Fulbright

Fulbright - Université Paris-Saclay

In 2019, Université Paris-Saclay and the Franco-American Fulbright Commission launched a new scholarship program for PhD students aspiring to spend a short-term research stay in a US-based university or research institute. The program has been renewed for another five years (2024-2029).

21 months of scholarships are made available on an annual basis for PhD candidates enrolled at Université Paris-Saclay.  The stay must not exceed 6 months and cannot be shorter than 4 months.

Fulbright – Université Paris-Saclay Program

The Fulbright - Université Paris-Saclay program funds from 4-6 months of research stay in the USA for applicants enrolled in a Université Paris-Saclay doctoral school and holders of French citizenship.

Applicants from all research fields are eligible. Applications in Social Sciences and Humanities will be given a special appreciation.

The research mobility period must be placed between August and May.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Be a French citizen. French-USA binational are not eligible.

  • Be enrolled in a Université Paris-Saclay doctoral school;

  • Be able to provide a proof of financial sustainability (between 2, 831 and 4, 300 USD of global financial income, variable according to the destination) to request a J1 visa;

  • Be fluent in English (e.g. minimum 92 TOEFL iBT);

  • Be invited by an American university or public research center (a letter of invitation must be included in the application file);

  • Applications to Paris-Saclay US strategic partners will be given a special priority: Northeastern University ; University of California, Davis ; University of Florida ; University of Arizona ; University of Arkansas ; Columbia University.

Advantages

Successful applicants will beneficiate from:

  • A scholarship of 2, 200 USD / month;

  • A travel allowance ;

  • Free visa;
  • An orientation session organised in Paris by the Franco-American Fulbright Commission (end of June - beginning of July);
  • Medical insurance offered by the US State Department (we recommend taking out purchasing complementary medical insurance);
  • The possibility to participate in accompanying programs, seminars, cultural visits, etc. offered by the IIE Agency during the stay in the US.

Selection criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the quality of the scientific project and on perspectives for future cooperations between the US lab and UPSaclay.  Merit is assessed according to the quality and originality of the project, the richness of the previous career, the personality and motivation of the candidate, the desire to contribute to strengthening the Franco-American bond.

How to apply

Candidates must submitt their application via the application plateform of the Fulbright Commission.

The application must include:

  • A CV
  • A copy of passport
  • Scans of all available transcripts and diplomas from higher education institutions you have attended (post-baccalaureate)
  • A study/research objective description (3-5 pages)
  • A personal statement (3-5 pages)
  • 3 letters of reference, including one written by your research director at UPSaclay
  • An invitation letter from an American university or public research center
  • Optionally, a test score (TOEFL, IELTS…)

Before applying, please read carefully the Application guide and the Q&A dedicated to PhD programs.

Calendar

  • 1 September : Call opens

  • 20 December : Call closes

  • March : Selection interviews at the Franco-American Fulbright Commission, in French and in English

  • May/June: Publication of selection result

Contact

For more information, visit the Fulbright commission website.

For any questions, please contact: