Fulbright Scholar Award in All Disciplines
Malaysia
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.
Grantees may propose a professional project, conduct research, teach undergraduate or graduate courses, participate in conferences, and advise students or faculty members, among other activities. Teaching/Research grantees are expected to give public lectures and/or advise on university curriculum and administration, based on the needs of the host institution. For Teaching/Research projects, the usual ratio is 40% teaching and 60% research, but this can be determined between the candidate and the host institution once grantee has been selected for the program.
In addition, the grantee may assist with curriculum development, course assessment, program evaluation, quality assurance, and faculty professional development.
Grantees are also frequently invited to give guest lectures at other Malaysian universities.
Any appropriate institution, including universities, research centers, think-tanks, museums, galleries (creative/fine arts-based projects), relevant professional and non-profit institutions, or other institutions of research and/or public and private colleges in Malaysia.
Three to 10 months. Teaching grants are traditionally for either one semester (five months) or a full academic year (10 months), though research applications proposing stays of at least three months will also be considered.
Grants should begin in September 2025 - May 2026. A start date within a month other than the preferred months may be possible.
Applicants should consider the timeline for dependent visas when developing proposals as visa approval for dependents can involve a lengthy documentation process and is time-consuming. MACEE recommends applicants planning to bring dependents under the PVP visa should plan for the visa process to take at least 1-3 months. Applicants with questions should contact MACEE at fulbrightmalaysia@macee.org.my
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.
More information about the program can be found here
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
The Fulbright Commission in Malaysia supports affiliations with all accredited higher education institutions, research institutes and NGOs based in Malaysia. Should you need assistance contacting an institution, please write to fulbrightmalaysia@macee.org.my
All teaching will be in English.
Local language fluency sufficient to complete the research project is required. Teaching/research and research grant applicants whose projects require skills in a local language must submit a language proficiency evaluation. Applicants without local language skills should explicitly address the issue in their discussion of the feasibility of the project in their project proposal.
Ph.D. is preferred, but applicants with master's degrees will be considered. In addition to more senior scholars, the Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange encourages applications from applicants who are earlier in their careers.
Following the peer review process, short-listed applicants will be invited for a video presentation.
You may be asked to participate in an interview as part of the in-country selection process.
Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange
U.S. Department of State - Malaysia
Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia
Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS)
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Monthly stipend, dependent's living allowance, and housing allowance is paid in local currency at the prevailing exchange rate.
Monthly stipend of $2,054
Additional dependents’ living allowance of $210-$420 per month, depending on the number of accompanying dependents (up to two).
Housing provided by the host institution or a housing allowance of $600 per month.
One time bench fee payment of $500 is provided is to cover the specific cost associated with visa charges, research work, laboratory work, fieldwork, or any expenses related to your project work.
The Fulbright Commission in Malaysia offers Malaysian institutions an opportunity to contribute to the Fulbright Program through cost-sharing. These arrangements allow the Commission to maximize institutional involvement in the program. Scholars are not expected to seek cost-sharing during the application process. The Commission will seek cost-sharing once it receives the panel of recommended/approved Scholars .
Economy round-trip international travel arranged by Fulbright Commission for Grantee and Spouse
One time relocation fee of $1,020 for grant period 4 months and above.
Excess baggage up to $600. The actual amount spent (up to the maximum allowed) will be reimbursed and must be supported by original receipts.
Book Allowance up to USD 600 for books and educational materials. The actual amount spent (up to the maximum allowed) will be reimbursed and must be supported by original receipts.
Up to $5,000 per child or $10,000 per family for accompanying dependents in grades K-12 is reimbursed for a full academic year, upon submission of receipts. 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.
In general, the cost of living in Malaysia is 50% lower than living in the U.S. The cost of living varies depending on where you decide to live.
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.
Malaysia
Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious federation of 13 states and three federal territories that boasts one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant economies. A confluence of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous tribes co-exist in areas as disparate as sandy beaches, urban centers, and tea plantations, though racial and religious divides persist.
Researchers and teachers in fields such as agriculture, forestry, and tropical ecology, environmental studies, Southeast Asian history, and society, media and information technology, cultural studies, public health, and Islamic topics are highly sought.
Real Estate agents are available to assist you in finding adequate housing. Click the link for more information https://www.propertyguru.com.my/property-for-rent
The light rail system (LRT) and monorail (MRT) provide very good transportation services in the city and suburban areas. The ride-hailing service Grab operates very similar to Uber or Lyft in the United States.
Grocery stores, located in most areas, are well stocked with international products of all types.
The cuisine is majorly a combination of Malay, Chinese and Indian because of its geographical location. There are also many fine continental restaurants serving all types of Western and local dishes.
One of the benefits of being in Malaysia is that the cost of living is very affordable for the high quality that it offers. From accommodation and utility expenses to food and travel expenses, daily expenses are highly manageable according to different affordability levels and preferred lifestyles. Fortunately, Malaysia is a multi-lingual country, hence language barrier is hardly an issue to contend with. The national language is Malay, and other common and fluently spoken languages include English, Mandarin, and Tamil.
Fortunately, Malaysia offers high-speed and affordable communications infrastructure as a means to stay connected to family and friends around the world.
Malaysia experiences sunny summer days all year round interspersed with tropical rain showers. Although it can be humid, it’s never too hot, with temperatures ranging between 20°C to 33°C. Dress comfortably in light clothing.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Teaching applicants proposing a diverse range of potential courses will be more easily placed.
Scholars from community colleges and ethnic minority institutions are encouraged to apply.