Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program

Fulbright SIR Scholar standing in front of whiteboard teaching
Lucy Joy Wachira of Kenya teaching during her S-I-R exchange at Temple University in 2022-2023

The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (S-I-R) Program is a unique Fulbright Scholar Program initiative that is driven by U.S. institutions of higher education curriculum and teaching needs. Through the S-I-R Program, institutions host a scholar from outside of the United States for a semester or full academic year to teach courses, assist in curriculum development, guest lecture, develop study abroad/exchange partnerships and engage with the campus and the local community. S-I-Rs work across departments and curricula in a variety of ways to widely enhance or expand an existing international program, develop new world area studies programs, add an international dimension to existing coursework or provide an opportunity for American students to learn about a particular world region or country.

The institution benefits from the expertise provided, and the Scholar attains experience in the U.S. higher education arena. Host institutions will mobilize community partners to provide the visiting scholar with opportunities to learn about American culture, participate in speaking engagements, and contribute to community activities. Through these activities the institution can bolster its ability to teach courses in critical disciplines. 

S-I-R applicant institutions are encouraged to propose topics in critical disciplines that suit their institution’s needs.  

Webinars and Resources

Recorded Webinars

Contact the S-I-R Team:

sir@iie.org

Grant Duration

A semester to full academic year.

Deadline Description

The application to host a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence in 2027-2028 closed on June 1, 2026, at 5:00pm Eastern Time.

To receive future updates about the Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence Program, please complete this survey.

Eligibility

  • Applications are open to all accredited U.S. institutions of higher education. Non-U.S. institutions are ineligible. The institution must be in compliance with all applicable regulations for federally assisted programs.
  • Foreign scholars are eligible to serve as Scholars-in-Residence. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are ineligible. However, applications directly from foreign scholars will not be accepted. An application must be submitted by an authorized U.S. institution of higher education employee.
  • Scholar teaching responsibilities are limited to a maximum of two courses per semester.
  • Proposal activities must be in keeping with the policies established by the Foreign Fulbright Scholarship Board.
  • Preference will be given to institutions that have not recently hosted a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence (within the previous two years).
  • Proposals will be accepted from single institutions as well as jointly from two institutions

Eligible Topics/Fields

Applicants may propose projects in any discipline; the program especially encourages institutions to propose activities that support the following themes: 

  • Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology
  • STEM Leadership and Innovation
  • International Business and Economics
  • Freedom of Speech and Open Dialogue
  • Education and National Security
  • Energy Security, Maritime, and Critical Minerals
  • Cultural Heritage and Preservation
  • Sports Diplomacy, Leadership and International Engagement
  • Workforce Skills and Career Readiness

Application Resources

The application to host a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence in 2027-2028 closed on June 1, 2026, at 5pm EST.

We invite interested U.S. institutions to express their interest in the program and sign up for future updates about the Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence program by completing this survey. 

Detailed instructions for the S-I-R host application can be found here: 2027-2028 Application Guidelines. 

Tips for Crafting a Competitive Application

The Fulbright Program is committed to partnering with U.S. institutions of higher education to bolster their teaching efforts. Fulbright's Scholar-in-Residence Program connects a wide range of U.S. institutions with scholars from other countries for an exchange experience that benefits the host and scholar alike. Institutions interested in applying to host a foreign scholar through the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program are encouraged to follow these tips to ensure a strong proposal.

  • IMPACT: The S-I-R Program is driven by your institution's needs and interests. Demonstrate how your S-I-R Program will contribute to key goals at your institution and why Fulbright is the right partner to support your goals. Teaching is central to the S-I-R Program. Link your scholar's activities and expertise to your proposed teaching program and its impact on student learning as well as any relevant measures related to curriculum development, broad cross-campus engagement, community outreach/engagement, establishing an exchange partnership, or other indicators. Envision the impact you aspire to reach by hosting a scholar. Enlist the support of your institution's leadership to show commitment to your proposal beyond the hosting department and to raise the profile and impact of the S-I-R at your institution. Address in your proposal what types of future communication and follow-on projects you would like to ensure are in place after the scholar returns to their home country.
  • SCHOLAR: If you are naming a specific scholar, be sure to explain why you have selected this individual and in what capacity you know this individual. If you are requesting assistance with recruitment, select up to two countries within one world region and include a clear rationale for selecting these countries. Tie the specialization of your chosen or desired scholar to the activities you detail in your proposal.
  • SUPPORT: Detail your plan for curriculum, registration, workspace, and classroom requirements, ensuring your plan adheres to the recommended teaching load of one to two courses per semester. Share your plan to involve and support your scholar in your campus community, including assigning both a faculty and staff point person to address concerns throughout the S-I-R's program. Think creatively about the support that your institution might be able to give in-kind in terms of airport transit and local transportation, housing, and/or meal plans.
  • COMMUNITY: Detail campus or community resources the scholar would benefit from or contribute to, whether personally or professionally (campus libraries/archives, labs, training opportunities, working groups, local conferences, etc.). Reach out to a variety of local organizations (e.g. local libraries, cultural centers, local media, or schools/school districts) that could work with you and make preliminary plans to also engage with the scholar during their exchange. Share your strategy for getting the word out about your S-I-R's visit to your campus and local community, whether through events, press releases, social media, or other means.  
     

Countries participating in the 2026-2027 Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence Program by geographical world region

Note: Geographical listings are a matter of administrative convenience and are not intended to imply a United States government position on the legal status of the areas listed.

Africa, Sub-Saharan
BotswanaEthiopiaMozambique
Cabo VerdeGhanaNamibia
CameroonGuineaRwanda
Cote d’IvoireKenyaSouth Africa
Democratic Republic
of Congo		MadagascarUganda
EswatiniMauritius 
East Asia and the Pacific
AustraliaMongoliaTaiwan
BruneiNew ZealandThailand
CambodiaPhilippinesTimor-Leste
IndonesiaSingaporeVietnam
JapanSouth Korea 
MalaysiaSouth Pacific (Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Marshall Islands) 
Europe and Eurasia
AlbaniaFranceNetherlands
AndorraGeorgiaNorth Macedonia
ArmeniaGermanyNorway
AustriaGreecePoland
AzerbaijanHungaryPortugal
BelarusIcelandRomania
BelgiumIrelandSerbia
Bosnia-HerzegovinaItalySlovak Republic
BulgariaKosovoSlovenia
CroatiaLatviaSpain
CyprusLithuaniaSweden
Czech RepublicLuxembourgSwitzerland
DenmarkMaltaTurkey
EstoniaMoldovaUkraine
FinlandMontenegroUnited Kingdom
Middle East and North Africa
AlgeriaJordanQatar
BahrainKuwaitSaudi Arabia
EgyptLebanonTunisia
IraqMoroccoUnited Arab Emirates
IsraelOman 
South and Central Asia
BangladeshNepalTurkmenistan
IndiaPakistanUzbekistan
KazakhstanSri Lanka 
Kyrgyz RepublicTajikistan 
Western Hemisphere
ArgentinaCosta RicaNicaragua
BahamasDominican RepublicPanama
Barbados and the Eastern CaribbeanEcuadorParaguay
BelizeEl SalvadorPeru
BoliviaGuatemalaSuriname
BrazilGuyanaTrinidad/Tobago
CanadaHondurasUruguay
ChileJamaica 
ColombiaMexico 

For details on scholar benefits, please view our Information for Named or Recruited S-I-R Candidates.

 

