Competition for the 2024 – 2025 academic year is OPEN.
The Application for the Fulbright Scholar Program (Post-Doctoral) in the United States (NON-DEGREE)
Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program – The Embassy of the United States of America in Montenegro is now accepting applications for the Academic Year 2024-2025. The Embassy awards grants to scholars, artists and professionals to lecture and/or conduct postdoctoral research at U.S. institutions. Fellowships are generally awarded for one semester at a university in the United States. Participants are chosen for their leadership potential—with the opportunity to observe each other’s political, economic and cultural institutions, exchange ideas and embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world’s inhabitants.
Outstanding candidates are those who have the capacity and commitment to take full advantage of a program of research or lecturing at a U.S. university, and who are willing to share their experience and knowledge after returning to Montenegro. Priority is given to candidates who have not previously received a U.S. Government grant to travel to the U.S.
The mission of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries. It aims to provide educational exchange experiences to individuals not previously afforded such an opportunity. The experience should be of intrinsic value to the scholar, the recipient’s home institution, its faculty and its students, as well as to the U.S. host institution.
The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program is a postdoctoral, non-degree research program for junior and senior researchers, university lecturers and other professionals from institutions in Montenegro. Individual Fulbright grants are available in all fields for scholars to conduct research, lecture or pursue combined lecturing and research in the United States. Grants are usually offered for one semester of research in the U.S.
Eligibility requirements
The applicant must:
- have Montenegrin citizenship;
- hold a Ph.D. or equivalent professional training or experience in the field of research or lecturing by the time the grant would begin;
- have sufficient proficiency in English to carry out the project required;
- demonstrate leadership and a potential for advancement in their profession;
- be eligible for a J-1 visa, which requires the grantee to depart the United States for a minimum of two years at the end of the grant period;
- be able to complete a satisfactory medical clearance.
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 and Review Process
A complete application includes:
- application form
- detailed statement of proposed activity
- detailed curriculum vitae
- three references
- photocopy of passport
- photocopy of doctoral degree or equivalent professional training or experience at the time of application.
- letter from employer confirming employment
- letter of invitation or appointment from U.S. institution
Please scan all the above-mentioned documents and attach them to your online application.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Complete the application form carefully after reading “Instructions for Completing the Application” in step 1 of the application.
Make sure the reference reports are submitted promptly. You must submit three references. It is your responsibility to ensure that reference reports are submitted by the deadline so that references accompany the application throughout the entire review process. References should be from persons qualified to evaluate your professional work and proposal. At least one of the references should be from a specialist outside your university. References should provide evidence of your scholarly reputation within your discipline and must be written in English. The Reference Report Form in the application packet suggests qualifications that the reference writer should address.
Submit detailed curriculum vitae. The curriculum vitae should describe academic credentials and relevant achievements.
When composing curriculum vitae, it is important to include the following:
(1) Education (universities attended, degrees held)
(2) Positions held
(3) Courses taught and other services provided to students and the home institution
(4) Publications
(5) Other professional activities, such as workshops, seminars, and consultations
(6) Membership and activities in professional associations
(7) Professional honors, awards, and fellowships (relevant honors and awards)
(8) Community service
The application asks for similar information but provides limited space for answers. In the curriculum vitae, you should expand upon these topics to display more completely your accomplishments.
Preparing the Project Statement The project statement is the most important aspect of preparing the Fulbright application. Scholars with the most compelling, theoretically sound, well-written, feasible proposals are generally recommended for awards. Sometimes those with outstanding professional achievements assume that a brief, general project statement will be sufficient. But, in order to ensure a more complete application, your proposed project, as well as the strategy for completing it, should be thoroughly explained.
Factors to address in the project statement:
Clearly define your objectives and the methodology you will employ. Indicate whether you will use interviews, library or archival research, or laboratory experiments to accomplish your project. Place your project in academic or professional context by referring to leading works by others on the topic if that information is available. Explain the significance of the project for the field and your own professional development. Explain why residence in the United States is necessary for accomplishment of the project. Comment, if applicable, on the adequacy or inadequacy of research facilities and library resources in your own country and on the need to use specific collections in the United States. Describe arrangements you have made for affiliation or collaboration. Secure a letter of invitation from a U.S. host institution testifying to the merits and feasibility of the proposal. Scholars who have studied previously in the United States should avoid seeking affiliation at their U.S. alma mater because candidates are encouraged to expand their contacts within the U.S. academic community. Discuss how your project can be completed within the time you have available. Describe your competence in English if you are not a native speaker. Proficiency in English is required for research awards in the United States. Indicate how you will disseminate the results of your research both in the United States and in your home country.
Arrangements for Affiliation with a Host Institution
One of the most important requirements of the Fulbright Scholar Program is a formal affiliation at a U.S. university or research institution. When determining which institutions to contact, do not limit yourself to only the most well-known U.S. universities. Many U.S. universities may not have an international reputation, but they often have appropriate facilities for scholars to conduct research. We have observed that scholars placed in these smaller and less well-known institutions often are given greater attention than their colleagues who are affiliated with more well-known universities.
The application process must be completed online via https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2024/.
You may download application guidelines here: fvsp_2024_instructions. Incomplete and late applications will not be considered.
Financial Provisions:
The Fulbright Fellowship provides a monthly maintenance allowance, a book and supplies allowance, and round-trip international travel to the host institution. The Fulbright Grant is not renewable.
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.
For more information about the Visiting Scholar program please visit www.cies.org .
Please address all questions and concerns to PodgoricaExchanges@state.gov
