Fulbright Scholar Award

All Disciplines

Croatia

Application Deadline
closed
Award Code
25083-HR
Activity Type
Research
Research includes activities involving scientific research, qualitative research, quantitative research, and practice-based research, including artistic research. Research can take place in locations such as the laboratory, the field, the archives, or an artist residency. It can be experimental, clinical, or applied. It can include examining policies, systems, theories, methods, interactions, and works of art and music, with the objective to evaluate or develop new knowledge or works. Quantifiable (tangible) outcomes can include publications (books, journal articles, scripts, etc.), conference presentations, artistic and musical compositions, exhibitions, performances, films, and patents.
Teaching
Teaching includes classroom teaching, as well as giving guest lectures, workshops, and seminars, and engaging in other related activities. Classroom teaching is typically at the undergraduate and graduate level, and courses may be designed by the scholar or prescribed by the host institution and may be taught or co-taught by the scholar. The teaching load varies by award, as well as the host institution. Scholars may also consult on building research capacity, advise graduate students, and assist with thesis advising.
Teaching/Research
A combination of teaching and research as described above. Refer to the award description for any specifications on percentages of time that should be devoted to teaching vs research.
Degree Requirements
Ph.D. (or other terminal degree) required
Career Profile
Artists
Awards are open to individuals who have more than seven years of experience in an artistic profession.
Early Career Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for no more than seven years.
Mid-Career Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for more than seven, and less than 13, years.
Professionals
Awards are open to individuals who have more than seven years of experience in a particular profession.
Senior Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for more than 13 years.

Number of recipients

Approximately
6
Award Start Period
September 2026 - May 2027
Award Length
4 months, or 5 months, or 6 months, or 7 months, or 8 months, or 9 months
Flex Option
Yes
Multi-Country/Area Award
No
Disciplines
Projects are sought in all disciplines
Scholars selected for this award can choose to
Advise and/or mentor students
Assist in faculty, curriculum, and/or program development
Conduct a research project designated by the host institution
Conduct a research project of the applicant’s choosing
Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses designated by the host institution
Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses of the applicant’s choosing
Conduct a professional and/or artistic project

In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities‎.

Award Activity

For teaching or teaching/research: teach undergraduate and graduate courses in area of specialization.  Initiate or contribute to curriculum development and research projects, as requested.

For research: conduct research in area of specialization.

Scholars selected for this grant will be required to attend a mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation in Summer 2025 and an In-Country Orientation in fall 2025.

For Flex grants, see Flex Option section.

Locations
Location Selection: Applicant may propose an appropriate host
Locations Detail

Any Croatian academic or research institution; applicants are encouraged to arrange their own affiliation. 

Please start your research about studying in Croatia here: Croatia welcomes you! (studyincroatia.hr) 

If you are looking for a host institution, links to institutions can be found here: Study Programmes in English (studyincroatia.hr)

For more information on conducting research in Croatia, visit:

A Foreign Researcher’s Guide to Croatia (rmobilnosto.hr)

Award Length and Period

For teaching or teaching/research: five months (preferred) or nine months. For research: four to six months. For Flex grants, see the Flex Option section.

For teaching or teaching/research: one-semester grants must begin in October 2025 or March 2026; two-semester grants must start in October 2025.

For research: grants may begin any time during the academic year -- see "Additional Qualification Information." However, October and March are preferred by Post. Summer months are discouraged (July, August). 

Flex Description

Flex Awards are offered for research grants only. Maximum 2 segments. 

The Flex Award is designed for scholars who require multiple visits to the host country. This option allows grants to be conducted over two or three short segments. Applicants must select Flex in the application form, and clearly describe their plans for Flex in their project statement, including a project timeline. Flex grantees may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host-country academic community.

Grant segments are allowed to be conducted in summer months (June, July, and August)
No
SEGMENTS MAY BE PROPOSED FOR Up to a 1 year PERIOD
2 Segments MAY BE PROPOSED
MAXIMUM LENGTH FOR ANY GRANT SEGMENT IS 4 MONTH(S)
MAXIMUM LENGTH OF THE TOTAL GRANT IS 6 MONTH(S)
MINIMUM LENGTH OF THE TOTAL GRANT IS 4 MONTH(S)

All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).

