• Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of application.
• Permanent residents and non-citizens are not eligible.
• Open to scholars, professionals, and artists with a Ph.D. or terminal degree in their field.
• Previous Fulbright recipients may apply, but they must wait two years after their last grant’s end date before starting a new Fulbright award.
• Priority is given to applicants who have not had previous extensive Fulbright experiences.
• Invitation letter from host university.

• Round trip economy airfare for grantee and dependent
• Subsistence allowance for dependent
• Housing allowance
• Relocation allowance
• Bench fee
• Baggage allowance
• Book allowance
• Education allowance up 2 children with max of USD 10,000
• Health Insurance – ASPE (for the Fulbright scholarship recipient only)

October 2026 to September 2027

• Include a detailed timeline of your proposed research project in your Statement of Grant Purpose.
• Be prepared to commence your program the following Malaysian academic year to start from October onwards.
• Applicants are responsible for securing an affiliation with a Malaysian university or research organization.
• Teaching applicants are encouraged to propose a diverse range of potential courses.
• Scholars from community colleges and ethnic minority institutions are especially encouraged to apply.
• Semi-finalists may be invited to participate in virtual interviews conducted by the Fulbright Commission in Malaysia (MACEE).

Eligibility & Citizenship:

1. Is there an age limit for people applying for the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program?

No. Fulbright does not limit eligibility based on age.

2. I have already started my research and teaching. Can I apply for the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program?

No. Applicants who have already commenced research or teaching in Malaysia are ineligible for  U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program

3. Must I have a PhD degree to be eligible for the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program? 

Yes, a Ph.D. is preferred, but applicants with master’s degrees will be considered.

4. Is preference given to applicants from specific academic fields? 

No. Fulbright Scholarships are open to applicants from any academic field.

5. I have never lived or studied abroad. Will that disadvantage me? 

No. Preference may be given to those who have not had recent extensive experience abroad i.e. undertaken study, teaching, research or employment for a period aggregating more than one academic year during the past five years.

Guidelines for Applying:

1. How do I apply for a Fulbright Scholarship?

Please click the “APPLY HERE” button at the top of the page. This will take you to the Fulbright Scholar page, which includes financial details of the scholarship and access to the application.

2. Can I apply again, if I’ve already had a Fulbright?

Preference will be given to candidates who have not had previous Fulbright scholarships. However, recipients of a Fulbright scholarship are eligible to receive another basic Fulbright grant five years after the date of completion of the previous scholarship. (For serial scholarships, the five-year period begins at the end of the final scholarship in the series.) The five-year requirement between two basic grants does not apply to short-term scholarships, which are defined as scholarships of under two months duration (FFSB Guidelines 725.2)

3. When can I commence my Fulbright Scholar program in Malaysia?

Scholars must take up their scholarship starting October of the year of announcement of their selection, i.e. scholars generally find out they have been selected in March/April of a given year, however commence their program in October of the same year. 

4. Do I have to attend an interview? 

Yes. All candidates who are applying for Fulbright Scholars must complete a one-way interview. Applicants will be contacted directly if short-listed for an interview.

5. I have extensive experience in Malaysia already, will that make a difference in the selection of applicants? 

If two candidates are of equal standing then preference may be given to applicants who have not had recent extensive Malaysian experience.

6. Does affiliation with a Malaysian institution have to be confirmed at the time of application?

Yes. Affiliation with a Malaysian institution must be confirmed at the time of application. A host letter of invitation should be attached to your application.