Apply Now: Fulbright Foreign Student Program (Pre-Doctoral) 2023-2024
The U.S. Embassy in Zagreb is pleased to announce the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, a non-degree research program for current doctoral students, for the 2023-2024 academic year. This program enables young professionals from Croatia who are already enrolled in a PhD program at a Croatian university to conduct research related to their PhD thesis at a U.S. university.
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 Programs. The application for the Fulbright Foreign Student Program can be found here: https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2023
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: 30 May, 2022
Nature of Grants: All Fulbright Foreign Student grants are research only.
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 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 be enrolled in a doctoral program in Croatia
- Applicants already studying in the United States are ineligible for a Fulbright grant
- Applicants must receive a satisfactory medical clearance
- Persons desiring permanent residence in the United States are not eligible.
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.
General Selection Criteria:
- Strong 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.
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 mid June 2022 (subject to change) and will be organized in-person or virtually depending on the epidemiological situation
- 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/ffsp2023 by 30 May, 2022. 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: Three (3) letters of reference (must be submitted online by instructors, professors or work supervisors by 30 May, 2022)
- Copy/scan of your academic degrees/diplomas and an official notarized translation of your diplomas 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 (or a scan of the original in English if your higher education institution can provide it)
- Original letter in English confirming enrollment in a doctoral program in Croatia
- Study/research objective
- Personal statement
- Curriculum vitae/resume
- Passport scan
- Letter from employer in English confirming employment in Croatia.
Confidential Letters of Reference: All three letters of reference should be written in English by teachers under whom you have studied or pursued research or by someone who has supervised you in work related to your proposed field of study. At least one academic and one professional or work-related letter must be included among the three letters. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that reference letters are submitted by the deadline
Standardized Tests:
- All finalists will be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in September and will receive instructions on how to apply after the interview. The test is administered in Zagreb.
Study/Research Objective:
The study/research objective is the most important part of the Fulbright application. Students with the most compelling, theoretically sound, well-written, and feasible proposals are most competitive for awards. Write a clear and detailed description of your study/research objectives and explain your reasons for wanting to pursue them․ Be specific about your primary field and your specialized interests within this field․ Describe the kind of program you expect to undertake, and explain how your study plan fits in with your previous training and your future objectives․ This statement is an essential part of your application and is required․ Do not mention specific U․S․ universities at which you would like to study․ We strongly recommend that you upload your objective in PDF format.
Personal Statement:
This personal statement should be a narrative statement describing how you have achieved your current goals․ It should not be a mere listing of facts․ It should include information about your education, practical experience, special interests, and career plans․ Describe any significant factors that have influenced your educational or professional development․ Comment on the number of years of practical experience already completed in your research field․ Do not mention specific U․S․ universities at which you would like to study․ We strongly recommend that you upload your statement in PDF format
Curriculum Vitae/Resume: The CV/resume describes academic credentials and demonstrates a record of scholarly achievements. When composing a curriculum vitae/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 beginning 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
We strongly recommend that you upload your CV/resume in PDF format.
Arrangements for Affiliation with a Host Institution:
It is not a requirement nor is it expected for you to identify institutions at which you would like to study․ However, if you do have preferences, please list in priority order up to four schools of your choice․ Indicate specific departments and/or programs and give specific reasons for each choice․ If you have been in contact with professors, please provide names and email and/or phone contacts for each one․ Your preferences will be taken into consideration as far as possible․ However, please understand that there is no guarantee that your application will be sent to these programs․ Applications are made on your behalf to programs that provide a good academic fit based on your study plans and your competitiveness․ The goals and priorities of your scholarship sponsor are also strongly considered․
Other Important Information:
Duration of Grants: Nine months, beginning in August or September. Candidates appointed to certain types of Fulbright grants may be required to arrive during the summer for a pre-academic course or intensive English program prior to the academic year.
Additional documents that must be uploaded electronically directly into the online application no later than 30 May, 2022:
- Passport scan
- Copy of master’s degree or equivalent, and an original letter confirming enrollment in a doctoral program in Croatia
- Letter from employer in English confirming employment in Croatia.
Application forms and instructions on how to fill out your application can be found at: https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2023 or https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/.
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 .
If you would like to schedule a phone consultation, please email fulbrightcroatia@state.gov for an appointment.