Uruguay
2 Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodMarch StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
Advanced graduate students working on doctoral dissertations are preferred. However, serious consideration will be given to Master's students, graduating seniors, and recent graduates who present significant study or research projects and establish an academic affiliation with an institution for coursework or a research support.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Uruguay's academic calendar is different from the United States, and their seasons are opposite. Grants run from March to December. Candidates are strongly encouraged to plan their grant projects for the academic year, since universities are closed during the months of December, January and February for the summer break and therefore, little academic work can be accomplished. The grant period starts with an orientation organized by the Fulbright Commission in mid-March. Attendance at the orientation is required.
Orientation
The Fulbright Commission will arrange two or more mandatory virtual pre-departure meetings with grantees, as well as a mandatory in-country orientation.
Candidate Profile
Applications from recent graduates, master's degree students, and doctoral candidates are welcome. Applications from all fields of study are accepted.
The following attributes are very important in the selection of Finalists for this award: presenting a strong, well-defined project proposal; demonstrating a solid working relationship with a proposed affiliate in the application; clearly outlining plans for engagement with the host community; and expressing the relevance of the proposed grant activities to the applicants’ plans.
Applicants should be open-minded and willing to build significant community relationships as a cultural ambassador for the United States.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Uruguay is often referred to as the hidden gem of South America. It is a country that consistently ranks #1 in Latin America in all international indexes referring to Democracy, Low Corruption, Respect for Rules, Transparency, Civil Freedoms and Social Mobility. With a literacy rate of 97.9 percent, Uruguay was the first country in the world to provide free laptops for every child and teacher of public schools.
Uruguay is an open-minded society where cultural activities, culinary experiences and an intercultural ambience is part of daily life. Originally founded by immigrants, the country’s residents are known for being friendly and warm, always willing to share a barbecue and mate, our typical infusion.
As a grantee said, “...in Uruguay, I found it was much more productive to let things happen, to open myself up to new experiences and see where they led me. You never know what sort of new ideas and connections can come up all while simply enjoying a mate and watching the sunset with a new friend...".
Eligibility
3 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Additional Information: The recommended Spanish language level for this award is Intermediate. Novice speakers will be considered provided they meet other qualifications. Higher level proficiency may be necessary depending on the requirements of the proposed project. Applicants should discuss plans for language study between the time of application and the commencement of the grant on with the Language Self-Evaluation. A Foreign Language Evaluation by a college level Spanish language instructor is required.
Spanish language proficiency is necessary not only for the development of the proposed project but also in order to communicate in a daily basis and get immersed in the culture.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Letter recommended but not required at deadline
Uruguay has two public universities: the Universidad de la República (State University), which is free and offers courses in any field of study; and UTEC (Technologic University of Uruguay). There are also four private universities, as well as private research institutes such as: CLAEH (Centro Latinoamericano de Economía Humana), INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria), and, LATU (Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay). Applicants are encouraged to initiate contact with the host institution of their preference and to include their letter of affiliation with the application. The role of the affiliation is to provide oversight and support to the applicant's work on the proposed project.
The Fulbright Commission in Uruguay will assist grantees in confirming a host institution affiliation or by recommending alternate affiliations. Candidates who seek to earn a degree from a Uruguayan university will not be considered.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
The University of the Republic is free. Candidates may audit classes for free.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
- Local transportation allowance
- Research/Materials allowance: $150
- Settling in allowance: $500
- Local transporttaion allowance: $100
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
The websites below can help estimate the cost of living, meals, and incidentals in different capital cities. Significant differences can exist in regional cities where costs tend to be lower.
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
The Commission is not responsible for making housing arrangements for the grantees. However, at the grantee's request, the Commission will go over their housing options (links to the internet) and provide feedback when applicable. If grantees rent an apartment through a real estate agent, the Commission will read the leasing contract to make sure their rights as a tenant are preserved.
The Commission will book the grantees in a hotel during the orientation. This will be covered by the Commission.