Fulbright Specialist

This program pairs highly qualified U.S. academics and professionals with host institutions abroad to share their expertise, strengthen institutional linkages, hone their skills, gain international experience, and learn about other cultures while building capacity at their overseas host institutions. Visits typically last from 2 to 6 weeks. The Fulbright Specialist Program aims to provide a short-term, on-demand resource to international host institutions, giving them greater flexibility in how they participate with Fulbright. Specialists are strongly encouraged to continue to work with host institutions in the years following their initial exchange, creating opportunities for ongoing cooperation and consultancies.

To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen as well as apply to be included on the Fulbright Specialist roster. If your application is approved by a peer review panel, you are added to the roster and are eligible to be matched with a host institution’s project. Host institutions develop projects for which they would like the help of a specialist. Once a host institution has developed their initial project design, they submit a project proposal to the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in their country through an online portal. The Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy in each country determines the general process for reviewing proposals and establishes its own selection criteria based upon country-specific priorities and goals for the program. Fulbright chooses a specialist from the roster who is suited to work on a host institution’s project that has been approved by Fulbright. Host institutions have the option of naming the person they would like to help them, but the person must be on the roster. Note that the host institution must provide a strong justification of why that individual is best suited to serve in the role of the Fulbright Specialist. Ultimately, the Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy must approve of the Specialist and project match.