Fulbright Scholar Award

All Disciplines

Mongolia

Application Deadline
closed
Award Code
25150-MN
Activity Type
Professional Project
The Professional Project activity type provides professionals and artists in various fields the opportunity to interact with relevant organizations abroad to explore a topic related to their field without answering a defined research question. Professional Projects may include: professional consultations; artist residencies; visits to organizations in the applicant's field; practical experience in day-to-day operations; public lectures; mentoring; arranging exhibitions, performances or musical compilations; preparation of print materials (books, articles, or reviews); exchange of expertise with other professionals; participation in public events; or other appropriate professional activities.
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) not 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
1
Award Start Period
August 2026 - September 2026 or January 2027 - February 2027
Award Length
7 months - 10 months
Flex Option
No
Multi-Country/Area Award
No
Disciplines
Projects are sought in all disciplines
Scholars selected for this award can choose to
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
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

Fulbright scholars will teach and/or conduct their own research, work collaboratively with new colleagues at the host institution, engage with students, and become involved in the local community. Applicants may propose teaching projects, research projects, or a combination of both in a range of subject areas relevant to Mongolia, the United States, or U.S.-Mongolia relations. Scholars may also be asked to assist the host institution with curriculum and program development and/or supervise graduate student research projects. For teaching/research grants, research should make up no more than 50 percent of grant activities.

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

Any appropriate institution.

Award Length and Period

Seven to 10 months; 10 months grants are preferable.

Two-semester grants must begin in August 2025 or September 2025; one-semester grants may begin in August 2025, September 2025, January 2026, or February 2026. Fall semester begins in August or September (until late December); spring semester begins in January or February (until mid-June). Academic calendars vary by institution.

Areas of Interest

Fulbright Mongolia is particularly interested in encouraging research on contemporary issues relevant to Mongolia, the United States, or U.S.-Mongolia relations in the following fields: artistic and cultural, agriculture, anthropology, archaeology, computer science, education, engineering, environmental sciences, geology, information sciences/systems, journalism, medical sciences, public administration, public health, social work, tourism, urban planning, and law.

Special Features

Fulbright East Asia Pacific Regional Travel Program

As conditions allow, Fulbright Scholars in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region may have the opportunity to apply for funds to support short-term (3-14 days) travel to other countries in the EAP region for activities such as lectures, workshops, graduate or faculty seminars, master classes or recitals, curricular advising or panel presentations. EAP Regional Travel Program funding covers transportation only. Regional Travel Program activities/host sites should not be included in the initial Fulbright application. Scholars may start the process of seeking out invitations for short-term activities in other EAP countries once notified that they have been selected for a Fulbright grant, but will only be able to apply for travel program funds, conditions permitting, once they have actively started their Fulbright grant in their host country. Scholars on Flex grants are not eligible for the regional travel grant.

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

Citizenship/Residency Requirement
Not applicable – all U.S. citizens are eligible to apply, regardless of dual citizenship or residency.
Invitation Requirement
A letter of invitation is required.
Invitation Requirement Additional Information

Applicants should arrange affiliation and include a letter of invitation from their preferred host institution(s).

Language Proficiency Requirements
Recommended (Intermediate): Mongolian
Required Proficiency

Applicants are encouraged to register qualified language evaluator, such as a language instructor or a translator, to conduct the external assessment in the application. Being a native speaker alone does not qualify an individual to conduct the assessment.

Applicants who are native speakers do not need to complete an external evaluation.

Level of Proficiency
Intermediate
Required Languages
Mongolian
Additional Language Requirement

All teaching will be in English; local language proficiency is desirable but not required. For research, language proficiency sufficient to complete the proposed project is required. 

Additional Qualification Information

For teaching grants, applicants should have at least three years of teaching experience at a university, college, or community college at the time of application. Teaching assistantships do not count toward this three-year requirement. Non-academic applicants with a strong professional/industry background will be considered.

Research grant applicants should have a minimum of three years of research experience or should have at least one published academic research project.

Additional Comments

Applicants should identify host institutions in order of preference in the project statement and on the application form. If necessary, the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar can assist with arranging an affiliation. Please contact at TserendagvaB@state.gov and/or PAO@usembassy.mn.

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

Researcher and Professional Project Monthly Allowances
$4020
$4020
Teaching or Teaching/Research Award Monthly Allowances
$4790
$5010
Estimated Travel and Relocation Allowance for Grantee

$4,050

Estimated Book and Research Allowance

$1,000 per semester for research or books and educational materials allowance to be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon grantee's departure.

Do you offer additional dependent benefits
Yes

Additional living and housing allowance is provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependent. These amounts range from $100/month to $200/month.

In addition, travel allowances are provided for up to two dependents. These amounts range from $2,750 to $5,500.

Up to $7,500 a semester per child or a maximum of $30,000 per family for accompanying dependents in grades K-12 is reimbursed for a full academic year, upon submission of receipts, and depending on funding availability. Amount may be adjusted for shorter grant periods. Reimbursement is based on actual cost of tuition and fees only.

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.

Special Award Benefits

Language allowance of up to $500 upon submission of receipts.

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.

Mongolia

What is life like for Fulbrighters in your country?

Mongolia is a country of many interesting dichotomies. Although it’s usually known for its ancient history, it’s a young country- both in its modern government and its populace. The median age at 31.2, 26% of the population is 14 or younger, and it became a democracy in 1990. Mongolia is a relatively new free market democracy with two autocratic neighbors: China and Russia. The people and government of Mongolia are eager to partner with the United States and adhere to their “Third Neighbor” foreign policy of developing strong ties with the United States and the West while maintaining a balanced, cordial relationship with Russia and China.

In terms of academia, Mongolia’s literacy rate is one of the highest in the world and there is a robust university system in which most universities focus on a specific field or sector for students. One potential weak point in the current system however is that almost all universities are concentrated in the overcrowded capital city Ulaanbaatar, which is home to approximately half of Mongolia’s population. There are approximately 64 higher education institutes in Mongolia and about 145,345 students at these institutions. Of these universities, 45 are private, 16 are state universities, and 3 are international/religiousinstitution branches.

The Mongolian and U.S. governments have been working closely in recent years in the higher education sector on ways to strengthen effective democratic governance, support English language education, diversify the economy, promote ambitious climate mitigation and adaptation outcomes, combat corruption, and enhance the rule of law.

To learn more about Mongolian visa types and requirements, please visit: 

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