FAQs | Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program

  1. Our institution is planning to name a specific scholar - are there specific requirements?
  2. Can we apply without naming a specific scholar?
  3. Our institution is interested in hosting a professional from another country, is this appropriate?
  4. I am a non-U.S. citizen interested in participating as a scholar. How can I apply for the Scholar-in-Residence Program?
  5. Our institution would like to apply for an S-I-R award and name someone who was recently in the United States on a Fulbright Scholar or other award. Is this acceptable?
  6. What are some examples of community engagement?
  7. What are the criteria for selecting institutions for the S-I-R award?
  8. Can an institution submit more than one application within the same cycle?
  9. Which is the most important goal of the program: to serve the institution or to serve the scholar?
  10. If our proposal is selected for an Award, is the funding provided to our institution or to the Scholar?
  11. My institution has limited resources. Is cost-sharing required? What can we offer in the way in-kind support in lieu of direct financial support?
  12. What do the Accident and Sickness Health Benefits for the Scholar cover?
  13. Is the Scholar-in-Residence Award for teaching only?
  14. Our institution seeks to bring a scholar to teach foreign language. Is it appropriate for us to apply for an S-I-R award?
  15. Can our institution apply to host an S-I-R to teach English as a second language or foreign language (ESL/EFL)?
  1. Our institution is planning to name a specific scholar - are there specific requirements?
    If you request a scholar by name, be specific about the reasons for selecting that particular individual. Relate the scholar's qualifications to the proposed activities, including how the proposed scholar's academic credentials, standing, and English language skills are appropriate for the proposed activities, their teaching/lecturing experience, and in what ways has your institution been engaged with this scholar previously. Within the application, provide the Scholar's biographical information, copy of their CV, and two letters of recommendation, including one from the Scholar’s direct supervisor at their home institution. If selected, the individual scholar will connect with the home country Fulbright office to submit additional required material. A separate application from the individual scholar is not submitted at this time.
  2. Can we apply without naming a specific scholar? 
    Yes, you will submit the application with a request to recruit a scholar. If your application is selected for an award, IIE will coordinate with U.S. embassies and Fulbright commissions abroad to recruit for your institution. Within the application, you will mark “no” to “Are you requesting a specific scholar?”.  You will be required to select two countries from within one specific geographic world region from which you would like the scholar to originate; the discipline or field of expertise, theoretical orientation (if applicable), and subjects/issues about which you wish the scholar to be particularly knowledgeable; and the scholar’s preferred qualifications including academic degree level and years of teaching experience. If your application is selected, U.S. embassies and/or Fulbright commissions in the relevant countries will conduct recruitment efforts to identify a suitable scholar(s) who fits the desired criteria. When recruitment is concluded, each country nominates 1-2 scholars for review. Once approved by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, materials from potential scholars will be forwarded to your institution for final selection.
  3. Our institution is interested in hosting a professional from another country, is this appropriate?
    Yes, institutions are encouraged to consider not only academics but professionals in the media, government, the arts, and from other fields who have skills to offer through teaching at a U.S. college or university. Professionals have successfully participated in the S-I-R Program. S-I-Rs can teach courses; assist in curriculum development; guest lecture; develop study abroad/exchange partnerships; and engage with the campus and the local community. They should have had some previous teaching experience and must have the requisite English teaching skills.
  4. I am a non-U.S. citizen interested in participating as a scholar. How can I apply for the Scholar-in-Residence Program? 
    The Scholar-in-Residence Program allows for U.S. institutions to apply to host a potential visiting scholar. Individual scholars may not apply directly.  If you are in contact with a U.S. institution that has expressed interest in hosting a Scholar-in-Residence, encourage them to connect with us at sir@iie.org and connect with your home country’s Fulbright office. In addition, please be encouraged to explore opportunities within the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program.
  5. Our institution would like to apply for an S-I-R award and name someone who was recently in the United States on a Fulbright Scholar or other award. Is this acceptable?
    Foreign Scholars must have a gap of at least two years between Fulbright Scholar awards. Additionally, preference is given to scholars who have not previously served as a Fulbright Scholar and have not had opportunities to teach, study or conduct research in the United States for an extended period within the past five years. Substantial recent experience is defined by a period aggregating more than an academic year (nine months) during the past five years. If you request a scholar with such recent experience in the United States, the proposal must give special justification. Additionally, any named scholar should be mindful of any restrictions that may be tied to their prior U.S. visa (i.e., for J1, the 24-month bar). Reach out to IIE at sir@iie.org if you have questions about a proposed scholar’s eligibility.
  6. What are some examples of cross-campus and community engagement?
    The individual scholar is expected to connect with the broader campus and with the surrounding community, not just the hosting department or academic center. The campus and community engagement piece should indicate: a) in what ways the scholar will engage with students, faculty, and staff across campus such as guest lecturing, student and faculty advising, interacting with clubs and organizations, committee service, campus events, etc., and b), what educational, social, cultural and business/professional organizations, activities and events in the community might be attractive to a Scholar-in-Residence and to which they can contribute. Some examples have included guest lecture series; film series from their home country; visits to local secondary schools; interaction with local media; etc. These should be resources/events where the scholar can learn from the community and where the community can learn from the scholar, on and off campus. See the Highlights section for examples of prior successful programmatic activities.
  7. What are the criteria for selecting institutions for the S-I-R award?
    The primary factors reviewers consider are the potential impact and benefits of the proposed teaching and programmatic activities to the institution’s goals as evidenced by the academic activities, other campus activities, community outreach activities, professional enrichment opportunities for the scholar and the sustainable impact of the S-I-R’s presence and why Fulbright is the right partner to assist your institution in achieving those goals.
  8. Can an institution submit more than one application within the same cycle?
    While an institution may submit more than one application from different departments, only one proposal from the institution will be funded. We recommend applicants speak with their institutional leadership and/or campus Fulbright representative (Fulbright Program Advisor/Fulbright Scholar Liaison) to coordinate cross-departmental needs and efforts to submit a single application. An application from an institution proposing to host a scholar in two different departments simultaneously or for a semester each will be considered, provided that the scholar has the requisite experience and expertise.
     
