Fulbright African Research Scholar Program (ARSP)

(Application Period: February – May)

The Fulbright African Research Scholar Program provides an opportunity for senior academicians and scholars who already have their PhD degree (or equivalent) to conduct postdoctoral research and lecturing at U.S. universities and colleges for between three and nine months. Preference is given to applicants who provide strong justification for undertaking their research in the United States, i.e., the need for access to research facilities or materials not readily available elsewhere. Awards are offered in the physical sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. Visit http://fulbright.state.gov/participating-countries/fulbright-commissions for more information.

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2024-2025 Fulbright African Research Scholar Program (ARSP)

Deadline for Applications: June 09, 2023

Applications must be completed online at https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2024..

Program Description

 

The Fulbright African Research Scholar Program (ARSP) provides an opportunity for senior academics and scholars, primarily those who already have their PhD degree (or equivalent), to conduct postdoctoral research and lecturing at U.S. universities and colleges for between three and nine months. Preference is given to applicants who provide strong justification for undertaking their research in the United States, i.e., the need for access to research facilities or materials not readily available elsewhere. Awards are offered in the physical sciences, the social sciences and the humanities.

Degree Objective and Grant Duration

Two categories of grants are offered in the Visiting Scholar Program:  research grants and program and curriculum development grants.

Research Grants

Awards of 3 to 9 months are offered for African university faculty or administrators to conduct research in any academic discipline at a U.S. academic or research institution beginning no earlier than August 2024 and no later than March 2025. Applicants must hold a doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in their fields at the time of application. Preference will be given to individuals who have at least three years of university teaching experience and a productive scholarly record.

Program and Curriculum Development Grants

Awards of 3 to 5 months are offered for African university faculty or administrators to conduct research in any academic discipline at a U.S. academic or research institution beginning no earlier than August 2024 and no later than March 2025. Proposals should be linked to professional duties and demonstrate how the scholar will use the knowledge gained to develop new courses, curricula, or other academic programs at the home institution. These grants are designed for university faculty or administrators with less experience and who may not have had access to research or institutional developments in their disciplines. A doctorate degree is not required, but applicants must hold a minimum of a master’s or equivalent graduate degree at the time of application.

Eligibility Criteria

1. The ARSP is open to scholars in all disciplines and without regard to gender or age; however, proposals for clinical medical research involving patient contact cannot be approved under the Fulbright Program.
2. Applicants must be citizens of the country from which they apply, or permanent residents qualified to hold a valid passport issued by that country.
3. Applicants for research grants must hold a doctorate degree or equivalent terminal degree in their fields. Preference is given to individuals who have at least three years of university teaching experience and a productive scholarly record.
4. Applicants without doctorate degrees but who hold a master’s or equivalent graduate degree are eligible in the program and curriculum development category.
5. Applications for doctoral dissertation research, postdoctoral research immediately following the completion of a doctorate degree, or general professional travel, are ineligible.
6. Preference will be given to candidates who have not previously received a Fulbright scholar grant.
7. Preference will be given to candidates who have had no experience or limited experience in the U.S. Post should confirm that a nominated candidate is not scheduled to be in the U.S. on another academic program immediately before the proposed start of the Fulbright grant.
8. Applicants must have sufficient proficiency in English to carry out their research projects and collaborate effectively with colleagues. TOEFL exams are not required, but Posts may choose to institute local English language testing, if necessary, to evaluate applicants’ language skills.  At a minimum, Posts should evaluate English-language proficiency through a documented interview conducted in-person or by videoconferencing, or by telephone if videoconferencing is not a viable option
9. Applicants must be in good health.  Successful candidates will be asked to submit a Medical History and Examination Report.
10. Scholars who were unsuccessful in previous competitions may re-apply.  Repeat applicants should revise their proposals, update curriculum vitae, and obtain current letters of reference.

