Fulbright Scholar Awards for Sri Lankan Academics, Artists, and Professionals

Eligibility Requirements and Guidelines for Applying Overview of Fulbright Scholar Awards for Sri Lankan Academics, Artists, and Professionals

If you are a Sri Lankan academic, artist, or professional who is interested in going to America to do post-doctoral research, teach, perform, consult, or do other activities, please consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Award for Sri Lankans. Favor will be given to individuals that will benefit Sri Lanka upon their return, to fields that are particularly important to the Sri Lankan context, and to candidates who have not previously spent time in the U.S. You need a letter of invitation from a host university, think tank, institution, or organization. 

Grant Benefits

  • Pre-departure orientation program in Colombo
  • Monthly living stipend while in the USA
  • Round-trip economy class air travel from Sri Lanka to the host organization in the U.S.
  • Health insurance
  • Fulbright enrichment activities
  • Immigration advising and immigration sponsorship support

Please note: The Fulbright program does not provide any financial support for accompanying dependents.

Eligibility Requirements

  1. Sri Lankan citizen
  2. Must have continuously resided in Sri Lanka for a minimum of 2 years immediately prior to the award application deadline
  3. Demonstrate aptitude and accomplishment in the your academic, artistic or professional field thorough awards received, achievements and output
  4. Have a minimum of 5 years of experience in your field
  5. Demonstrate commitment to sharing knowledge with counterparts and the public in Sri Lanka
  6. Possess a letter of invitation from a host institution in the U.S.
  7. Must not be applying for or holding permanent resident visa (Green Card) in the United States, not be dual U.S.-Sri Lanka citizen, and not hold work or resident visa in another country
  8. Must provide evidence that leave will be granted for the fellowship period, if selected
  9. Must reside in Sri Lanka for a minimum of 2 years following the completion of the grant
  10. Demonstrate proficiency in the English language and superior communication skills
  11. Commitment to foster understanding and peace between the people of the U.S. and people of Sri Lanka

Eligibility Preferences 

  1. Must have very few or preferably no previous opportunities to travel to the U.S. 
  2. Demonstrate a commitment to return to Sri Lanka to live and work for at least 5 years after the conclusion of the program
  3. Demonstrate strong academic, artistic or professional leadership potential
  4. Demonstrate the ability to function well in the U.S.
  5. Be able to live and work closely with people from a variety of backgrounds and interact in a culturally sensitive way with others

Not Eligible

  1. Staff or families of staff at a U.S. Embassy or US-SLFC
  2. Misrepresentation, false information, or plagiarism of any kind during the application or grant period is grounds for selection withdrawal or immediate grant termination

Period of Award

Up to 6 months. Start and end dates of award should fall between July 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026.

Application Deadline

October 1, 2024 including all supporting material

Next Steps for Short-listed Candidates

Mandatory Interviews at US-SLFC Offices in Colombo during February 2025 (dates will be sent if you are shortlisted)

For More Information and To Apply

To learn more about and apply for the Fulbright Awards for Sri Lankan academics, artists, and professionals please see this website from our partners at IIE https://apply.iie.org/fvsp2025 

Please note: You must register on this website to access information and apply.

Additional note: US-SLFC’s free Educational Advising services, including Fulbright Sri Lanka’s library and other resources, can assist you to research and identify potential U.S. universities or organizations where you can pursue your program activities.

For questions, write to: inquiries@fulbrightsrilanka.org