Fulbright Scholar Award

South Pacific Islands Award

Multi-Country

Fiji

Kiribati

Multi-country

Nauru

Papua New Guinea

Samoa

Solomon Islands

Tonga

Tuvalu

Application Deadline
closed
Award Code
25972-MC
Activity Type
Research
Research includes activities involving scientific research, qualitative research, quantitative research, and practice-based research, including artistic research. Research can take place in locations such as the laboratory, the field, the archives, or an artist residency. It can be experimental, clinical, or applied. It can include examining policies, systems, theories, methods, interactions, and works of art and music, with the objective to evaluate or develop new knowledge or works. Quantifiable (tangible) outcomes can include publications (books, journal articles, scripts, etc.), conference presentations, artistic and musical compositions, exhibitions, performances, films, and patents.
Teaching
Teaching includes classroom teaching, as well as giving guest lectures, workshops, and seminars, and engaging in other related activities. Classroom teaching is typically at the undergraduate and graduate level, and courses may be designed by the scholar or prescribed by the host institution and may be taught or co-taught by the scholar. The teaching load varies by award, as well as the host institution. Scholars may also consult on building research capacity, advise graduate students, and assist with thesis advising.
Teaching/Research
A combination of teaching and research as described above. Refer to the award description for any specifications on percentages of time that should be devoted to teaching vs research.
Degree Requirements
Ph.D. (or other terminal degree) not required
Career Profile
Early Career Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for no more than seven years.
Mid-Career Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for more than seven, and less than 13, years.
Senior Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for more than 13 years.
Community College Faculty
Community College Faculty

Number of recipients

Up To
2
Award Start Period
February 2027
Award Length
4 months, or 5 months, or 6 months, or 7 months, or 8 months, or 9 months, or 10 months
Flex Option
No
Multi-Country/Area Award
Yes
Multi-Country
2
Disciplines
Projects are sought in all disciplines
Scholars selected for this award can choose to
Advise and/or mentor students
Assist in faculty, curriculum, and/or program development
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
Award Activity

Applicants may propose a teaching, teaching/research, or research project in one or two of the available countries. Teaching and teaching/research applicants will teach up to 10 hours per week in undergraduate or graduate courses within area of specialization. Possible additional activities include conducting research, advising on curriculum and program development, assisting faculty and students with developing research skills, giving public talks, mentoring students, and otherwise engaging with the academic community. For teaching/research, teaching must be a minimum of 50 percent of proposed project.

Applicants for the research option may propose a project in any field of study, not just the specific areas of interest listed above.

Applicants proposing multi-country projects must provide justification for each specific country included, duration and dates in each country, and host institutions in their project statement.

Locations Detail

Participants will undertake grant activities at an accredited higher education institution in one of the listed host countries.

Award Length and Period

The academic year runs from February to December (Semester 1 February-June; Semester 2 July-December). Grants will commence at the start of Semester 1 in February 2026.

Teaching and teaching/research applicants may propose award lengths of either one or two full semesters. Research applicants may propose award lengths of four to ten months.

Areas of Interest

Areas of Interest:

  • Communications/Journalism
  • Economic Development/Finance and Banking
  • Education Administration, Planning and Policy
  • Human Rights
  • Natural Resources/Environmental Policy
  • Public Health Policy and Management
  • Public Policy
  • Public Administration, NGO management
  • Trafficking in Persons, Policy and Prevention
  • International Relations
  • Security Cooperation
  • Information Technology and Cybersecurity
Special Features

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.

All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).

Citizenship/Residency Requirement
Applicants residing in the award country at the time of application or thereafter are not eligible to apply for this award.
Permanent residents of the award country are not eligible to apply for this award.
Invitation Requirement
A letter of invitation is required.
Invitation Requirement Additional Information

Please note that the Post (U.S. Embassy) in or overseeing your host country will not be able to assist with arranging placements at a host institution. As such, applicants are required to include a letter of invitation from their intended host institution(s) in their application.

Language Proficiency Requirements
None, English is sufficient. However, feasibility of conducting the project must be demonstrated in the project statement
Additional Language Requirement

All teaching will be in English; additional language proficiency is not required. Translation services may be provided by host institutions depending on availability. 

For teaching/research or research applicants without local dialect or other applicable language proficiency, feasibility of conducting research in English must be demonstrated in the proposal. Completion of the language proficiency report(s) is optional.

Additional Qualification Information

Teaching and Teaching/Research applicants should have at least two years of teaching experience at U.S. universities and knowledge of university management. Teaching experience may include work at a community college, but teaching assistant work does not qualify.

Experience with local, regional or international scholarly publications preferred. Prior work experience in developing countries is desirable but not required. 

Additional Comments

The U.S. Embassy in-country will provide an orientation upon arrival.

The U.S. Embassy will assist scholars and dependent(s) with obtaining visas and provide information on housing.  

For more information, please visit our East Asia and the Pacific regional webpage and view our schedule of upcoming webinars.

Email the East Asia and the Pacific Team with questions about applying.

Contacts and Helpful Links

University of South Pacific Contact Page: https://www.usp.ac.fj/study-at-usp/contact-us/

Award Allowances

Listed award allowance amounts are estimates for grantees selecting Fiji as their host country, and estimates may vary for other host countries.

Teaching or Teaching/Research Award Monthly Allowances
$6040
$6260
Estimated Travel and Relocation Allowance for Grantee

Base Amount: $6,300; Additional travel funding to second country will be available for travel to second country, if applicable.

Estimated Book and Research Allowance

$1,000 per semester for research or books and educational materials allowance to be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon grantee's departure.

Do you offer additional dependent benefits
No
Estimated Cost of Living

Cost of living can vary between the many South Pacific Island nations eligible as host countries for this award. As such, interested applicants are encouraged to research the cost of living for their intended host country. One available website for reviewing cost of living estimates is: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

Special Award Benefits

Language allowance of up to $500 upon submission of receipts

Countries Overview

The Fulbright South Pacific Islands Award provides prospective Scholars the opportunity to experience life in one of a wide variety of available host countries. Each eligible country for this award offers unique experiences and opportunities to make cross-cultural connections.

One consistency across these countries is that each grantee will likely be either the only Fulbrighter or one of a few in their host country. As such, grantees will need to be independent-minded and proactive about researching their intended host country and community.

Availability of medical services also varies by country. In some cases, grantees may need to travel outside of their host country to access necessary medical services.

As a starting point for learning more about the eligible host countries, please review the information available on their respective pages on the United States Department of State website: