2024-2025 competition is closed. 2025-2026 competition will open in April 2024. 

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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Malaysia

5 Open Study/Research Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Grant Period
Flexible Start
Grant Length
6-10 Months
Award Type
Open Study/Research
Award Profile

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious federation of 13 states and three federal territories that boasts one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant economies. A confluence of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous tribes co-exist in areas as disparate as sandy beaches, urban centers, and tea plantations, though racial and religious divides persist.

Researchers and teachers in fields such as agriculture, forestry, and tropical ecology, environmental studies, Southeast Asian history, and society, media and information technology, cultural studies, public health, and Islamic topics are highly sought. Different cultures, languages, and realities offer innumerable opportunities for research and study.  

Applicants should be able to share the diversity of the United States and have good intercultural skills and communication skills, and be adaptable to new environments.  Well–defined projects with clear objectives and a clear work plan are appreciated.

Grant Length
6-10 Months
Grant Period
Flexible Start

The grant is for a period of 6-10 months with the earliest start on September 1, 2024 and end the latest on June 30, 2025.

Orientation
Pre-Departure and In-Country Orientation
Candidate Profile

The Commission is seeking applicants who:

1. Demonstrate leadership experience, attributes, and, or potential.

2. Outline a strong rationale and feasible methodology for pursuing their project in Malaysia that indicates how a Fulbright grant to Malaysia fits into their longer-term goals.

3. Demonstrate the benefit of becoming a Fulbrighter; to themselves (personally and professionally), to their discipline, to society, to Malaysia, to the Fulbright Program / Commission, and to the U.S. when they return.

4. Extend themselves beyond their project/studies to become actively involved in Malaysian society and the work of the Fulbright Commission.

5. The Commission is keen to support projects that bring awardees into contact with a wide range of stakeholders, particularly outside of academia, to maximize their academic/cultural exchange experience and to raise awareness of the Fulbright Program in Malaysia.

Eligibility
Dual citizens of this country are NOT eligible
Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant
Indicate how many months is considered residency:
9 Months
Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Special Application Instructions

Applicants must include a timeline of the proposed project in the Statement of Grant Purpose. Please include the proposed start and end month in Malaysia.

Semi-Finalist candidates who are recommended for final review by the Fulbright Commission in Malaysia (MACEE) may be contacted for online interviews.

Foreign Language Proficiency
Recommended - Novice

Additional Information: Proficiency in Malay is not required. However, applicants proposing to do research requiring extensive contact with local populations and/or the study of Malay language texts must have a competence in Bahasa Malaysia. Projects involving extensive interviewing, especially in rural areas, will require more advanced language skills. 

Applicants without Malay language skills should include plans for language study in their Fulbright proposals and should study Malay concurrent with their research after arriving.

Fulbright Proposal Types
Independent Study/Research:
Yes
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
No
Affiliation
Independent Study/Research:
Letter required for independent study or research at deadline

Independent Study/Research:

Letter required for independent study or research at the deadline.

Candidates are responsible for establishing contact and securing an affiliation with a Malaysian institution of higher education or research organization.

The Fulbright Commission in Malaysia (MACEE) will assist with facilitating the affiliations for candidates who have been officially awarded grants.

Research candidates must secure affiliation at the time of application and include a letter of invitation from the proposed host with the application. 

Submit the "Commitment to Host a Fulbright Research Student" form with the Fulbright grant application. The form needs to be filled in and signed by your host.

 

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition not covered in grant benefits

In advance, candidates should discuss potential fees with their host institutions, such as lab fees, transportation, and equipment costs for research needs. Additional funding is grantee responsibility.

 

Housing Arrangements

Selected grantees must arrange housing at their sites on their own. They can seek advice and assistance from their Malaysian collaborators, counterparts, and contacts. The host institutions normally have an international office that assists foreign students and researchers to identity housing options. 

When requested, MACEE can also connect selected grantees with Fulbright alumni to give housing advice. 

 

Dependents
Dependent financial support is NOT available
Research Permit And Visa Requirements

The Fulbright Commission in Malaysia (MACEE) will assist grantees in navigating the process to secure the necessary permits and visas. Detailed procedures for obtaining a research permit will be communicated to grantees after selection. 

APPLICATION TO CONDUCT RESEARCH IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

All researchers intending to conduct research in Malaysia must obtain prior written approval from the Government of Malaysia. Detailed information on the rules of application to conduct research in Malaysia may be obtained from Economic Planning Unit at https://www.epu.gov.my/en/resources/guidelines-and-procedures/undertaking-research-malaysia

APPLICATION TO CONDUCT RESEARCH SABAH, EAST MALAYSIA

All researchers intending to conduct biological/biodiversity research in Sabah, Malaysia must obtain prior written approval from the Government of Sabah. Detailed information on the rules of application may be obtained from Sabah Biodiversity Center at hhttps://sabc.sabah.gov.my/quick-info-roles#anchor-researcher

APPLICATION TO CONDUCT RESEARCH SARAWAK, EAST MALAYSIA

All researchers intending to conduct biological/biodiversity research in Sarawak, Malaysia must obtain prior written approval from the Government of Sarawak. Detailed information on the rules of application may be obtained from the Sarawak Biodiversity Center https://www.sbc.org.my/research-regulations-permit/research-regulations

 

Helpful Links

U.S. Department of State - Malaysia 

U.S. Embassy in Malaysia 

Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia

Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) 

Click on the social media links below to learn more about MACEE Fulbright Malaysia

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn 

Economic Planning Unit:

https:// www.epu.gov.my/en/resources/guidelines-and-procedures/undertaking-research-malaysia

Sarawak Online Research Application System (SORAS)

http://soras.sarawak.gov.my/soras/welcome

Sabah Biodiversity Center Official Website

https://sabc.sabah.gov.my/index.php/content/access-licence-application

Fulbright Program Management Contact
FBstudent.EAP@iie.org
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
http://www.macee.org.my
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Leena Rajagopal: leena@macee.org.my