Call for Application: February 1
Deadline for submitting online application and all supplementary documents: June 1
The online application with supplemental documents uploaded as part of the application must be submitted by the deadline.
Program Information
The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program (FVSP) also called the Fulbright African Research Scholar Program (ARSP) is a research fellowship award grants to Nigerian academics or professionals to conduct advanced research at U.S. institutions. The selection process and final award of grants are extremely competitive. Two categories of grants are offered under The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program: Research Grants, and Program and Curriculum Development Grants.
Research Grants:
ARSP research grant offers senior faculty from select Nigerian universities or research institutes, opportunity to conduct research in any academic discipline at a U.S. academic or research institution for a minimum of three (3) months and a maximum of nine (9) months, beginning no earlier than August 2024 and no later than March 2025. Applicants for research grants must hold a doctorate degree or equivalent terminal degree in their fields at the time of application. Preference will be given to individuals who have at least three years of university teaching experience and a productive scholarly record.
Program and Curriculum Development Grants:
ARSP program and curriculum development grant offers senior faculty or administrators from select Nigerian universities or research institutes, opportunity to conduct research in any academic discipline at a U.S. academic or research institution for a minimum of three (3) months and a maximum of five (5) months beginning no earlier than August 2024 and no later than March 2025. Proposals should be linked to professional duties and demonstrate how the scholar will use the knowledge gained to develop new courses, curricula, or other academic programs at the home institution. This grant is designed for university faculty or administrators with less experience and who may not have had recent access to research or instructional developments in their disciplines. A doctorate degree is not required, but applicants must hold a minimum of a master’s or equivalent graduate degree at the time of application.
Grant Benefits
The grant covers J-1 visa, round trip airfare to the U.S., a settling-in allowance, professional allowance, monthly stipend, housing allowance, books-and-supplies allowance, and computer allowance. The grant also covers basic university health insurance as a primary insurance coverage and the Fulbright ASPE health benefit as secondary coverage. The grant also covers dependent allowance and travel of one dependent if he/she will stay with the grantee for at least 80% of the grant period.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- An intended applicant must be a citizen of Nigeria or a permanent resident, and should hold a valid passport issued by the Nigerian government.
- ARSP is open to scholars in all disciplines and without regard to gender or age; however, proposals for clinical medical research involving patient contact cannot be approved under the Fulbright Program.
- Applications for doctoral dissertation research, postdoctoral research immediately following the completion of a doctorate degree, or general professional travel, are ineligible.
- Preference will be given to candidates who have not previously received a Fulbright scholar grant, and have had no experience or limited experience in the United States.
- Each application must include three letters of reference.
- Letters of invitation from U.S. academic or research institutions are strongly encouraged but not required. Applicants unfamiliar with U.S. institutions may request that the Institute of International Education (IIE) identify suitable placements.
- Scholars who were unsuccessful in previous competitions may re-apply. Repeat applicants should revise their proposals, update curriculum vitae, and obtain current letters of reference.
Please note the following:
- If placement assistance is expected, applicants should be aware that their initial grant start date may be delayed.
- If a letter of invitation indicates potential laboratory fees, applicants should be encouraged to seek other potential host institutions for consideration.
Plagiarism Policy
When submitting applications, candidates will be required to read, accept, and adhere to the following information pertaining to plagiarism:
The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program seeks applicants whose writing achieves highest academic standards of original research, writing, and citation. The program application includes the opportunity to describe your academic work and research. Application materials will be processed using software to help identify any instance of plagiarism. Plagiarism in any part of your application will result in your disqualification from participation in the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program. ECA and IIE will follow the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of plagiarism: Plagiarism is the wrongful appropriation or purloining and publication as one’s own, of the ideas, or the expression of the ideas, of another. It is expected that your project proposal will be your own work and writing, clearly citing secondary sources when describing the academic work and writing of others (including one’s own previously published work). Any sources used in the construction of your responses must be clearly cited in your project statement and bibliography.
Applicants are advised to contact Fulbright alumni for guidance with the application process, if possible. Please note that TOEFL exams are not required.
To Start a New Application: Applicants must visit and click “create an application” at: https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2024
The Fulbright program is a popular program and the Public Affairs Section will only notify shortlisted candidates. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.
Applicants with specific questions should send e-mails to NigeriaFulbright@state.gov indicating “Fulbright ARSP” in the subject line.