Overview and Guidelines

This year, the Fulbright Foundation in Greece will award up to five grants to Greek Ph.D. students enrolled at Greek institutions of higher education to conduct full-time research at universities or research centers in the United States. Fulbright grants are awarded for periods from four to six months. The grant period may begin as early as September 1, 2024 and must be completed by May 31, 2025. The grant period cannot be divided, but may be conducted consecutively at a maximum of two universities or research centers. Applicants should (1) submit an application ONLY if they have received an official letter of invitation from an educational institution in the United States, and (2) present research proposals that can be completed within their initial grant period, which must be clearly outlined at the time of application and nomination.

Applicants are solely responsible for their own affiliation in the United States and for the verification of fees and costs required by the U.S. host institution. Admission that includes a tuition fee does not necessarily secure the same rights and access to facilities as full-time students; additional fees may be charged for some resources and facilities. Applicants should allow enough time to secure and establish an affiliation with the educational institution that will host them during their Fulbright grant period.

Important factors for the selection of candidates include a good standing at the home institution, a genuine need for U.S.-based research, academic excellence, career potential, civic engagement, and personal qualities/abilities to serve as a cultural ambassador for Greece. All awards are subject to the Fulbright Foundation policies, in compliance with the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) guidelines, and all governmental regulations regarding visas, immigration, travel, and residence.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to apply for a grant, each candidate must

• hold Greek citizenship and a valid Greek passport. Candidates with dual citizenship (U.S./Greek) or permanent residence in the United States are not eligible.
• have completed a cycle of education beyond the secondary level (B.A./M.A.) at recognized institutions in Greece.
• hold a Bachelor Degree from a Greek institution of higher education with a grade point average (GPA) of minimum 7.0 (out of 10.00)
• have a high level of academic achievement, as indicated by grades, awards, and recommendations.
• be officially enrolled at a Greek institution of higher education as a Ph.D. candidate and have completed a minimum of one year and a maximum of four years of research at the time of the application. The candidate must remain a student in good standing at his or her institution throughout the grant period.
• have your current Ph.D. supervisor as one of the referees, who endorses your research in the U.S.
• have permanent residency in Greece and commit to returning to Greece following the research program to fulfill the mission and aim of the Fulbright grant.
• finalize their dissertation in Greece and submit it to the home institution. Dissertations cannot be completed in the U.S.
• have an excellent command of the English language.
• not expect to extend their research. Students may propose research for 4 to 6 months, based on need. Under worldwide Fulbright policy, the extension of sponsorship for Visiting Student Researchers is only possible in cases of extenuating circumstances that prevent the scheduled completion of research.
• have an official letter of affiliation from the U.S. university/research center, including an invitation from the Project Director and/or the professor with whom the applicant plans to work endorsing the applicant’s visit to the U.S. institution and stating that the proposed project can be completed within the time frame specified. U.S. institutes must declare if there are minimum funding requirements for hosting research fellows.
• maintain satisfactory progress in the conduct of his or her research.
• devote full-time research on the approved topic. Engaging in any gainful employment during the fellowship period is not allowed; this includes on-campus employment, such as teaching assignments.

Also note that

• preference will be given to candidates below the age of 35 at the time of application.
• preference will be given to qualified candidates who have not had substantial recent experience in the United States.
• candidates in the United States at the time of application are not eligible.

Grant Benefits

Fulbright Awards offer financial support for research in the U.S. However, Fulbright is much more than a scholarship: We offer fellows the opportunity to have a transformative cultural and academic experience and provide unrivaled support both during and after the Fulbright year. While the grant period is up to six months in length, the benefits do not end there. Receiving a Fulbright Award opens many doors and provides unparalleled global networking opportunities.

The Fulbright grant is a non-renewable grant that provides a monthly maintenance allowance for the duration of the grant period, round-trip airfare, and limited health and accident insurance.

More specifically, grant benefits include

• a monthly maintenance allowance, the amount of which depends on the location of the U.S. institution and is based on the official Monthly Maintenance Rates as published by the U.S. Department of State for each region. The amount ranges between $1,320 and $2,660 per month. It is the responsibility of the candidate to inquire about university fees. The grant amount does not cover additional fees such as tuition or insurance, and the candidate may be requested to provide additional financial evidence. It is the candidate's responsibility to select a U.S. institution based on their budget and/or to negotiate fee waivers.
• a €500 settling-in fee.
• a $750 professional development fee.
• a round-trip travel allowance according to Fulbright Travel Policies & Regulations.
• limited health and accident insurance (for grantee only). All participants receive the Department of State's health insurance coverage (A+SPE) with a maximum benefit of $100,000 per illness or per injury with co-pays of $25 per medical visit and $75 for hospitalizations or emergency entries for the duration of the program. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Some U.S. universities require that you enroll in their health insurance plan. Make sure to inquire whether there will be any additional cost.
• a pre-departure orientation session.
• participation in the Annual Awards Ceremony.
• a Fulbright IIE Certificate of Completion.
• J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa
• Enrichment Seminars and other benefits/invitations offered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the cooperating agency in the United States.
• membership in the online global community for all participants of US government–sponsored exchange programs (such as the Fulbright program). International Exchange Alumni website

Terms and Conditions

• Registering before applying is mandatory. The registration serves to establish eligibility, which cannot be done through phone conversation or email communication. 
• An external Selection Committee appointed by Fulbright will interview short-listed candidates on specific dates. Candidates will be informed of their interview appointments via email. Interviews last for about 20 minutes, are conducted in English, and are held virtually.
• Candidates will be informed of their nomination status on the day following the end of the interview cycle. Candidates will be designated as ‘primary’, ‘alternate’, or ‘non-selected’. Alternate candidates remain on standby until the overall budget is reviewed and finalized.
• Contact and affiliation agreements with U.S. educational and/or cultural organizations are the sole responsibility of the applicant.
• The Foundation's Board of Directors will review and re-evaluate the eligibility of a grant should the affiliated institution change.
• All candidates selected for a Fulbright grant are required to submit a medical history and examination report before grants can be finalized. The Fulbright office will provide the necessary Medical Health Form.
• Selected candidates in the fields of medical and veterinary sciences and beyond - based on the nature of the project - are required to submit a No-Patient-Contact-Letter signed by the scholar and the host to confirm that academic and research activities will not involve direct clinical patient contact including prescribing or administering medication, and/or any direct contact with human or animal patients, subjects or specimens.
• Fulbright grant recipients are responsible for making their own travel arrangements in accordance with Fulbright Travel Policies & Regulations.
• Awards cannot be deferred to the following year.
• Fulbright grant recipients must travel on a J-1 visa sponsored by the Fulbright Program. It is a condition of the visa that after completion of the research program, scholars must return to Greece and reside there for two years before being eligible to immigrate or apply for permanent residence or a work permit in the United States. The purpose of the two-year home residency requirement is to ensure that exchange visitors return to their home country and fulfill the exchange objectives of the Fulbright Program to broaden and strengthen mutual understanding between Greece and the United States. However, Fulbright alumni can travel to the U.S. for personal reasons (tourism), conferences, short-term research periods, etc.

Registration and Application Procedures

Step 1. Registration
The registration form is available online and serves to establish eligibility, which cannot be established through phone and e-mail communications. At registration stage, candidates are requested to provide a CV, a brief research proposal, and a short writing sample in English. Once submitted, it will be automatically available to the Fulbright Foundation/Greek Program Coordinator for a first review. You will receive a confirmation email in the week following your submission. Your eligibility for the program will be based on your registration.

Step 2. Online Fulbright Application Procedure
Following successful registration and confirmation of eligibility, applicants will be given a link to complete the online Fulbright application in English (SLATE platform). Applications submitted without prior registration will not be accepted. When you begin your application, the platform will ask you to confirm that you have contacted the local office (registration) and that you are eligible for this award.

The Fulbright Foundation accepts ONLY applications submitted online through the SLATE platform. Faxed, emailed, or mailed copies of applications will not be accepted.

The following documents must be completed/uploaded as part of the online application:

• Online application form, including GDPR consent.
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae, including academic qualifications (publications, symposia, conferences, etc.).
• Scanned copies of your university degree/s in Greek with English translations*. Transcripts are not required.
• The Study/Research Objective section should clearly detail the background, methodology, and objective of your project. You will need to provide a timeframe that reflects the current status of your Ph.D. research, that proves the feasibility of your planned research within the proposed grant period, and that estimates the completion of your Ph.D.
• In the Personal Statement section you will need to include an account of how the applicant’s proposed project and presence in the United States will promote the “mutual understanding” element of the Fulbright Program and the development of educational collaborations between the United States and Greece.
• A writing sample, which could be a chapter of your dissertation or a published conference paper (English only).
• Scanned copy of the Three-Member Advisory Committee certificate with start date, and Ph.D. thesis title in Greek with English translation*.
• An official letter of invitation from the U.S. institution you plan to attend.
• A scanned copy of your passport as well as a scanned copy of any valid U.S. visa issued within the last 4 years. If you do not yet have a passport, you will need to include a copy of your ID card.
• Three letters of reference. Your referee (the person writing the letter of recommendation) can complete and submit the available form or a letter on letterhead through the online platform once you have registered him/her. All candidates should inform their referees that letters must be submitted online by February 23, 2024. Letters should be written in English by professors with whom you have studied or pursued research or by someone who has supervised you in work related to your proposed field of study. One of the referees should be your current Ph.D. supervisor endorsing your research in the U.S. Reference letters from your U.S. hosts are not acceptable.

_{* Translations should be official as made by a certified translator, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or a lawyer.}

Contact
Greek Program Coordinator
The Fulbright Foundation
T 210 7241 811/2, ext. 3
E

Registration Form

Registration Forms will be made available here from October 17, 2023 onward.. 

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