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.
AWARD DETAILS
AWARD ACTIVITY AND DISCIPLINES
Category: U.S. Scholar Program.
Type: Teaching, Teaching/Research or Professional project.
Award Activity: The grantee will carry out a program of teaching or a combination of teaching and research, as agreed with the Portuguese host institution.
Scholars selected for this Awards can choose 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
- Conduct a professional and/or artistic project
Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students and engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
Disciplines: Projects are sought in all disciplines.
AWARD LOCATION AND PERIOD
Location: Applicant may propose an appropriate host.
Appropriate host institutions may include accredited higher education institutions, research centers, laboratories, cultural institutions or museums, governmental or non-governmental organizations with an educational or scientific purpose, not-for-profit scientific or academic institutes, think-tanks, associations, and foundations involved in research, education, or cultural exchange.
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 expected to reside in the city or metropolitan area of their host institution for the duration of their grant.
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 2027 and May 2028.
Projects must be completed by August 31, 2028.
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 Portuguese institutions will be on summer break from mid-July until early 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
Career Profile: Artists, Early Career Academics, Mid-Career Academics, Professionals, Senior Academics.
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.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION INFORMATION
The Fulbright Commission in Portugal seeks accomplished candidates with required terminal degrees, career profile and relevant experience, who have the potential to make improvements in their fields of study and to foster long term collaborations.
Candidates should demonstrate clearly the reasons for pursuing a project in Portugal and their choice of Portuguese affiliation. Additionally, candidates should have a demonstrated interest in the country and its culture and in engaging with the wider community while in Portugal.
INTERVIEW REQUIREMENTS
As part of the selection process, some candidates will be invited for interview (via Zoom) with the Portuguese Selection Committee, in January or February 2027.
The interview will be conducted in English.
CONTACTS AND HELPFUL LINKS
Diplomatic Portal – Country Profile: Portugal
AWARD BENEFITS
AWARD ALLOWANCES
Grant stipend: €12.000 (approx. $13,880), corresponding to a monthly stipend of €3.000 (approx. $3,470).
Housing allowance: €4.000 (approx. $4,628), corresponding to a monthly allowance of €1.000 (approx. $1,157).
Award allowances are paid as a lump sum in the first month of the grant.
(Exchange rate: December 1, 2025)
TRAVEL ALLOWANCE
Travel allowance: €1.100 (approx. $1,272).
The travel allowance is paid in the first month of the grant.
(Exchange rate: December 1, 2025)
DEPENDENT BENEFITS
The Fulbright Commission offers funding for dependents (spouses and unmarried children under 18) who accompany the scholar for the full duration of the grant, as follows:
- Travel allowance: €1.100 (approx. $1,162) per dependent.
- Monthly dependent allowance: €250 (approx. $289) for a spouse, and €750 (approx. $867) per child.
Dependent allowances are paid in the first month of the grant.
(Exchange rate: December 1, 2025)
APPLICATIONS
APPLICATIONS AND DEADLINE
Number of Grants: One grant to Award.
US Scholar Program Catalog of Awards: Detailed information can be found on Award #271511-PT – All Disciplines: https://fulbrightscholars.org/award/all-disciplines-1052
Applications: Applications must be submitted through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program website: https://fulbrightscholars.org/us-scholar-awards#steps
Deadline: Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information about the U.S. Scholar Program in Portugal, contact Dora Reis Arenga, U.S. Program Manager at the Fulbright Commission Portugal, darenga@fulbright.pt.