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.
Host institutions welcome scholars to teach full-time, conduct research full-time, or conduct a combination of teaching and research (either simultaneously or divided by semester), or conduct a professional project in the disciplines listed.
For proposals that include teaching, research, or a combination of teaching/research, scholars may be required to advise and/or mentor students, assist in faculty, curriculum, and/or program development, conduct a research project designated by the host institution, conduct a research project of the applicant’s choosing, teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses designated by the host institution, teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses of the applicant’s choosing. There are no requirements for a teaching/research ratio as this depends on the hosts' interests and agreement between the scholar and the host institution.
Teaching courses can be at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and must correspond with the academic calendar. Academic semesters are typically September to January and February through June. Applicants should suggest courses for consideration in their Fulbright proposals. Courses may also be designated by the host institution. Both undergraduate and graduate courses are generally 1 hours long and have approximately 15 students. Grantees should expect to teach at least 30 hours per week and work with the university to conduct additional activities such as professional development for faculty or students. Activities and courses will be finalized in consultation with the U.S. Embassy in Oman and the host institution.
The Professional Project grant may include visits to organizations in the applicant's field of expertise, practical experience in day-to-day operations, public lectures, artist residencies, or other professional activities to promote and support the organization’s development objectives. For more information, please see the activity description.
Please note: Final awards are contingent upon clearance by the Sultanate of Oman, a process that takes considerable time. All candidates and affiliations must be approved by the host institution and the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Other host institutions can be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact middleeastnorthafrica@iie.org with questions about host institution eligibility.
3 to 10 months
Teaching grants should begin in September 2026 or February 2027, based on the academic calendar and depending on grant length. Research grant and Professional Project dates may be more flexible. All grant lengths must be completed by June 2027. The academic calendar may be adjusted around Islamic and local holidays.
During their grant period, Fulbright U.S. Scholars in the Middle East and North Africa region may apply for a short-term regional travel grant (three to fourteen days) for participation in a variety of activities including faculty and student lectures, graduate or faculty seminars, curriculum development, public lectures, panel presentations, needs assessment, conferences, or some combination thereof.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Interested applicants are encouraged to establish contact with potential host institutions, which should be done as early as possible. Faculty and/or administrators in Oman may be difficult to reach from June through August. All host affiliations and research proposals must be approved by the Government of Oman; as such, the selection process for Oman may require additional time.
All teaching for sciences, medicine, and most business fields will be in English; proficiency in another language is not required. For research grants, applicants without Arabic or other applicable language proficiency, feasibility of conducting research in English must be demonstrated in the proposal.
Ph.D. or M.D. is required for the Professional Project activity.
$1,550 for relocation, in-transit, and excess baggage fees.
Plus a round-trip, economy-class, international travel arranged by travel agent selected by IIE.
$750 books and educational materials allowance for teaching or teaching/research grants; should be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon grantee's departure.
$2000 research allowance for research-only grants.
Additional living and housing (monthly) allowances are provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependents. These amounts range from $1150/month to $2240/month.
Round-trip, economy-class, international travel is arranged by travel agent selected by IIE, for up to two dependents.
Dependent tuition allowance for dependents in grades K-12 is provided on a reimbursement basis upon submission of receipts and based on the availability of funds. 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.
Estimated housing costs: $650 per month
Meals: $200 per month
Transportation: $30 per day
Internet + Utility Bills (electricity and water): $250 per month
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 Fulbright Program in Oman began in 1995. The traditional U.S Scholar program is available for Americans to teach and/or conduct research, as well as conduct professional projects at higher education institutions in Oman.
Visa/Residence
A visa is required for travel to Oman. Fulbrighters should contact their host institutions for guidance on visa type, validity duration, and associated fees.
Transportation
Taxis are the best way to get around in Oman’s major cities, and negotiating fares must be done before beginning the ride. Grantees can drive in Oman with a foreign driver’s license or an international driving permit for up to three months. After three months, participants will need to convert their valid driving permit into an Omani driving permit. Short-term visitors with a U.S. driver’s license may drive rental but not privately registered vehicles. Renting a car is a great way to explore the country during a short-term visit.
Housing
It will be the grantee's responsibility to secure housing, and rental properties are plentiful in Oman. The U.S. Embassy will not be able to assist, but will provide suggested neighborhoods.
Schooling Options for Dependents
There are a few international schools in Oman. Information and contact are available on their websites. There are also several preschools with morning-only programs.
Healthcare
Hospitals and clinics in Muscat are modern and clean, and the quality of service will vary. The Embassy’s health unit recommends that participants are current on polio, meningitis, tetanus, measles, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, and typhoid vaccinations.
Shopping
Larger cities in Oman, like Muscat and Salalah, have an ample variety of places to shop for groceries, clothing, and other items. Grocery stores, as well as shopping malls, have set prices, but there is room for bargaining in the local souks.
Please note: Final awards are contingent upon clearance by the Sultanate of Oman, a process that takes considerable time. All candidates and affiliations must be approved by the host institution and the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Helpful contacts at potential host institutions include: