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.
Teach one or more undergraduate courses per semester in area of specialization. Undertake student advising and advise on curriculum and materials development. Occasional lectures at other institutions may be requested.
While this is a teaching award, some research may be allowed during the grant period pending approval from Fulbright and the proper authorities. The percentage or amount of research varies on a case by case basis and is mutually agreed upon by the scholar and the university. Any approved research should not interfere with the Fulbright Scholar's teaching responsibilities.
Final affiliations are arranged through negotiations between the Royal Government of Bhutan and the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, which provides the government information about the Scholar's interests and preferred cities. Final affiliations can be subject to change. While most Scholars request to stay in the capital city of Thimphu, the Bhutanese generally prefer to place Scholars outside the capital.
10.5 month grants (two semesters) should begin in August 2026.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Applicants should not make direct inquiries to institutions regarding an affiliation but may express an institutional preference in their applications.
All teaching will be in English; additional language proficiency is not required.
Applicants should have a minimum of three years of full-time university/college teaching experience. Teaching assistantships do not count toward this requirement.
Round-trip, Fly America Act compliant international travel for the grantee will be arranged by an agency designated by IIE.
Additional Travel and Relocation Allowances will range from $3,550.00 - $3,750.00 depending on the length of the grant.
A mandatory stopover in New Delhi for briefings with U.S. Embassy personnel before and after the grant is required.
$1,500 book and educational materials allowance for Teaching grants. All materials purchased with the allowance are expected to be donated to the host institution (or other in-country entity) upon grantee's departure.
Additional living and housing allowance is provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependent. These amounts range from $200/month to $800/month.
In addition, travel allowances are provided for up to two dependents.
A dependent education reimbursement allowance is provided ranging from up to $6,000 to up to $24,000 depending on the number of dependents and length of the grant. Reimbursement is based on actual cost of tuition and fees only, and is dependent on funding availability.
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.
South and Central Asia Fulbright Conference
With funding provided by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the U.S.-India Educational Foundation (the Fulbright Commission in India) invites eligible Fulbright grantees in the South and Central Asia region to attend the annual South and Central Asia Fulbright Conference in India (usually held in February or March). The conference is an opportunity for Fulbright U.S. Scholars and U.S. Student Researchers who are on their Fulbright grants in the SCA region at the time of the conference to gather to discuss each other’s work, network, and share their experiences as international exchange participants.
Financial assistance to attend the conference is provided as an additional Fulbright grant benefit.
South and Central Asia Fulbright Regional Travel Grant
With additional funding provided by the United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, during their grant period, Fulbright Scholars in the South and Central Asia (SCA) region may apply for a regional travel grant to engage in a variety of activities at academic institutions or non-profit organizations in eligible SCA countries (Bangladesh, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). Activities that U.S Scholars may engage in include: faculty and student lectures, graduate or faculty seminars, conferences, curriculum development, public lectures, panel presentations, needs assessment, or some combination thereof. Scholars in the arts may be invited to give master classes or recitals, participate in exhibitions or workshops, or consult with cultural institutions. Activities may not include research. This grant will cover travel to and from the destination and lodging may be offered by the hosting institution. Scholars may only apply for this grant once they are in country on their Fulbright grant, and as funds are limited, may only participate in one Regional Travel Grant during their Fulbright grant.
Before traveling to another country on a Regional Travel Grant, it is important to confirm trip details with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section or Fulbright Commission in that country.
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.
Bhutan is an isolated mountain kingdom located between India and China. In 2005, the fourth King of Bhutan announced that the country would change from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy, and the country held its first democratic elections in 2008. Having opened to foreign visitors for the first time in the 1970s, Bhutan welcomed its first Fulbright Scholar in 2009. The country is undergoing vast changes as it develops as a democracy, and through its attempt to change from a donor-based economy to one that is self-sufficient, Bhutan offers scholars an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to the Bhutanese people.
Higher education is administered by The Royal University of Bhutan (founded in 2003), which is comprised of 11 different colleges and institutes. The academic year of the Royal University of Bhutan is divided into two semesters: mid-July to mid-December and February to June. Each semester is made up of a minimum of 15 weeks of teaching.
As Bhutan is still developing its civil service and university system, flexibility, patience and good humor are essential qualities for a successful Bhutan-based Fulbright experience. Placement information is often unavailable until right before the program begins and initial weeks at the universities can be difficult as many staff do not fully understand the Fulbright Program. That said, Fulbright U.S. scholars are highly valued for their expertise, leadership and professional achievements.
The Fulbright Program in Bhutan is administered by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.
If you would like to hear more about the program from our alumni, please contact ..southcentralasia@iie.org
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
The United States does not have an embassy in Bhutan. The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India manages the Fulbright Program with Bhutan.
Clearances from the government of Bhutan are required for all Fulbright assignments. Grants cannot be issued for travel to Bhutan until proper clearances are received. In addition, all placements are determined by the Royal Bhutanese government, so scholars need to be very flexible in their location and host affiliation.