Competition for the 2024 – 2025 academic year is OPEN.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program, a flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government, is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by former Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The Fulbright Program is administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.
In Montenegro, the Fulbright program is available for non-degree scholarships only. This program provides participants with grants (financial support) to conduct non-degree, full-time academic research at the graduate level at U.S. institutions of higher education in their field of study for a minimum of four months (generally, a U.S. academic semester) to a maximum of nine months (generally, a U.S. academic year). Applications are accepted for the Visiting Student Researcher category only. Participants advance their academic work, establish professional contacts in their academic fields, gain international experience, personal enrichment, and help promote mutual understanding between the United States and Montenegro. Funded by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), this program is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
FIELDS OF STUDY
Open to all fields, including, but not limited to: Natural and Social Sciences, Agriculture, Forest Resources, Forestry, Business, Economics, Public Administration, Public Health Administration, Literature and Languages, Psychology, Library Science, Educational Research, Law, Theater/Dance Education and Culture.
GRANT TYPE: All Fulbright grants are research only.
DURATION OF GRANTS: Grants are awarded for a period of up to 2 semesters (9 months).
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must:
- Have Montenegrin citizenship;
- Have a university degree;
- Demonstrate English language proficiency (In order to facilitate placement, a minimum 80 on the internet based (IBT) TOEFL test is required. Different universities accept different TOEFL scores. Besides TOEFL you may be asked to submit competitive GRE or GMAT test scores as well. Those who can submit proof of a high TOEFL and /or GRE score will be given preference);
- Demonstrate leadership skills and potential for advancement in profession; and
- Currently live and work/study in Montenegro. (Candidates who live outside Montenegro may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis but will have a more difficult time proving to the committee that they will contribute to progress in Montenegro).
Candidates should be self-directed, able to successfully undertake full-time academic research at the graduate level, highly motivated, and demonstrate excellence through their academic record, leadership potential, and qualifying educational and related professional experience. The review boards expect to see substantial academic accomplishment and potential for professional accomplishment, including for professionals in non-academic fields. Significant accomplishments may include teaching and research endeavors and awards, professional honors, memberships and activities in professional associations, exhibits, and publications. Moreover, candidates should demonstrate the cross-cultural sensitivity, responsibility, and flexibility needed to adjust successfully to life in United States. Grantees also serve as cultural ambassadors and should be prepared to speak about their country, culture, and program activities to academic, professional, or community groups.
The Fulbright Program considers candidates without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, status as a parent, protected genetic information, or sexual orientation. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, including those who intend to pursue a non-academic career. Candidates with little or no prior experience in the United States or overseas are also encouraged to apply. As a general matter, preference is given to candidates who have not had substantial recent experience in the United States and who have not previously received a Fulbright student grant.
NOT ELIGIBLE:
- Individuals with recent U.S. experience (more than 6 months within the last 5 years);
- Individuals who have attended school in the U.S. for one academic year or more during the past seven years;
- Individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status;
- A candidate with recent third-country experience may have a less compelling need for the Fulbright Program than a candidate who has never had a significant professional stay abroad.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES:
The application process must be completed ONLINE at https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2024/ . You will be required to register by opening a free account. Please follow all of the instructions closely. In the online application, you will be able to register your recommenders and the recommenders should submit their letters to the portal directly. Applicants should not be handling the recommendation letters. Here you can find detailed application instructions.
The competition for Montenegro is open until August 15, 2023. Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.
Candidates should submit a well-written, concise, and compelling application that illustrates qualifications, leadership and impact potential, and preparedness for research at the graduate level in the United States.
Candidates must propose their own research projects. Research proposals should include a clearly formulated research question, describe the objectives, methodology, the nature of research (quantitative or qualitative), its significance, evaluation, and dissemination plans, justification for residence in the United States for the proposed project, project duration, and other relevant aspects.
Proposed projects are evaluated for their goals, contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the candidate’s field, and potential for building bridges between Montenegro and the United States.
Candidates are encouraged to identify up to three preferred U.S. host institutions to conduct their proposed research activity. While these preferences are considered as much as possible, the Fulbright Program cannot guarantee that applicants will be sent to these institutions. Instead, the Fulbright Program, through IIE, will place participants at the most appropriate U.S. institutions based on their research goals and the Fulbright Program’s overall objectives and requirements. IIE’s Placement Services staff associates are field of study experts who work closely with accredited U.S. colleges and universities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to provide the best possible academic fit for participants. Participants are not able to choose or to directly arrange their affiliations with U.S. host institutions.
Grants are open, merit-based, awarded competitively, and are subject to availability of funds.
Award benefits generally include:
- Round-trip air international travelto and from the United States for the program.
- Financial support while in the United States through monthly maintenance stipends. Set by the U.S. Department of State, these stipends are established to cover estimated costs for the grantee’s cost of living in the location of the U.S. host institution, including housing, food, transportation, and incidental expenses. It is recommended that grantees bring supplementary personal funds to cover initial, additional, and miscellaneous expenses for the duration of the program.
- Coverage of fees for full-time research only at the U.S. host institution.
- Limited accident and sickness coverage that meets the requirements of J Exchange Visitor Program regulations. This coverage is not all-purpose health insurance and it is subject to specific limitations including, but not limited to pre-existing conditions, dental, and vision care. It is not intended to replace the grantee’s regular medical insurance plan which should be maintained or secured during the grant period at the participant’s expense.
- Pre-departure orientation
- Settling-in allowance
- Book allowance
- Return baggage allowance
- The program does not assist with housing arrangements, participants are responsible for their own housing arrangements.
- The program does not cover passport related expenses for grantees, and accompanying dependents, if applicable.
As part of the affiliation as a visiting student researcher with a U.S. host institution, grantees generally receive the following privileges:
- Consultation with assigned U.S. faculty research advisor/mentor
- Work space
- University ID cards
- Borrowing privileges at university libraries
- Access to appropriate laboratories
- Account for computer facilities
- On-campus or off-campus housing.
Participants are responsible for obtaining any necessary leave of absence or making other arrangements to enable them to accept the grant. Grants cannot be postponed to a subsequent academic year. Fulbright grantees must comply with program provisions to avoid grant revocation, termination, or suspension. The Fulbright Program is a non-degree program. Successful participants receive a program certificate of completion issued by the U.S. Department of State.
If accompanied by dependents, grantees are responsible for all associated costs in bringing dependents to the United States. This includes airfare and other travel expenses, living expenses, school costs, medical insurance that meets J visa Exchange Visitor Program regulations, and any uncovered medical bills. The Fulbright Program defines a dependent as a spouse, qualified same-sex domestic partner, or an unmarried child under 21 years of age.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Recipients of the Fulbright Fellowship must return to Montenegro for a minimum of two years, after the completion of their grants.
STANDARDIZED TESTS:
Applicants who make it to the second round of the selection process will be required to take the official TOEFL test. If you have taken the test in the past two years, please include the score report in your application. Candidates may also be requested to take official, GRE or GMAT, depending on their field of study.
CHANGE OF PLANS:
You should promptly inform the U.S. Embassy of any change in your academic status or future plans after this application has been submitted.
Please address all questions and concerns to PodgoricaExchanges@state.gov
For more program information, visit the IIE Fulbright Foreign Student Program’s website.
