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.
Host institutions welcome scholars to conduct full-time research; full-time teaching; a combination of teaching and research, often split semester by semester; or conduct a professional project in any discipline.
For teachers, or for a combination of teaching and research, applicants should suggest courses for consideration (syllabi) in their proposals and be in touch with the host university where they intend to teach ahead of application submission. The Moroccan university class is generally two hours long and meets twice a week. Applicants should expect to teach two to eight class hours per week. Additional collaborative activities and courses will be finalized in consultation with the Fulbright Commission in Rabat and the host institution.
For researchers, to the degree possible, research locations and institutions should be identified in the application. Community engagement is welcome and researchers are encouraged to give public lectures on their research and their specialties in general throughout Morocco.
There are no requirements for a teaching/research ratio, as this depends on the interests of and agreement between the scholar and the host institution.
The Professional Project activity type provides professionals and artists in various fields the opportunity to interact with relevant organizations to further their career goals. Professional Projects may include visits to organizations in the applicant's field, practical experience in day-to-day operations, public lectures, artist residencies, or other appropriate professional activities. Details on award activities are available on our site.
Applicants are required to arrange an appropriate academic or professional affiliation prior to submitting their application. Please contact US Programs Officer, Ikram Boukhari at i.boukhari@fulbright.ma with a cc to Executive Director, Dr. Rebecca Geffner at r.geffner@fulbright.ma and Chief of Staff, Meryem Hammam at m.hammam@fulbright.ma at the Fulbright Commission in Rabat for assistance in identifying possible host institutions. Applicants should send a proposed research abstract and CV when requesting assistance in host institution recommendations. The Commission can only make recommendations. It is up to the applicant to establish communication and obtain appropriate affiliation, pending the host institution's interest.
Three to 10 months.
Scholar grants may begin starting September 2026. Grantees are encouraged to arrive in early September to participate in the in-country orientation and prepare for the academic year. All grant lengths must be completed by June 2027.
Applicants must make a strong case for why the Flex option is required for their project. Generally, Flex grants should be used for academic research projects that observe behavior or participation rates over time or are seasonal in nature (festivals, religious activities). Flex grants may also be used to complete teaching or combined teaching/research activities that require follow-up visits. Flex applicants should submit possible courses for consideration and/or cite all research locations in their applications.
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.
While all projects will be considered, the Commission welcomes research projects related to STEM fields, sustainable development, circular economy, agriculture, sustainable investment, the arts (music, art, etc.), business, linguistics, English as a second language, history, etc.
During their grant period, Fulbright U.S. Scholars in the Middle East and North Africa region may apply for a short-term regional travel grant (three to fourteen days) for participation in a variety of activities including faculty and student lectures, graduate or faculty seminars, curriculum development, public lectures, panel presentations, needs assessment, conferences, or some combination thereof. Scholars who apply for the Flex award are ineligible for the Regional Travel Program.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Providing a letter of invitation from a professor or university department in the application demonstrates the applicant's seriousness of purpose.
Applicants are encouraged to consult the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) “Can-Do Statements” to determine if they are qualified.
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.
For research-only applicants: proficiency in Arabic, Amazigh, Spanish, or French may be required according to the research topic and location of fieldwork. Project proposals must include a detailed research plan. A one-page summary of proposed activities in Arabic or French is also required, which can be uploaded/appended to the invitation letter section by the invitation letter deadline.
For teaching and or teaching/research applicants: Arabic or French proficiency may be required as needed for corresponding grant activities. Project proposals must include a detailed plan of grant activity. A one-page summary of proposed activities in Arabic or French is also required, which can be uploaded/appended to the invitation letter section by the invitation letter deadline.
The language of instruction in Moroccan public institutions of higher education, for subjects other than foreign languages, Arabic, and Islamic studies, is French. However, a mix of Moroccan Arabic, Standard Arabic and French is often used in the classroom.
It should be noted that English is increasingly accepted as a language of instruction but applicants are strongly encouraged to work with their host affiliate on specific department requirements. French and Arabic are still the common languages of higher education.
