ASEAN Research Program
Multi-Country
Multi-country
Brunei
Cambodia
Indonesia
Laos
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
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.
Conduct collaborative research in an area of specialization on an issue of priority to ASEAN or to the U.S.-ASEAN relationship in 2-3 ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam. Project statement must include a detailed description of proposed research and the relevance of the research to the broader ASEAN region, as well as the justification for each specific country included, duration and dates in each country, host institutions and planned site(s) to be visited.
Affiliations with universities, think tanks, nongovernmental organizations and research centers in the selected host countries may be considered.
Three to six months. Award activity must be undertaken in a single period of residence abroad. Applicants may propose travel to each country no more than once.
Research grants may start any time beginning August 2026 and must be completed by September 30, 2027.
Applications in the following specializations are particularly sought: ASEAN studies, comparative politics, dispute settlement and negotiation, economic integration and trade policy, educational policy (including technical and vocational education), environmental science/studies, international law, international relations, marine conservation, public health, public policy, regional security, and wildlife trafficking.
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).
Applicants are encouraged to have identified potential host institutions. Applicants should inquire with the East Asia and the Pacific Team with questions about invitation requirements for specific countries.
English is the official language of ASEAN. Applicants are not required to submit a language proficiency evaluation. However, proficiency in the local language may be recommended for some research topics, depending on the country. If applicants do not have local language skills, they should explicitly address the issue when discussing the feasibility of the project in their project statement.
These awards are for individuals who seek to establish a focus on U.S.-ASEAN relations in their work or to undertake research on a comparative project that has implications for the ASEAN region or the U.S.-ASEAN relationship.
Ph.D. is preferred, but applicants with master's degrees will be considered. Applications from established scholars as well as from candidates who are early in their careers are encouraged. Ph.D. candidates must attain a doctoral degree by the start of the grant (indicate expected date of conferral in application and project statement).
Fulbright Commissions:
- American-Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF)
- Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE)
- Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF)
- Thailand-U.S. Educational Foundation (TUSEF)
U.S. Department of State, Public Affairs Sections
Email the East Asia and the Pacific Team with questions about applying.
Tracks with research awards from each country.
Initial travel tracks with first country of award; additional intraregional travel to second or third country is $500 per trip.
Dependent travel: travel for up to two accompanying dependents, based on the country
$800 research allowance
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.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten countries in Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam. The United States was the first country to recognize ASEAN with an official U.S. Mission to ASEAN, and supports the organizational efforts to create a unified region with one vision, one identity and one community. Key areas of focus for ASEAN (and U.S. engagement with ASEAN) include promoting inclusivity, improving the quality of basic education, addressing the development gaps across the region, aligning ASEAN goals with the Sustainable Development Goals, enhancing ASEAN awareness, and furthering the development of ASEAN studies programs. American Scholars selected for this regional program should pursue collaborative research projects which support priority issue areas for the ASEAN region and to the U.S.-ASEAN relationship, with activities taking place in two or three ASEAN countries. Scholars will be encouraged to include a trip during their grant period to the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia to present on their research and meet with staff at the Secretariat and the U.S. Mission to ASEAN.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Short-listed applicants may be invited to telephone or Skype interviews.