AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
Senior Scholars | Graduate Students | English Teaching Assistants | Senior Specialists
Graduate Study Awards in Bulgaria
Summary
Up to 4 graduate study awards plus one Bulgarian-Romanian Fulbright full grant. Awards are open to any field except for clinical medicine and dentistry and are for 8 to 10 months. The Bulgarian-Romanian Fulbright grant is for 9 months (first 5 months in Bulgaria; the remaining 4 months in Romania). Holders of bachelor’s degrees and holders/candidates for higher degrees are accepted. Applications will be considered in all fields. Two grants will be given to students in archaeology, anthropology, and classical studies. They will be partially supported by the American Research Center in Sofia.
Fulbright Fellows are due in Sofia for orientation program one week before the beginning of the academic year, which normally begins on October 1. Graduate students are also encouraged to participate in an international two-week summer institute (the Fulbright International Summer Institute), organized annually by the Fulbright Commission in August. Along with a variety of interdisciplinary courses, FISI offers a course in survival Bulgarian.
The standard grant benefits include:
- monthly stipend - $ 1 000 per month
- travel and relocation allowance - $ 3 500
- research, book and incidentals allowance - $ 500
- Bulgarian language training allowance - $ 500
- health insurance for grantees only
The basic amount of the Fulbright grant is not increased for accompanying dependents.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application;
- Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent before the beginning date of the grant. Applicants who have extensive professional study and/or experience in fields in which they wish to pursue a project may be considered. In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional study and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement;
- Applicants must be in good health;
- Restrictions apply for applicants who have already held a U.S. Department of State-funded Fulbright student research/study grant. Those who have held a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship may apply for a study/research award, provided two years have elapsed from the end of the ETA period. Limits apply also to anyone who has previously received a Department of Education-funded Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Award (Fulbright-Hays grant) and to anyone who has resided abroad for five or more consecutive years in the six-year period preceding the date of application.
Applications
Applications will be considered in all fields. Holders of bachelor’s degrees and holders/candidates for higher degrees are accepted. For detailed description, guidelines and submission of an application please visit www.us.fulbrightonline.org
Language
Proficiency in Bulgarian commensurate with the project needs is desirable.
Assignment
Projects may include research projects with an academic or non-governmental institution, independent library or field research, classes in an art school, special projects in the social or life sciences, or a combination.
Affiliation
Applicants may indicate preferences for affiliation if invitation is not available. Click HERE for potential host university web sites.
Housing
Finding housing is the grantees' responsibility. Assistance for renting apartments can be offered by the Fulbright Commission and the grantees’ contact persons.
Visa Requirements
An entry visa is required for Bulgaria for visits exceeding three months. Scholars are well advised to obtain entry visas type D prior to their arrival in Bulgaria. Visas are subject to special approval and grantees should apply at least 30 working days in advance at the nearest Consulate Office (for details please visit www.bulgaria-embassy.org) Additional information on entry requirements and stay in Bulgaria are available in the Consular Information Sheet for Bulgaria.
Travel to Bulgaria
Grantees will receive a lump sum for their round-trip travel. They are responsible for making travel arrangements in conjunction with the grant. All air travel and all air shipments paid for with United States Government funds must conform to the Fly America Act, which requires that all such travel and shipments be on American Flag Carriers where such service is available.
Contact person at the Institute of International Education in New York:
Rachel Holskin
Program Manager
U.S. Student Programs – Europe/Eurasia
Institute of International Education (IIE)
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017-3580
Tel: (212) 984-5326
Fax: (212) 984-5325
Email: rholskin@iie.org
www.iie.org
Contact person at the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission in Sofia:
Iliana Dimitrova
Program Officer, U.S. Grantees
Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission
17, Aleksandar Stamboliiski Blvd.
Sofia 1000
Tel: (359 2) 980 8212
Fax: (359 2) 988 4517
E-mail: idimitrova@fulbright.bg
