversation?
  • Where are there gaps in the study of this issue?
  • Why is your potential area of focus unique? Why should they fund you?

For assistance in developing a literature review consider consulting this library guide.

What is "current" literature?
Before conducting your search, consider where different disciplines publish their current research. For science, current may be the last few weeks or month. For humanities fields, current research may be books published several years ago!

Where disciplines tend to publish

  • Science – Peer-reviewed academic journals, conference papers
  • Social Sciences – Working papers, academic journals, conference papers, essays, policy papers, reports, books
  • Humanities – Books, book chapters, academic journals, exhibition catalogs

How do I find current literature?