Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars and Secondary Educators is a U.S. Department of State academic exchange conducted at colleges, universities, and other academic institutions across the United States. Scholar institutes deepen participants’ understanding of U.S. society, culture, and institutions and support stronger U.S.-studies curricula.
The secondary-educator institutes serve experienced teachers, administrators, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook writers, and education officials. They emphasize U.S. content and curriculum materials rather than teaching methodology.
Benefits & funding
- Fully funded participation in an intensive academic institute in the United States.
- A five-to-six-week program combining an academic residency with an integrated field experience in another part of the United States.
- U.S. Embassies organize nominees’ visa interviews and international travel; the nominating mission confirms the exact covered-cost package for each local cycle.
Eligibility
- Applicants must not be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents.
- Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency and be eligible for a J-1 visa.
- Applicants must have limited prior experience in the United States.
- Applicants must have firm plans to enhance, update, or develop courses or educational materials with a U.S.-studies focus.
- The scholar track is for foreign university faculty, scholars, and related professionals; the secondary-educator track is for experienced educators and administrators.
- Availability and any additional country-level criteria are set by the recruiting U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or binational Fulbright Commission.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Afghanistan · Albania · Algeria · Andorra · Angola · Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Armenia · Aruba · Australia · Austria · Azerbaijan
+ 185 more
Bahamas · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belarus · Belgium · Belize · Benin · Bermuda · Bhutan · Bolivia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Botswana · Brazil · Brunei · Bulgaria · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cambodia · Cameroon · Canada · Cayman Islands · Central African Republic · Chad · Chile · China · Colombia · Comoros · DR Congo · Republic of the Congo · Costa Rica · Côte d'Ivoire · Croatia · Cuba · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark · Djibouti · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · Egypt · El Salvador · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Estonia · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Fiji · Finland · France · Gabon · Gambia · Georgia · Germany · Ghana · Greece · Grenada · Guatemala · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Haiti · Vatican City · Honduras · Hong Kong · Hungary · Iceland · India · Indonesia · Iraq · Ireland · Israel · Italy · Jamaica · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kenya · Kiribati · Kosovo · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Latvia · Lebanon · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Macau · Madagascar · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Mali · Malta · Marshall Islands · Mauritania · Mauritius · Mexico · Micronesia · Moldova · Monaco · Mongolia · Montenegro · Morocco · Mozambique · Myanmar · Namibia · Nauru · Nepal · Netherlands · New Zealand · Nicaragua · Niger · Nigeria · North Korea · North Macedonia · Norway · Oman · Pakistan · Palau · Palestine · Panama · Papua New Guinea · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Poland · Portugal · Qatar · Romania · Russia · Rwanda · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · San Marino · São Tomé and Príncipe · Saudi Arabia · Senegal · Serbia · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Singapore · Slovakia · Slovenia · Solomon Islands · Somalia · South Africa · South Korea · South Sudan · Spain · Sri Lanka · Sudan · Suriname · Sweden · Switzerland · Taiwan · Tajikistan · Tanzania · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Togo · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · Tunisia · Türkiye · Turkmenistan · Tuvalu · Uganda · Ukraine · UAE · UK · Uruguay · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Venezuela · Vietnam · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Education required
Bachelor · Master · PhD
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Application process
- 1Contact the Public Affairs Section of the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate for the current local call, form, and deadline.
- 2Confirm which scholar or secondary-educator institute is available and review any local requirements.
- 3Submit the locally required application materials to the recruiting mission or Fulbright Commission.
- 4If nominated, follow the mission’s instructions for selection, the J-1 visa interview, and international travel.
Program timeline
Local call and application deadline
Set separately by each recruiting mission or Fulbright Commission.
Nomination, visa, and travel preparation
Managed by the recruiting mission.
Institute
Five to six weeks in the United States.