For teaching and teaching/research grants, a Ph.D. is strongly preferred, along with at least three years of teaching experience. Applicants in the arts may have other qualifications. For research-only grants, professionals and other nonacademics will be considered, but a local, academic host institution/affiliate is strongly recommended.
Grantees receive international, economy class, Fly America compliant round-trip travel. All grantees, independent of the length of their grant, receive a one-time relocation allowance of $750. An excess-baggage allowance of $600 will be provided to all grantees.
A one-time book/research materials allowance of $500 will be provided for grantees staying five months or more. For grantees staying fewer than five months, the book/research allowance is $250.
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.
The cost of living depends greatly on the host city/region. Casablanca is the most expensive, followed by Tangier and Rabat. One bedroom apartments can range in rent from as low as $300/month to $1500/month (luxury apartments in urban areas). Food costs can also vary depending on lifestyle. Shopping at local markets rather than larger supermarkets can reduce costs significantly. Imported goods can be found but are more expensive than local options. Dining out in big cities can add significant costs, depending on the establishment. Transportation in the form of petit taxis or tramway (in big cities) is low cost and safe. Ride share options (similar to Uber) are available in larger cities and are slightly more expensive than local taxis, but not by much.
A limited amount of language funds may be available for scholars on a reimbursement basis, upon receipt and approval of a language plan.
Participants must exit and re-enter the country every 90 days to renew their tourist visas. A small visa allowance is included in the grant to defray the costs of these trips.
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 and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
To learn more about Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards in Morocco for 2025-26, please view our archived webinar and slides to hear directly from the Fulbright Commission, IIE staff and U.S. Scholar alums regarding award details, the scholar experience, and application guidance.
American grantees in Morocco have lived in environments ranging from big-city Casablanca to nomadic encampments in the Sahara. With its three major languages—Arabic, Amazigh, and French—Morocco’s past is reflected in every aspect of its present. As Moroccans live out the reality of their rapidly changing country, as questions of language, education, gender equality, industrialization, and infrastructure dominate the human landscape, Fulbrighters come to Morocco to teach, study, research, and engage with everyday life. Morocco offers much to the talented researcher, teacher, or scholar, and the Commission is your guide to becoming a grantee in Morocco.
The Moroccan university year begins in late September or early October and runs through late June to early July. University breaks will depend on Islamic holidays, come in the latter half of January following fall semester exams, and there is a spring break in mid-March. More information, in French, on Moroccan institutions of higher education may be found at the 2023 University Web Ranking website for Morocco.
The Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE) in Rabat can help make contact with Moroccan universities, professors, professionals, and NGOs. All of MACECE's programs are detailed on the Commission website.
Grantees and their accompanying dependents need to renew their tourist visas every 90 days. Grantees need to exit Morocco to another country and re-enter to obtain a new tourist visa entry stamp. A small allowance may be provided to help cover the expenses associated with visa renewals and the exit/re-entry costs by MACECE to the grantees, in accordance with their grant terms and conditions.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Applicants proposing to teach two full semesters must apply for a 10-month grant in order to match the length of the Moroccan academic year and fulfill their responsibilities. Exam periods and retakes sometimes go into the month of July.
Moroccan government clearance is required for all research projects and this may take three or four months to obtain once submitted by the Commission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Fulbright Commission in Rabat requests clearance on behalf of all American Fulbrighters. The project statement in your application must include a detailed plan of research. A one-page summary of proposed activities in Arabic or French is also required, which can be added as an addendum to the project statement. If the applicant is not proficient in one of these two languages, it is recommended that the applicant get the summary translated.
Once applicants are nominated for the award, the Commission will forward a version of this summary along with the clearance request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Research clearance is not guaranteed by the Commission. Subsequent changes to the research topic, host institution, or research sites are not recommended, as a second research clearance may have to be initiated, which will take additional time. Applicants should be aware of their on-line presence, since negative remarks concerning Morocco may surface during the official clearance process, resulting in denial of clearance.