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.
Award sponsored by Fulbright Commissions in Rabat and Madrid
Moroccan and Spanish universities, institutions of higher education, cultural, or research centers.
Six to 10 months
Grants may begin anytime after September 1, 2026 and must be completed by July 31, 2027.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
A letter of invitation is required from a host institution in each country.
The Fulbright Commission in Morocco can offer suggestions and propose institutions and contacts but securing an affiliate is the applicant's responsibility.
The Fulbright Commission in Spain cannot assist in establishing contacts at prospective host institutions.
Language proficiency should be commensurate with the project scope. Arabic, French, or Spanish proficiency is not required as long as it is not necessary to complete the teaching or research project.
Open to mid-career and senior scholars in all relevant disciplines at all academic ranks and professional equivalents.
You may be asked to participate in an interview as part of the in-country selection process.
Research centers and universities in Morocco:
Research centers and universities in Spain:
The lists are not exhaustive. Institutions not listed here can be considered as potential hosts.
Morocco:
Spain:
These amounts cover the monthly stipend, housing and living allowances and will be paid as a lump sum once the Grant is formalized (in Euros or in Dollars, at a conversion rate to be determined on April 15th, 2026. View conversion rates).
Allowances identified above for dependents apply only to those accompanying the Scholar for at least 80 percent of the grant period in each country. Funds will be distributed 100% in U.S. Dollars.
One-time travel allowance for round-trip travel from/to the U.S. and travel from the first country (Morocco or Spain) to the second country (Morocco or Spain) as follows:
$2,400 for the scholar, ($1200 paid by Morocco and $1200 paid by Spain) plus $1200 ($600 paid by Morocco and $600 paid by Spain) plus $1200 per dependent for up to two dependents.
This allowance is provided by funding from both the U.S.-Morocco and U.S.-Spain Fulbright Commissions. Grantees must then book their own travel in accordance with the Fly America Act requirements (economy class, US-Airline only, etc.)
Morocco: $500 if the scholar will reside in Morocco for more than five months, $250 if less than five months.
Spain: N/A
Morocco: Monthly housing and subsistence rates increase depending on number of dependents. See above. No tuition allowance will be provided. English-language schooling is available. An alliance of American schools in Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech and Tangier follow a regular U.S. curriculum. For Department of State information on K-12 schools in general, visit the Office of Overseas Schools website. Information is also available about Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, and Tangier.
Spain: A monthly allowance of €150 for one dependent or €300 for two or more dependents. No tuition allowance will be provided. Both public and private schools in Spain have bilingual or English language instruction available.
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.
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.
Morocco and Spain share environmental, historical, and cultural links at all levels back through time. These range from their shared geology and climate in the western Mediterranean to the kingdoms of Al-Andalus and the Sephardic Jewish community and more modern times with the establishment of the Spanish Protectorate over northern Morocco and the presence of Spanish cities, Ceuta and Melilla, along the southern shores of the Mediterranean on the African continent. Nearly a half million Moroccans have migrated to Spain in the last generation and Spanish investment in Morocco is strong and widespread. Deep artistic and architectural influences are shared between the two countries.
Morocco offers much to the talented researcher, teacher, or scholar. With its three major languages—Arabic, Berber (Amazigh), and French—Morocco’s past is reflected in every aspect of its present. American grantees in Morocco have lived in environments ranging from big-city Casablanca to nomadic encampments in the Sahara. The Moroccan university year begins in late September and runs through late June to early July. University breaks depend on Islamic holidays, fall in the latter half of January following fall semester exams, and there is a spring break in mid-March. More information on Moroccan institutions of higher education may be found at the 2018 University Web Ranking website for Morocco. The Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE) in Rabat, the Fulbright Commission for Morocco, can help you make contact with Moroccan universities, professors, professionals, and NGOs. All Fulbright programs for Morocco are available at the MACECE website. If seeking support for a possible host institution affiliate, please send your CV and proposal abstract to US Programs Officer, Ikram Boukhari at i.boukhari@fulbright.ma with your inquiry.
Grantees and their accompanying dependents may need to renew their tourist visas every three months. While MACECE will make every effort to assist grantees and their dependents in requesting visa extensions from the Moroccan government, grantees must recognize the possibility that visa renewal requests may be denied. In some cases, there may be a need to exit Morocco to another country and re-enter to obtain a new tourist visa entry stamp. All expenses associated with visa renewals and the exit/re-entry costs associated with the renewal process are the responsibility of the grantees, in accordance with their grant terms and conditions.
Spain is one of the most multi-ethnic nations in Europe, both today and in its past. Spain's universities are increasingly focused on internationalization. By offering degree programs taught partially or entirely in English, they are attracting students from a wide variety of other countries, providing viewpoints in studies and discussions that are often unique and enriching for U.S. Scholars. Scholars will be afforded the opportunity to both teach (undergraduate and/or graduate students, depending on award) and research at their host institutions, and are often invited to work with faculty on curriculum development. Research groups are usually multicultural and English is predominantly the working language. Research/teaching proposals will be evaluated not only for their excellence, but also for their potential to increase mutual understanding and future collaboration between Spain and the United States. The academic year in Spain broadly runs from September to June, with breaks during the Winter and Spring holidays (approximately December 22-January 8 and coinciding with the weeks surrounding and including the Catholic Holy Week). Research activity continues in July, whereas August is a very quiet month and most institutions are closed. For more detailed information about Spain, please see the OECD's Spain profile. Prospective applicants may contact the Spanish Fulbright Commission for further information at informacion@fulbright.es or www.fulbright.es.
Research/teaching proposals will be evaluated not only for their excellence but also for their potential to increase mutual understanding and future collaboration between Morocco, Spain, and the United States. Morocco and Spain share environmental, historical, and cultural links at all levels back through time and the aim of this award is to heighten awareness of those links.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
For Research in Morocco:
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 for research clearance. This summary can be added in the letter of invitation section of the application by the invitation letter deadline. If the applicant is not proficient in one of these two languages, it is recommended that the applicant get the summary translated. The Commission will forward this summary along with the clearance request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
While awaiting official clearance, research may be done on the basis of a "lettre d'attestation" (letter of credence) which will be provided 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. With some exceptions, notably research in political affairs, research may begin with the lettre d'attestation, which is delivered to grantees during in-country orientation. 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.
Additional information for Moroccan research clearance will be requested at the semi-final (or final) selection stage.