What happens on the programme?
Explore US universities on a week long trip to the US
Learn about the US admissions process at two residentials in the Spring
Support from expert advisers throughout the process
In-depth admissions test preparation
Guidance for parents and teachers
Make friends with young people from across the UK
Format and key dates for 2025 Programme
Applicants will be expected to participate in all elements of Part 1 of the programme.
Part 1: Explore
Late Autumn 2025 – January 2025
Applications for the 2025 programme are open until 11:59p.m. on Tuesday, 14th January.
Early March 2025
You will be notified of the outcome of your application in early March.
8 -10 April 2025
At the April residential you’ll meet your cohort from across the UK. This action-packed residential will allow you to hear from current students, alumni of American universities and experts in the admissions field.
13 – 15 June 2025
You will spend time preparing to go on your US week and begin to work on elements of the US admissions application, such as essays and the extracurricular list.
May, June and July 2025
Working through our bespoke modular course, you will learn how to write about yourself, your world view and your achievements. These will form the building blocks of a US application in the autumn.
14 July – 3 August 2025
The programme includes a weeklong residential in the United States. You will stay in university dorms and take part in campus tours, information sessions and cultural activities. You will also take part in a university fair, where students will meet with university representatives from all over the US. During this week, you will start to decide if studying in the US is the right choice for you.
The weeklong visit to the US will be held between late July and early August at a leading US university. Until we confirm dates and campuses, students should be available for this entire period.
August 2025
If you decide you would like to apply to US universities during Year 13, you can apply to join the second part of the programme.
Part 2: Apply
September 2025
Fulbright’s USA College Day is the largest US college fair in Europe. You’ll receive a VIP pass to access the admissions officers at the fair before anyone else.
September 2025 – January 2026
At this point you’ll submit your application to your university choices. The application process has multiple stages and deadlines. The Fulbright advisors will guide you through this process, including how to apply for financial aid.
December 2025
At this one day event, you will prepare for the early application results and work on your regular round applications.
July 2026
In July we celebrate all the students on the programme at our pre-departure event hosted in London. You’ll be joined by the rest of your cohort, parents, staff members, donors and programme alumni to celebrate your achievements.
All US Programme students will be invited to join the Sutton Trust alumni community. Now 30,000+ strong, you’ll gain access to suttontrustalumni.com, the online platform that offers careers support, exclusive events and the chance to connect with other alumni.
About the Sutton Trust
The Sutton Trust is committed to improving social mobility from birth to the workplace. Founded by Sir Peter Lampl in 1997, the Trust has supported over 30,000 young people through evidence-led programmes and published over 200 pieces of agenda-setting research, many of which have influenced government policy.
About the Fulbright Commission
The US-UK Fulbright Commission advances knowledge, promotes civic engagement and develops compassionate leaders through educational exchange between the peoples of the US and UK. Fulbright is part of the EducationUSA network, which is the official source of advice for UK students applying to US universities. Over the last 70 years, Fulbright has helped thousands of UK students apply to hundreds of US universities.
Thanks
The Sutton Trust Fulbright US programme is made possible through generous support from our donors.
