A record number of University of Michigan students have been invited to fan out across the world on prestigious Fulbright grants, U-M announced.

A total of 43 U-M students have been accepted into the government-sponsored international exchange program. Students who accept the honor will spend six months to a year teaching English or participating in research or study abroad during their host country's next academic year.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, one of 11 programs under the Fulbright umbrella, awarded grants to 1,600 U.S. students for 2010-2011. The U.S. State Department-run program is designed to foster global understanding and operates in 155 countries.

"There are a lot of things you can do with a Fulbright grant," said Kelly Peckens, an academic program officer and Fulbright Program advisor at U-M. "It can be used to take coursework abroad, to pursue an independent academic research or a field research project, or to conduct an English teaching assistantship. You can also train in the creative or performing arts."

Staff at the U-M International Institute help students and faculty with the application process. This year's Fulbright winners have wide ranging interests, from studying Japan's railway system to improving legal advocacy in Ecuador. One student will delve into the history of the olive tree in medieval Italy, while another teaches English in Germany.

It's a good jumping off point for students' careers or graduate study, Peckens said. About 144 students applied for grants at U-M.

Were you a recipient of a Fulbright grant? What did you take away from your time with the program? Tell us about the experience in the comments section below.

Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter