Fulbright / Camões, I.P. Open Study / Research Award

OVERVIEW

The Fulbright / Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language (Camões, IP) Open Study/Research Award is designed to give U.S. citizens opportunities for personal development through educational and cultural exchange.

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

Category: U.S. Student Program.

Type: Open Study / Research.

Disciplines: Projects are accepted in one of the following fields of study:

• Culture
• Translation and Interpretation
• Learning Evaluation and Certification
• Portuguese Language Teaching Pedagogy and Didactic
• Distance Learning
• Linguistics
• Literature

These fields are limited to subjects related to Portuguese language and culture and preference will be given to projects that are especially relevant to Portuguese-American cultural relations.

Grant Duration: 8 months.

Grant Period: October 1 to May 31.

Grant starting date is October 1 but grantees are expected to travel to Portugal to attend a mandatory on-site orientation in Lisbon, in late September. The Fulbright Commission will cover accommodation in Lisbon for grantees placed outside of Lisbon.

A grantee can extend their stay in Portugal after the grant is complete but must secure a visa and insurance for any additional period of time. Fulbright sponsorship is for 8 months only, no funds or other grant benefits can be extended or transferred to the following academic year.

Award Activity

Grant activity is flexible and projects may include university coursework, scientific research in a research center, independent library, museum or field research, classes in a music conservatory or art school, or a combination of graduate study with independent research.

Fulbright grantees may register as special students, and thus be able to attend courses relevant to their projects but are responsible for the payment of any tuition fees associated.

Affiliation

Candidates are responsible for arranging their own host affiliation and must submit letters of invitation/affiliation with their applications.

Before beginning their online application, candidates should secure their affiliation, taking into consideration the faculty, programs and/or research groups in a wide range of institutions, but should also seek information about the proposed institution’s geographical location.

Information about the Portuguese System of Education, Higher Education Institutions and Research Centers in Portugal, as well as information about tuition fees for international students, 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. Candidates should confirm with the Fulbright Commission in Portugal before seeking a letter of invitation.

Orientation

The Fulbright Commission in Portugal hosts a virtual pre-departure orientation meeting in late May/early June and a mandatory in-country orientation meeting, to be held during two days, in late September, in Lisbon.

During the orientation, the Commission offers accommodation for grantees placed outside of the Lisbon metropolitan area.

AWARD REQUIREMENTS

Candidate Profile

Applications are welcome from well-qualified candidates, at all degree levels, who have completed a Bachelor’s degree before the start of the grant.

A successful candidate must be able to describe in their application the project’s feasibility, objectives, timeline and methodology, the candidate’s academic and/or professional excellence, personal motivation, leadership qualities and plans for community engagement while in Portugal.

The Commission seeks mature, responsible, independent, open-minded and self-motivated individuals who are capable of working independently with little supervision and able to adjust to academic, cultural and social settings different from those of their home country.

Eligibility

Recommended – Intermediate (1-2 years college study or equivalent)

Intermediate Portuguese language proficiency is strongly recommended by the beginning date of the grant. However, a higher level of proficiency may be required, commensurate with the proposed study/research project.

Knowledge of Portuguese language and culture is particularly relevant to promote a deeper engagement with the host community.

Although the Fulbright Commission does not sponsor Portuguese language and culture classes, we offer resources and links to search Portuguese language study opportunities. We also encourage candidates to check with their proposed hosts if such possibility is available at the institution.

Candidates should include the Language Self-Evaluation and Foreign Language Evaluation forms with their applications.

Special Application Instructions

The Fulbright Commission in Portugal seeks accomplished candidates who have the potential for advancing their fields of study and for fostering research collaborations. Candidates should demonstrate clearly the reasons for pursuing a study/research project in Portugal and their choice of affiliation.

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 will be invited for an interview with the Portuguese selection committee, via zoom videocall, during the month of February.

AWARD BENEFITS

APPLICATIONS