  9. Which is the most important goal of the program: to serve the institution or to serve the scholar?
    Service to the institution is the most important goal. Other Fulbright Programs support individual scholars who are selected to pursue their own research and lecturing interests. The S-I-R Program is a unique Fulbright Scholar Program initiative that is specifically driven by the needs of U.S. institutions of higher education to bolster their teaching efforts in critical disciplines on their campuses.  At the same time, S-I-R participants should learn and benefit from their time living and working in the United States. Prospective hosts are encouraged to think about ways to support their scholar’s intellectual and professional development while also involving them in enriching American cultural activities.
  10. If our proposal is selected for an Award, is the funding provided to our institution or to the Scholar?
    Fulbright grant benefits are provided directly to the individual Scholar, disbursed by IIE and include: round-trip international air travel, a monthly stipend, a monthly allowance for up to two dependents, and initial settling-in and professional allowances. IIE will issue the DS-2019 form in support of J-visa sponsorship. For a complete list of grant benefits, please review the “Information for named or recruited S-I-R candidates” resource on the Application Steps tab.
  11. My institution has limited resources. Is cost-sharing required? What can we offer in the way of in-kind support in lieu of direct financial support?
    Some higher education institutions are able to provide direct financial support and in-kind support. Others may not be able to do so. Direct financial support from institutions is not required for the S-I-R Program (See above for the benefits scholars receive from Fulbright). Host institutions are encouraged to think creatively about ways they can provide in-kind support to ensure a successful experience for the scholar. Some examples of in-kind support include providing housing, access to transportation, airport pick-up/drop-off, on-campus meal tickets, campus office space, apartment furnishing, professional allowances for scholars to attend conferences, etc.
  12. What do the Accident and Sickness Health Benefits for the Scholar cover?
    The U.S. Department of State provides essential accident and sickness coverage for Fulbright Scholars under a self-funded group policy called the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE). This policy is not intended to cover preventative care such as annual examinations or check-ups. The Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges Guidebook is available at International Medical Group.
  13. Is the Scholar-in-Residence Award for teaching only?
    Teaching is central to the S-I-R’s responsibilities, within and across departments and curricula in a variety of ways to enhance or expand existing international programming, develop new world area studies programs, add an international dimension to existing coursework or provide an opportunity for students to learn about a particular world region or country.  Beyond that, S-I-Rs are expected to engage with students, scholars, and staff across campus in a variety of ways and to interact with the surrounding community.  Scholar teaching responsibilities are limited to a maximum of two courses per semester.
  14. Our institution seeks to bring a scholar to teach a foreign language. Is it appropriate for us to apply for an S-I-R award?
    Proposals that include foreign language teaching must also clearly include teaching on other subjects. (If you are seeking a scholar to only teach a foreign language, consider applying to host a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant rather than the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program.)
     
  15. Can our institution apply to host an S-I-R to teach English as a second language or foreign language (ESL/EFL)?
    Proposals requesting a scholar to teach English as a second language or foreign language are not eligible.