Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program 2025-26 (Nepal)

For post-doctoral researchers, through doing research, guest lecturing, and pursuing other scholarly interests in a completely different environment, scholars return home personally invigorated and professionally stimulated. For senior artists, the grant is an opportunity to expand professional and artistic networks, or to gain skills and expertise in a particular aspect of artistic practice and to share with American colleagues and communities the rich and diverse cultural and artistic heritage and contemporary practice of art in Nepal.

Benefits

• The selected scholar will receive:
  • J-1 visa sponsorship for scholar and dependents
  • J-1 visa compliant health benefits
  • Round trip international travel to the U.S., 1 dependent’s flight coverage
  • A stipend to cover living expenses, settling in, dependent’s allowance and professional development allowances

Eligibility Criteria

• Nepalese Citizenship
• For researchers: Doctoral degree (for researchers). For post-doctoral researchers, only those scholars who received their doctorate between 2010-2020 are eligible to apply
• For artists: Or equivalent professional training or experience at the time of application for professionals and artists outside academia, recognized professional standing and substantial professional accomplishment is expected
• A minimum of three years’ post-doctoral professional experience in Nepal for post-doctoral researchers; a minimum of five years of experience in the area is required for artists.
• A detailed statement of proposed activity for research and/or an artistic project at a U.S. institution- The proposed project should contribute to the development of knowledge in your field and must be feasible within a maximum period of nine months in the U.S. For post-doctoral researchers, the subject of the proposed research must relate directly to Nepal. For artists, the proposed project must have relevance to Nepal
• Proficiency in English appropriate to the proposed project
• Sound physical and mental health– Those selected for a Fulbright grant are required to submit a Medical History and Examination Report before their grants can be finalized

Ineligibility Criteria

• Persons holding citizenship or permanent residency in both Nepal and the U.S.
• Scholars who received their doctorate before 2010 and after 2020
• Scholars with less than three years of post-doctoral professional experience in Nepal for post-doctoral researchers; artists with less than five years of experience in Nepal and abroad
• Scholars/artists who have previously held a J visa in the professor or research scholar category are not eligible for sponsorship again in those two categories for a period of 24 months following the program sponsorship end date
• Local employees and their immediate families (i.e. spouses and dependent children) of U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment; members and staff of the Nepal Fulbright Commission, for a period ending one year after the termination of such employment.

For more information, visit The United States Educational Foundation in Nepal.