Citizenship/Residency Requirement
Permanent residents of the award country are not eligible to apply for this award.
Invitation Requirement
A letter of invitation is preferred.
Invitation Requirement Additional Information

If you are applying for a teaching or teaching/research award, we prefer that you obtain a letter of invitation from your host university approving your field and lecture plan. Please start your research about studying in Croatia here: Croatia welcomes you! (studyincroatia.hr)  If you are looking for a host institution, links to institutions can be found here: Study Programmes in English (studyincroatia.hr)

For more information on conducting research in Croatia, visit:

A Foreign Researcher’s Guide to Croatia (rmobilnosto.hr)

If you are applying for a research award, the letter of invitation is optional.

Please contact FulbrightCroatia@state.gov for more details on potential placements or if you would like to establish university contacts prior to applying for an award.

Language Proficiency Requirements
None, English is sufficient. However, feasibility of conducting the project must be demonstrated in the project statement
Additional Qualification Information

Applicants for teaching programs must have two years of college-level teaching experience.  Applications for research awards during the summer months (July and August) will be considered only when applicants can demonstrate that access to necessary facilities and resources have been secured.

Preference will be given to applicants who have not spent a significant amount of time in Croatia.  Applicants with permanent residency in Croatia are not eligible for Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards in Croatia.

Additional Comments

For information regarding affiliation options, please contact the Public Diplomacy Section at U.S. Embassy Zagreb at FulbrightCroatia@state.gov.

Post prefers one semester teaching/research grants (five months).

Research-only grants should be 4 to 6 months.

You may be asked to participate in an interview as part of the in-country selection process.

Award Allowances

Grant benefits include a monthly maintenance allowance, comprised of a base stipend and living and housing allowances. The base stipend varies based on a scholar's current academic rank (or professional equivalent). The living allowance varies and based on the city of placement, and the number of accompanying dependents. A housing allowance will be paid to grantees by the Croatian government. The housing allowance is not included in the below monthly estimate. Dependent housing and living allowances will not be provided to Flex grantees.

Researcher and Professional Project Monthly Allowances
$2770
$2870
Teaching or Teaching/Research Award Monthly Allowances
$3540
$3860
Estimated Travel and Relocation Allowance for Grantee

$3,550

For Flex grants: round trip travel will be included for each segment of the grant.

Estimated Book and Research Allowance

$750 books and educational materials allowance for teaching and teaching/research grants; should be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon grantee's departure.

Do you offer additional dependent benefits
Yes

Additional living allowance is provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependents. These amounts range from $50/month to $100/month. Housing is covered by the Croatian government.

In addition, travel allowances are provided for dependents: $2,500 for one dependent, and $5,000 for two or more dependents.

Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.

Estimated Cost of Living

Average monthly living expenses in Croatia are estimated between 750 and 1000 USD, depending on the type of accommodation (student dorm or privately rented housing) and the city in Croatia. Larger cities like Zagreb or Split, as well as popular tourist destinations, are generally more expensive. For more information on average prices in Croatia, please visit Numbeo. Please note that Croatia joined Eurozone on January 1, 2023. The official currency of the Republic of Croatia is the Euro. Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks, currency exchange offices, post offices, or at some hotels' reception desks. Major credit cards (Visa, Diners Club, Mastercard/Eurocard) are widely accepted in shops, hotels, and restaurants.  ATMs ("bankomats") are also widely available across the country. Banks are generally open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 7 pm and on Saturdays from 8 am to 12 pm, but office hours may vary, especially in smaller towns. Banks are closed on Sundays and national holidays. For a list of licensed banks in Croatia, please consult the database of the Croatian National Bank.

Special Award Benefits

Each Fulbright Scholar will receive a monthly stipend from the Croatian Government, payable in local currency but estimated to be approximately $1,250, to cover housing expenses and contribute to other living expenses.

