Fulbright Specialist Program
Fully funded slots for Bulgarian host organizations who would like to invite an American specialist for a project lasting from 2-6 weeks.
For governmental and non-governmental organizations, institutions of higher education, cultural and medical institutions
The Fulbright Specialist Program is a field-driven initiative in which Bulgarian host institutions have the opportunity to design projects of interest within an eligible discipline that represent a priority for their respective organizations. These projects are then paired with a highly qualified U.S. academic or professional, who shares their expertise and assists with strengthening linkages between U.S. and Bulgaria. The Program requires cost-share from the Bulgarian hosts, but we are pleased to announce a special opportunity under which projects will be considered for full ECA-funding. To be considered for this opportunity, projects must be submitted under one of ECA’s Priority Discipline areas:
- Climate Change
- Cyber Security and IT
- Disaster Response
- DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access)
- Entrepreneurship
- Media Literacy/Countering Disinformation
- Public Administration
- Public/Global Health (including Mental Health)
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
These additional projects will be fully ECA-Funded where ECA (Bureau of Educational Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State) will cover costs related to the Fulbright Specialist’s international flight, daily honorarium, and a $100 transit allowance in addition to covering the Specialist’s in-country lodging, meals, and transportation.
For the project proposals to be considered under this opportunity, please select ECA Funded as the project funding model.
If approved, these additional projects will be fully ECA-Funded where ECA will be providing funding for in-country services (lodging, meals, in-country transportation), please be sure to specify the total costs for each in the project proposal.
Host a U.S. Fulbright Specialist
Eligibility requirements for host institutions
Institutions that may be eligible to request a Fulbright Specialist include, but are not limited to:
• Institutions of Higher Education;
• Government Institutions (ministries or agencies, courts, parliamentary or congressional bodies);
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- Cultural Institutions (conservatories, museums, etc.);
- Non-Governmental Organizations including issue-centered institutions and think tanks;
- Medical Institutions (public health organizations, teaching hospitals, etc.).
Project dates
The proposed project start date must be after January 1, 2024, and ending no later than September 30, 2025.
The proposed start dates must be at least 6 months following the corresponding submission deadline as outlined below…
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…unless there is a named Specialist who is currently on the Fulbright Specialist Roster, in which case the project may be submitted for consideration with a proposed start date of minimum of 3 months after the corresponding submission deadline. (Please see below for the project submission deadlines and the timeline for approval notifications.)
Submission and review timelines
All projects will follow the standard submission, review, and approval process within the FSP Portal; however, they will be reviewed on a semi-annual basis as opposed to a rolling basis.
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U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions will be notified approximately 4 weeks after the submission deadline has closed, as indicated below:
Semi-Annual Submission Deadlines:
- Fall Submission Deadline: September 30, 2023
- Final Approval Notification: November 1, 2023
- Spring Submission Deadline: March 1, 2024
- Final Approval Notification: April 1, 2024
Rada Kaneva
Program Officer, US Grantees