All Disciplines
Panama
Number of recipients
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.
Panama's academic community welcomes professionals and scholars to teach undergraduate courses, lead seminars for students and faculty, assist in curricular development, advise students and/or combine teaching with research under the teaching/research option. For teaching/research projects, candidates should plan a 60/40 ratio of teaching to research.
Any public or private institution in Panama, except in the Darien for security reasons.
The following (non-exhaustive) list of institutions have indicated interest in collaborating with prospective Fulbright Scholars:
Ciudad del Saber/ City of Knowledge-Panama: Study abroad – Academy global engagement model. Assist in designing a program to increase study abroad activity to and from Panama by sharing best practices and strategies.
Universidad de Panamá
Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí
Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá
Universidad Tecnológica OTEIMA
Universidad de las Américas en Chiriquí
Universidad de las Américas
ISAE Universidad
Universidad Marítima Internacional de Panamá
Universidad Latina de Panamá
Universidad del Istmo
6 to 9 months total for non-Flex awards. 4 to 6 months total for Flex awards. (Please see the Flex Description section for additional details on Flex award parameters.)
Grants may begin any time after August 2025. For Flex grants, see Flex Option section.
All Scholars to Panama are required to attend a pre-departure orientation, which typically takes place in early to mid-July, prior to beginning their Fulbright grant.
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.
Research projects related to the reduction of social and economic inequality, improved quality of education in middle or high schools, and/or engagement with marginalized populations or indigenous communities are particularly welcome.
Ciudad del Saber seeks applicants with experience in designing or managing study abroad programs.
Ciudad del Saber will assist scholar with finding housing and will provide a space for research, access to the internet and virtual libraries.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Applicants must 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.
Intermediate to advanced Spanish is required for all institutions with the exception of:
Ciudad del Saber: Spanish fluency is preferred but not required
Ph.D. is preferred, but master's degree plus relevant experience is acceptable.
A terminal degree is not required for all affiliations.
Ciudad del Saber: A terminal degree is preferred but not required. Professionals outside of academia with experience in designing or managing study abroad programs are preferred.
List of accredited universities in Panama
Universidad de Panamá
Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí
Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá
Universidad Tecnológica OTEIMA
Universidad de las Américas en Chiriquí
Universidad de las Américas
ISAE Universidad
Universidad Marítima Internacional de Panamá
Universidad Latina de Panamá
Universidad del Istmo
$2,550
For Flex grants: round trip travel will be included for each segment of the grant for the grantee only. Dependent travel will not be provided.
$1,000 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.
$300 - $500 research allowance for research grants only.
Additional living and housing allowance is provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependents. These amounts range from $200/month to $400/month.
In addition, travel allowances are provided for up to two dependents. These amounts range from $1,200 - $2,400.
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.
During their grant period, Fulbright U.S. Scholars in the Western Hemisphere (WHA) region may apply for a short-term regional travel grant for activities such as workshops, seminars, presentations, lectures, performances, exhibits, curricular advising and similar projects at institutions in eligible WHA countries. (Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Uruguay).
The Regional Travel Program covers travel to and from the destination; lodging may be offered by the host institution. Scholars may only apply for this grant once they are in country on their Fulbright grant. Scholars who apply for the Flex award are ineligible for the Regional Travel Program. Additional information can be found on the Regional Travel Program website.
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.
Panama
The demand in Panama for visiting professionals, scholars, senior lecturers, and researchers at host institutions has increased greatly. Host institutions will benefit from their experience, different perspectives, training and educational culture and achieve the goal of establishing long-lasting partnerships.
Scholars are expected to be affiliated with a Panamanian university/institution and the award may also involve multiple affiliations. The two-semester academic year for public universities in Panama normally runs from late February/early March to July and again from August to December. For private universities, the academic year runs from January to April, May to August and the last quarter from September to December.
For teaching/research projects, candidates should plan a 60/40 ratio between teaching and research. In some cases, requested grant lengths may be adjusted at the discretion of the Fulbright Program.
Short-term flex grants for teaching, research or teaching/research for one-to-three month segments over one or two consecutive years are available. Final approval of flex grants will be contingent upon available funding. More information about Panama can be found in the World Factbook.
Cases of the Zika virus have been reported in the Western Hemisphere. As you prepare your Fulbright application, we encourage you to read the information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Ciudad del Saber: Vilma Falconett, Director of Public Relations
Applicants seeking other contacts in Panama may contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy. Please direct inquiries to Cultural Affairs Assistants, Sarah Ferguson .