The University of Michigan produced 39 U.S. Fulbright students for the 2010-2011 academic year — more than Yale University, Brown University and Stanford University.

U-M was No. 1 on a list of 34 research institutions from across the country to produce at least 10 Fulbright students for that time period, The Chronicle of Higher Education reports.

U-M was followed by Yale University, which produced 31, Brown University, which turned out 24 of the scholars, and Stanford University, also with 24.

A total of 43 U-M students were offered a Fulbright U.S. Student grant — the most in U-M's history — but four declined to pursue other opportunities, according to a U-M news release. The Chronicle of Higher Education list was published when 40 of the U-M students offered the Fulbright grant had accepted it — and since then one more student has declined, making the number of U-M Fulbright students 39.

"Of course, we're extremely pleased," said Kelly Peckens, U-M academic program officer and Fulbright program advisor. "(The students) work on these for a really long time in preparation ... it shows in the results, obviously."

Peckens said U-M also placed No. 1 on the Chronicle's list of research institutions with at least 10 Fulbright grantees in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

According to the list, U-M had 144 applicants, Yale University had 111 applicants, Brown University had 96, and Stanford University had 73.

Of all the research institutions included in the list, U-M also had the greatest number of applicants for the Fulbright program.

"The number of our Fulbright grants speaks to the caliber of our students and their passion for international research and study," Ken Kollman, acting director of the U-M International Institute and acting vice provost for international affairs, said in the release. "Our success in earning these reflects Michigan's commitment to fostering global and cultural exchanges."

The Fulbright program has provided grants to nearly 1,700 American students, artists and
young professionals to study, teach English, and conduct research in more than 130
countries throughout the world beginning this fall, according to a Fulbright program news release.

U-M Fulbright grantees will be going or have gone to such countries as Ecuador, Japan and Kenya this academic year, Peckens said.

Heather Lockwood is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heatherlockwood@annarbor.com or follow her on Twitter.