The U.S. Department of State has announced the opening of applications for the Fulbright Visiting Research Scholar Award for the 2026-2027 academic year. This award offers Singaporean citizens and permanent residents an opportunity to conduct post-doctoral, non-degree research in the United States.
The program targets university faculty, think tank researchers, and professionals seeking to enhance their academic or professional expertise by collaborating with American scholars or field experts. The research period is set between September 1, 2026, and May 31, 2027, lasting three to four months. Recipients will receive funding that covers round-trip airfare on an American carrier, settling-in and living expenses, as well as a resource allowance.
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 with the aim of increasing mutual understanding and supporting friendly relations between Americans and people from other countries. According to Senator J. William Fulbright: "The essence of intercultural education is the acquisition of empathy–the ability to see the world as others see it, and to allow for the possibility that others may see something we have failed to see, or may see it more accurately. The simple purpose of the exchange program…is to erode the culturally rooted mistrust that sets nations against one another. The exchange program is not a panacea but an avenue of hope…."
Research proposals are encouraged in several areas including global security—such as cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection—shared prosperity through innovation involving trade or technology, and comparative studies on innovation and leadership in various sectors.
Eligible applicants include full-time lecturers or professors at Singaporean higher learning institutions; experienced professionals with a strong research record; postdoctoral researchers; and research fellows with significant experience. Preference will be given to those without recent extended stays in the United States.
Applications open October 1, 2025, via https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2026 , with a submission deadline of November 11, 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by representatives from U.S. Embassy Singapore between December 8-12, with notifications sent by December 19. Final selection takes place in April-May 2026.
Applicants are encouraged to secure letters of invitation from prospective host institutions before applying but this is not mandatory at this stage. Required application materials include a project statement (up to five pages), bibliography, curriculum vitae (up to six pages), two letters of recommendation, passport scan, and optionally a letter of invitation.
For further information about this opportunity or guidance on applying, interested parties can contact the Fulbright Program Coordinator at U.S. Embassy Singapore via Singaporefulbright@state.gov.