Funding

 

Awards provide international travel for the grantee to and from the host institution in the United States, a monthly stipend, a one-time settling-in allowance, a one-time professional allowance, and insurance coverage. Laboratory fees are not part of the standard benefits package for the African Research Scholar Program and are awarded on a limited case-by-case basis, and only if funding is available.

Dependents

 

If accompanied by dependents, Fulbright grantees are responsible for all associated costs of bringing and maintaining dependents in the United States. This includes airfare and other travel expenses, living expenses, school costs, medical insurance that meets visa regulations, and any uncovered medical bills. A modest dependent allowance may be provided in certain cases. The Fulbright Program defines a dependent as a spouse, qualified same-sex domestic partner, or an unmarried child under 21 years of age.

Placements

 

One of the most important components of the Fulbright African Research Scholar Program is a formal affiliation at a U.S. university or research institution. In many cases, applicants are in contact with colleagues at U.S. institutions and have made preliminary plans for their own placements by securing a letter of invitation from the prospective host institution. However, if you are unable to make these preliminary contacts, you are strongly encouraged to identify three institutions that have appropriate facilities for the kind of project you wish to undertake and faculty members specializing in your research interests. Please indicate the rationale for your preferences. Applicants are discouraged from requesting affiliation with an alma mater/previous host institution.  For candidates selected for awards, the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) will honor institutional preferences as far as possible.  Applicants unfamiliar with U.S. institutions may rely on CIES to recommend suitable placements.

Process and Selection Criteria

 

Fulbright African Research Scholar Program Grants are highly competitive and several stages of review are necessary to make the final selection of participants. Applicants must fulfill the eligibility criteria outlined above to be considered. Applications are due on Friday, June 09, 2023. Qualified candidates will be interviewed in English by the U.S. Embassy Selection Committee in June. Completed applications will be sent to Washington, D.C. for final approval in late-September. Fulbright grantees will be announced in March 2024.

To Submit an Application

 

Applications must be submitted using the Slate Application for Visiting Scholar system, accessible at https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2024. Before completing and submitting an application, read the instructions carefully. All application materials must be in English or accompanied by certified English translations. A complete application package will include:

1. Online Application Form: https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2024. The entire application must be submitted online. When entering a new application, select the correct cycle: 2024-2025 Fulbright African Research Program.
2. Indication of the type of grant sought (research or program and curriculum development).  The Fulbright Program will assign scholars who do not indicate a preference to the appropriate category.
3. Detailed project statement of proposed teaching and/or research to be carried out in the United States.
4. Detailed curriculum vitae.
5. Three reference letters.
6. Letter of invitation (if available).
7. Copy of TOEFL or IELTS score report (if previously taken).
8. Photocopy of the biographical data page of your passport or photo identification (B.I.).

It is not necessary to contact the U.S. Embassy before submitting your application.

PLAGIARISM POLICY:

 

When submitting applications, candidates will be required to read, accept, and adhere to the following information pertaining to plagiarism:

The Fulbright African Research Scholar Program seeks applicants whose writing achieves highest academic standards of original research, writing, and citation.  The program application includes the opportunity to describe your academic work and research.  Application materials will be processed using software to help identify any instance of plagiarism.  Plagiarism in any part of your application will result in your disqualification from participation in the Fulbright African Research Scholar Program.  ECA and IIE will follow the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the wrongful appropriation or purloining and publication as one’s own, of the ideas, or the expression of the ideas, of another.  It is expected that your project proposal will be your own work and writing, clearly citing secondary sources when describing the academic work and writing of others (including one’s own previously published work).  Any sources used in the construction of your responses must be clearly cited in your project statement and bibliography.

Deadline to Apply: Friday, June 09, 2023.

Selected semi-finalists will be required to provide certified copies and translations of all documents.

Due to the anticipated volume of applications received, we will not forward explanations to applicants not selected for the program.

For more information on the Fulbright Program or for announcements of upcoming events, e-mail MaputoExchangePrograms@state.gov , visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/U.S.EmbassyMozambique, or visit http://www.cies.org/applicants.