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Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher (VSR) Program 2027–2028

  • 23 hours ago
  • 4 min read

The Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher (VSR) Program awards up to five fully funded research grants each year at universities in the United States, for doctoral students in science and technology enrolled at institutions in Vietnam. For the 2027–2028 cycle, applications close at 5:00 PM on 15 June 2026 (Vietnam time).




At a glance

Who can apply:

Vietnamese citizens currently enrolled in a doctoral (PhD) programme in science and technology at an institution in Vietnam.

Duration:

6–10 months of research in the United States; a non-degree programme (no degree is awarded).

Funding:

Full funding — round-trip airfare, a living stipend, health insurance, and the J-1 exchange visitor visa.

Grants:

Up to five grants per year, nationwide.

Deadline:

5:00 PM, 15 June 2026 (Vietnam time).

Application portal:




1. Who can apply

To be eligible for the VSR Program in the 2027–2028 cycle, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

Citizenship:

A Vietnamese citizen, without dual citizenship or permanent residency elsewhere, residing in Vietnam throughout the application and selection process.

Academic standing:

Currently enrolled in a doctoral (PhD) programme in science and technology at an institution in Vietnam, and already holding at least a master’s degree.

Doctoral timing:

Applicants must not complete the doctorate before entering the United States, nor graduate while in the United States; they remain doctoral candidates on return to Vietnam.

English proficiency:

A valid English test meeting the minimum required to apply — TOEFL iBT 51, IELTS 5.5, Duolingo English Test 85, or TOEFL Essentials 6.0 — OR a letter of invitation from the prospective U.S. host university. Applicants who advance must then meet a higher threshold (TOEFL iBT 70 or IELTS 6.0).

Field restriction:

The research topic may not be clinical in nature. This is a standing rule of the VSR Program for science and technology.




2. What the grant provides

The VSR grant is fully funded by the U.S. Department of State. It covers:

Round-trip airfare:

Between Vietnam and the United States.

Monthly living stipend:

The exact amount is not published; it is set according to the cost of living at the host location.

Health insurance:

Health and accident coverage under the U.S. Department of State exchange-visitor standard.

J-1 visa:

Fulbright sponsors the J-1 exchange visitor visa for successful applicants.

Tuition-related costs:

As a non-degree programme, grantees are typically received as visiting researchers and are not charged tuition.


3. Application materials

A complete application is submitted online through the IIE portal (apply.iie.org/ffsp2027), and includes:

  • The online application form on the IIE system.

  • Proof of current doctoral enrolment at an institution in Vietnam (a confirmation letter from the school).

  • Transcripts and diplomas for each post-secondary level, with certified English translations.

  • An English test score or a letter of invitation from the prospective U.S. host university.

  • Research proposal: 3–5 pages; the research may not be clinical in nature.

  • A Personal Statement and a Statement of Grant Purpose, on the IIE templates.

  • An academic CV.

  • Three (3) letters of reference: in English (or translated into English). They may not come from family members, relatives, or staff of the U.S. Mission in Vietnam. Referees submit them directly through the IIE system.


4. Selection process

Round

Stage

Description

1

Application screening

The Fulbright Program in Vietnam screens eligible applications.

2

Interview

Shortlisted applicants are invited to an interview, usually in English, around August.

3

FFSB approval

Selected applications go to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) in the United States for approval.

4

IIE placement

The IIE Placement Office works with U.S. universities to match each grantee with a host institution.

5

J-1 visa and departure

Once approved, grantees complete J-1 visa formalities and prepare to depart.


5. Timeline

  • Application deadline: 5:00 PM, 15 June 2026 (Vietnam time).

  • Interviews: Around August–September 2026.

  • Pre-departure orientation: In Vietnam, around May–June 2027.

  • Departure for the United States: Around August–September 2027, at the start of the 2027–2028 academic year.



6. Advice for applicants

  • Choosing a host institution: A letter of invitation is not required to apply, but it is an advantage. Prioritise institutions with a strong faculty advisor in the specific field, and make contact three to six months before the deadline.

  • Writing the research proposal: 3–5 pages, written clearly for a reader outside the narrow field. State the research question, the method, the significance, the reason the work requires the United States (equipment, data, expertise), and how the results feed back into the doctoral thesis.

  • The exchange dimension: Proposals with a clear Vietnam–U.S. collaborative element that benefits both sides, and a genuine cultural and academic exchange dimension, tend to be viewed favourably.


7. Important conditions

  • Two-year home-residency requirement: After the programme, grantees must reside in Vietnam for at least two years before becoming eligible for certain U.S. visas (H-1B, permanent residency, L, K). This is a condition of the J-1 visa.

  • No change of field or topic: The topic and field must match the application approved by the FFSB.

  • No host institution needed to apply: An English test score may be submitted in place of a letter of invitation — an important difference from some other scholarships.

  • J-1 employment limits: Grantees may work only in line with the programme objective, and only with the approval of their Responsible Officer.


8. Contact



About HAPRI

The Health and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (HAPRI) regularly shares scholarship opportunities, research collaborations, and academic events for Vietnam’s research community. Follow updates at hapri.org.


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