Fulbright – FCT: Foundation for Science and Technology Award (All Disciplines)
Deadline for applications is September 15, 2023, for AY2024/2025
OVERVIEW
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends 800 U.S. faculty and professionals abroad each year. Grantees can research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.
Over the last decades, Portugal has seen remarkable progress in learning, science and innovation, reflected in the quality of education offered at Portuguese universities. Internationalization and academic mobility are one of the priorities for Portuguese higher education institutions, which are increasingly attractive to a growing number of international students, scholars and researchers.
To learn more about Portuguese Higher Education Institutions and Research Centers, visit Study & Research in Portugal.
The Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States of America and Portugal – Fulbright Commission Portugal strives to be a collaborative and innovative organization and is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
We seek to ensure that all our grants, programs and activities reflect the diversity of U.S. and Portuguese societies and are open to people regardless of their ethnicity, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.
We work every day to build a culture of inclusiveness, respect for diversity, and understanding of the many differences that enrich the Fulbright Program.
AWARD DETAILS
AWARD ACTIVITY AND DISCIPLINES
Category: U.S. Scholar Program.
Type: Research.
- Advise and/or mentor students
- Conduct a research project designated by the host institution
- Conduct a research project of the applicant’s choosing
Disciplines: Projects are sought in all disciplines.
AWARD LOCATION AND PERIOD
Location: Applicant may propose an appropriate host.
Appropriate host institutions can be accredited higher education institutions, research centers, cultural institutions or museums, governmental or non-governmental organizations with educational or scientific purpose.
Information about Higher Education Institutions and Research Centers in Portugal can be found on the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education’s Study & Research in Portugal website.
Other institutions not listed can still be considered suitable hosts. Please confirm with the Fulbright Commission in Portugal before seeking a letter of invitation.
Grantees are required to live in the city where the host institution is located.
Length: Four months.
Period: Award dates must be approved by the Portuguese host institution. Grants can begin at any time during the academic year, between September 2024 and May 2025.
Projects must be completed by August 31, 2025.
AWARD REQUIREMENTS
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Citizenship/Residency Requirement: Applicants residing in Portugal at the time of application or thereafter are not eligible to apply for this award.
Permanent residents of Portugal are not eligible to apply for this award.
Invitation Requirement: A letter of invitation is required.
Candidates are responsible for arranging their host affiliation and must submit a letter of invitation with their application.
A letter of invitation must express the host’s interest in the project and describe the proposed activities and timeline for the project; it must be written in English and printed on institutional letterhead.
Please note that the academic year in Portugal ends in July so Portuguese institutions will be on summer break from July until September and it may prove to be difficult to contact faculty and staff during that period. Candidates should expect longer turnaround times for receiving a reply to their queries.
Follow this link for guidance on seeking Letters of Invitation and developing contacts abroad.
Degree Requirements:Ph.D. (or other terminal degree) required
Language Proficiency Requirements: None, English is sufficient. However, feasibility of conducting the project must be demonstrated in the project statement.
English is usually sufficient, but the candidate should confirm with the host institution if there are any language requirements.
Additionally, candidates should have a demonstrated interest in the country and its culture and in engaging with the wider community while in Portugal.
As part of the selection process, some candidates may be invited by the Portuguese Fulbright Commission for an interview via zoom videocall, in January 2024.
AWARD BENEFITS
Grant Stipend: €11,200 (approx. $11,708), which corresponds to a monthly stipend of €2,800 (approx. $2,927). Award allowances are paid in a lump sum on the first month of the grant.
Travel Allowance: €1,100 (approx. $1,150), for grantees only. Travel allowance is paid on the first month of the grant.
DEPENDENT BENEFITS
The Fulbright Commission offers funding for dependents who stay with the scholar during the entirety of the grant period.
Amounts are determined prior to the start of the academic year, according to availability of funds.
ESTIMATED COST OF LIVING
An estimate of the cost of living in Portugal can be found on websites such as https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living.
Estimated monthly costs can range from €500 ($522, for one person) to €2,000 ($2,090, for a family of four), without rent.
Rents are higher in larger metropolitan areas such as Lisbon and Porto, when compared to other Portuguese regions. Grantees are responsible for finding their own housing but are encouraged to contact their host institution for assistance.
(Exchange rate of December 1, 2022)
APPLICATIONS
APPLICATIONS AND DEADLINE
Number of Grants: Up to Six Grants to Award.
Applications: Applications must be submitted through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program website: 24128-PT – Fulbright – FCT: Foundation for Science and Technology Award (All Disciplines).
Deadline: September 15, 2023.
Additional Information: For more information about the U.S. Scholar Program in Portugal, contact Dora Reis Arenga, US Program Manager at the Fulbright Commission Portugal, darenga@fulbright.pt.