Please refer to the figures above for an estimate of total monthly Fulbright award benefits. Benefits may include a monthly base stipend, living and housing allowances, and additional one-time allowances. Benefits may vary based on a scholar's current academic rank (or professional equivalent), the city of placement, the type of award (teaching, teaching/research, or research), and the number of and duration of stay of accompanying dependents. Research-only or Professional Project grantees receive a standard stipend that is not adjusted for academic rank. In most cases, dependent benefits will not be provided to Flex grantees, or to grantees pursuing grants less than four months (or a semester) in length.

Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State reserves the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.

Croatia

What is life like for Fulbrighters in your country?

Choosing Croatia for your Fulbright grant offers you the chance to work in the European Union's newest member state and enjoy life in a beautiful country with a historically rich culture. Croatia, located in the center of Europe, declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, making it one of Europe's youngest nations. Croatia joined the European Union in July 2013. Zagreb's capital has all the characteristics of a historic and modern central European city. Zagreb is a university center — home to 40 graduate and undergraduate institutions and over 80,000 students. Zagreb University opened in the latter half of the 17th century and is one of the oldest universities in Europe. The cities of Split, Zadar, Osijek, Dubrovnik, Pula, Koprivnica, Varazdin, and Rijeka also have universities. There is also RIT Croatia, a global satellite campus of the Rochester Institute of Technology located in Dubrovnik and Zagreb, and a growing number of private universities focusing on business and tourism.

Fulbright grantees in Croatia select from a variety of programming that includes an in-country orientation program, invitations to Embassy events, and opportunities to participate in educational programs and activities around Croatia. There are five American Corners in public and university libraries in Croatia – in Zagreb, Zadar, Osijek, Vukovar, and Rijeka. The Embassy encourages and facilitates Fulbright grantees' participation in American Corner programs. Croatian alumni of exchange programs and institutions are eligible to compete for small grants through the Embassy's Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), and Fulbright grantees often work with host institutions and partners to propose follow-on projects.

Croatia is rich in cultural programs, culinary events, and outdoor activities (Official website of the Croatian National Tourist Board | Croatia.hr). Most major cities boast summertime cultural and food festivals and winter advent holiday markets. Zagreb won the award for the best advent market in Europe for many years. The Adriatic Coast is famous for its Mediterranean landscapes and climate. Istria, the peninsula just south of Trieste in Italy, offers many lovely weekend getaways only a 2-3 hour drive from Zagreb. Dalmatia is Croatia's most famous vacation area. Historical relics abound in towns like Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik. Croatia's city of Dubrovnik in southern Dalmatia is often called the Pearl of the Adriatic and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Northern Dalmatia boasts several gorgeous coastal cities, such as Zadar and Šibenik. A warm current flowing north along the coast keeps the climate mild.  The sea temperature is warm enough for swimming until the end of September and beginning again in May. It is easy to explore and enjoy other European countries from Zagreb, with Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, and Germany just a short drive away.  

The academic year runs from October until June, with semesters running from October until January, and March until June.  Research grants are for 4-6 months; teaching and teaching/research grants are for 1-2 semesters during the academic year. Preference is given to one-semester grants. English is sufficient for teaching; research grants require language fluency commensurate with the requirements of the proposed project.

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Sunset on the island of Brac, Croatia
Andrew Lovering, Fulbright Flex Award 2019 and 2022. Sunset on the island of Brac, Croatia, SCUBA studies done with Big Blue Diving in Bol with Igor Glavicic
Previous Fulbright Recipients
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US Scholar teaching classroom of students
Mila Dragojevic, U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program 2022-2023. Lecture titled “The Croatian Spring: Leadership Lessons for Democratizing a Diverse Society” at the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, 15 November 2022.
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Margaret Hadley pointing to projector screen
Margaret Hadley, U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program 2022-2023 “Climate Changes and Public Health Seminar” at the University North, Croatia, 22 May 2023
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Margaret Hadley with group of people
Margaret Hadley, U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program 2022-2023 “Climate Changes and Public Health Seminar” at the University North, Croatia, 22 May 2023

Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.