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.
The Fulbright-Carlos Rico Award for North American Studies offers an unparalleled opportunity to conduct research in both Canada and Mexico. The aim of the award is to enhance collaboration between leading North American scholars working on projects of importance to Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This multi-country award can be taken up at any university, government agency, or research institution in Canada and Mexico.
Projects across a broad range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary focuses are welcome. However, it should be shown that the research focus promotes collaboration and adds value to the current body of research related to our trilateral relationship and shaped by our shared borders, current events, and common interests.
Projects may include a variety of activities throughout the course of the grant period:
This award can be taken up at any university, government agency or research institution in Canada and Mexico.
COMEXUS, the Fulbright Commission in Mexico, follows the recommendations of both the Mexican government and the U.S. Department of State when placing U.S. Fulbright grantees in Mexico. Placement may be restricted or off limits in Do Not Travel states or certain areas of Mexico. Please consult the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories Webpage for information about your prospective location.
As you prepare your Fulbright application, we encourage you to read the information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website as well.
Four to ten months to be divided evenly between Canada and Mexico. Longer-term grants are preferred.
One-semester awards must begin in August or September 2026 or January 2027. Academic year awards must begin in August or September 2026.
The award is open to all disciplines with the exception of medical training.
Preference for research topics surrounding North American regionalization; governance; public policy; trade and supply chains; indigenous issues; energy, health and environmental issues; security.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
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.
Canada: If proposing affiliation at a Francophone host institution in Canada, French language ability commensurate with the requirements of the project and the host institution is required. Otherwise, English is sufficient.
Mexico: Intermediate proficiency in Spanish is required for Mexico. The level of Spanish language proficiency must be commensurate with the requirements of the project. A higher level of Spanish may be required for some projects. Recommended applicants will be invited by the Fulbright Commission in Mexico (COMEXUS) to be virtually interviewed in Spanish by a panel of experts.
Dual citizens of either Canadian-American or Mexican-American heritage are eligible to apply.
For assistance with letters of invitation, contact: Daniela Bergmann at COMEXUS (the Fulbright Commission in Mexico) or Iman Abdulmoneim at Fulbright Canada
Fulbright Canada website: Fulbright Canada - Carlos Rico
Fulbright Canada contact: info@fulbright.ca
COMEXUS - Fulbright Commission in Mexico
U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories Webpage for Mexico
For Canada, a fixed sum allowance of $12,500 for one semester will be provided.
For Mexico, a fixed sum allowance of $12,500 for one semester will be provided.
The grantee receives a fixed stipend to include travel. No separate international travel or relocation allowance is provided.
MEXICO:
The cost of living can vary greatly depending on where in Mexico you will be conducting your research, as well as your lifestyle. Los Cabos in Baja California Sur; Cancún in Quintana Roo, and Mexico City are three of the most expensive cities in Mexico. La Paz, also in Baja California Sur, and Oaxaca are among the most affordable locations in Mexico.
Cost of living in Mexico City: Rent for a comfortable apartment in a modest neighborhood can start at around $450 USD per month. Rent in a larger apartment in one of the nicer neighborhoods can start at $800 per month and go upwards of $1,500 USD. Rent in Mexico City is, on average, 70% lower than in New York. A single person's estimated monthly costs are approximately $600 USD without rent. A family of four's estimated monthly costs are approximately $1,800 USD without rent.
Cost of living in Oaxaca City: Rent for a comfortable apartment in a decent neighborhood can range between $300-600 USD per month. A single person estimated monthly costs are approximately $400 USD without rent. A family of four estimated monthly costs are approximately $1,000 USD without rent.
CANADA:
Ranked as being the best country to live in based on its quality of life and having one of the strongest economies in the world, Canada is considered a nation with fairly reasonable prices. Though it may not one of the cheapest places to live in globally, it does give other countries a run for its money. The average cost of living in Canada is $2,200 USD per month. Note that Toronto is one of the most expensive cities to live in Canada ($4,000 USD per month), and the cost of living in Montreal is among the lowest for major cities in Canada ($1,600 USD).
For additional information about how much it will cost you to live in Canada, please see the Government of Canada webpage: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/prepare-life-canada/prepare-financially.html
The grantee is required to attend a Welcome Orientation in either Ottawa, Canada, or Mexico City, Mexico, in early fall, depending on the grant start location. The Fulbright Commission in Mexico will also host a Midterm Reunion in January.
For Canada, up to CAD $1,000 for in-country travel and enrichment may be provided.
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. Additional information can be found on the Regional Travel Program website.
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.
Canada, Mexico, and the United States share a continent and a rich trilateral relationship, capable of facing issues of mutual and global interest. While at the same time, distinct historical, political, and cultural realities, lead to dynamic relationships between each country. The United States shares a border and many common interests with both Mexico and Canada, yet each has a distinctive relationship with the United States. Mexico and Canada share a strong relationship rooted in trade, immigration, industry, and innovation, and have a neighbor in common.
This geopolitical reality can lead to fascinating thematic and comparative research and support the ongoing creation of networks of individuals and institutions working on themes of interest to these bi- and trilateral relationships. Furthermore, both Canada and Mexico have universities, institutes, and internationally renowned think tanks that support innovative and ongoing collaborative research, and are typically situated in vibrant multicultural cities. Ultimately, this makes for an extraordinary exchange opportunity.
COMEXUS (the Fulbright Commission in Mexico) and Fulbright Canada are interested in projects addressing themes of interest to the continent and their individually distinct bilateral relationship to the United States. This includes issues of culture, economic integration and trade policy, society and politics, migration, environmental issues, education, public health, security, and border issues.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.