Apply Now for the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program 2024-2025
The U.S. Embassy in Zagreb is pleased to announce the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program competition for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program is a non-degree post-doctoral award program for junior and senior researchers, university lecturers, and experts from academic and research institutions in Croatia. This program brings scholars to the United States for advanced research for a period of one or two semesters.
All applicants must currently be affiliated with a Croatian academic or research institution. In addition, all qualified applicants are expected to have the capacity and commitment to take full advantage of a program of research at a U.S. university and be willing to share their experience and knowledge upon their return to Croatia. The Fulbright experience should be of value not only to the scholar, but also to students and faculty at the scholar’s home institution/university, as well as to the U.S. host institution. Fulbright scholars serve as cultural ambassadors and should be prepared to speak about their country, culture, and research to academic and community groups in the United States.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and 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 in Croatia is a joint program of the U.S. Department of State and the Government of Croatia.
The Fulbright Program in Croatia is administered by the U.S. Embassy in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Education, and the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes. The application for the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program is found here: https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2024
Prospective Fulbright participants should be aware that public health conditions, availability of consular services and travel, as well as U.S. institutional operating status and policies may affect their ability to travel to the United States and participate in academic programs.
Application Deadline: 1 September, 2023
Please read all instructions and information carefully before completing the application.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicants must be citizens of the Republic of Croatia. Permanent U.S. residents and persons with dual (Croatian and U.S.) citizenship are ineligible
- Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in their academic field of study
- Applicants must obtain a letter of invitation from a U.S. host institution
- Applicants must be proficient in oral and written English
- Applicants must be eligible for a J-1 visa, which requires the grantee to return to Croatia for a minimum of two years at the end of the grant period
- Applicants must receive a satisfactory medical clearance
- Applicants must be employed in Croatia
General Selection Criteria:
- Strong research and academic record
- Adaptability and personal suitability
- Applicants should be responsible citizens who contribute to a full and representative picture of the culture and civilization of Croatia
- Preference is given to applicants who have not had a prior opportunity to study in the United States
- All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, or disability
Note: Previous recipients of Fulbright/Humphrey/JFDP/Ron Brown scholarships (U.S. Government-funded academic programs) are eligible to apply but should make a very clear argument for how their previous experience makes them a strong candidate for a Fulbright grant now.
Not eligible: Persons holding permanent residence in the United States (green card); persons who are citizens of the United States.
Selection Procedures:
- Applicants who submit a full application by the deadline will be invited for an in-person interview conducted in English by a selection committee comprised of Embassy representatives, U.S. and Croatian scholars, and Fulbright alumni. Interviews for selected candidates are scheduled for October 2023 (final dates to be confirmed) and will be organized in-person in Zagreb.
- Preference is given to candidates without recent academic experience in the United States
- Nominees are subject to final approval by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board
Fulbright grantees enter the United States on an exchange visitor (J-1) visa under a Department of State program, which requires them to return to their home countries for a minimum of two years at the end of the grant period.
Important for post-doc and pre-doc categories in the fields of medicine and dental medicine: Scholarship recipients will not be able to conduct any clinical work and, together with their U.S. mentor, they will be required to sign a statement to that effect.
Application Requirements:
Applications must be completed in English and submitted online at: https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2024 by 1 September, 2023. Each page of the application carries its own instructions. Please read those instructions carefully and be sure to answer every question completely. Be sure to upload all necessary documentation translated into English; incomplete applications will not be considered.
Your application must include:
- Detailed statement of proposed activity for research and/or Course Syllabi (lecturing proposal) in the United States
- Copy/ scan of your PhD degree and an official notarized translation of your PhD Diploma in English (or a scan of the original in English if your higher education institution can provide it)
- Scan of your original academic transcript (grades) and official notarized translation of grades from your PhD in English (or a scan of the original in English if your higher education institution can provide it)
- Letter from employer in English confirming employment in Croatia.
- Detailed curriculum vitae (CV)/resume.
- Three (3) letters of reference.
- Bibliography (research proposal) and/or course syllabi (lecturing proposal).
- Letter of invitation from U.S. institution.
- Passport scan.
Project Statement:
Your statement should be 3-5 single-spaced pages, not to exceed 3,500 words. The project statement is the most important part of the Fulbright application. Scholars with the most compelling, theoretically sound, well-written, feasible proposals are most competitive for awards. A brief, general project statement is insufficient regardless of the applicant’s professional or academic accomplishments. Begin the project statement with your name, country and the project title at the top of page one. At the top of each subsequent page, type your name and country. We strongly recommend that you upload your statement in PDF format.
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 to carry out 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 period you have available
- Indicate how you will disseminate the results of your research both in the United States and in your home country
The CV/resume describes academic credentials and demonstrates a record of scholarly achievements. We strongly recommend that you upload your CV/resume in PDF format.
When composing a CV/resume, it is important to include:
- Education (universities attended, degrees earned, and dates received)
- Professional positions held
- Courses taught and other services provided to students and the home institution
- Publications (provide full citations and list them starting with the most recent publication)
- Other professional activities, such as workshops, seminars and consultations
- Membership and activities in professional associations
- Professional honors, awards and fellowships
- Community service.
Confidential Letters of Reference: All three letters of reference should be written in English by supervisory and other academic/professional colleagues. If you have considerable work experience, one letter of reference can come from a current or previous employer. Referees will upload their letters directly into the online system; it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that reference letters are submitted by the deadline.
Arrangements for Affiliation with a Host Institution:
One of the most important requirements of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program is a formal affiliation with a U.S. university or research institution and a letter of invitation. When determining which institutions to contact, do not limit yourself to only the most well-known U.S. universities. There are many U.S. universities that may not be known to you, but which have excellent facilities for scholars to conduct research. We have observed that scholars placed in these smaller and less-known institutions often are given greater attention than their colleagues who are affiliated with more well-known universities.
Other Important Information:
Duration of Grants: Grants are awarded for a period of one or two semesters (4-9 months) for scholars. Grant benefits include: Airfare; limited accident and sickness insurance; and a monthly maintenance grant. The program provides a small allowance for accompanying dependents, if applicable.
Application forms and instructions on how to fill out your application can be found at: https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2024
In order to maintain the transparency of the selection process and ensure due process for all candidates, we ask you to please refrain from contacting any of the panels members, or having others contact them, on your behalf, as they will not be permitted to respond to your inquires and your application might be disqualified. Instead, please send any inquiries to the U.S. Embassy in Zagreb email contact for Fulbright: fulbrightcroatia@state.gov.
For additional information please contact:
Public Diplomacy Section/Fulbright Program: fulbrightcroatia@state.gov