The U.S. Mission in Vietnam is pleased to announce the Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher Program (VSR).

The application deadline for the Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher Program in Science and Technology for Academic Year 2027 has been extended.

This is a non-degree program offering up to 05 fully funded scholarships each year for Vietnamese PhD students in Science and Technology fields currently enrolled at Vietnamese universities to conduct research at a U.S. university for a period of 6 to 10 months during the 2027 academic year.

Selected Visiting Student Researchers (VSRs) will work with a faculty advisor at a U.S. university and will not enroll in credit-bearing courses. As research is a full-time activity, participants may not undertake other employment opportunities during the program. VSRs are expected to begin their program within the U.S. academic calendar (from August to May). As the Fulbright Program is an academic and cultural exchange initiative, VSRs are required to reside in the city where their host university is located and actively engage with local communities in the United States.

Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship includes:

  • Monthly stipend
  • Accident and sickness insurance
  • Round-trip airfare between Vietnam and the United States

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

  • Be Vietnamese citizens (not holding dual nationality and/or permanent residency in another country)
  • Reside in Vietnam throughout the application and selection process
  • Hold a Master’s degree
  • Be currently enrolled in a PhD program in Science and Technology at a Vietnamese university (applicants must not complete their PhD before or during the VSR program in the U.S.)
  • Have a valid English proficiency score obtained after May 15, 2024, meeting one of the following minimum requirements:
    • TOEFL iBT 51 (TOEFL iBT 3.5 – new format from 2026)
    • IELTS 5.5
    • Duolingo 85
    • TOEFL Essentials 6.0
      Applicants are exempt from submitting English test scores if they possess an invitation letter from a U.S. university stating that English scores are not required.

Note: Successful interview candidates will later be required to submit higher English scores, including at least:

  • TOEFL iBT 70 (TOEFL iBT 4.0 – new format from 2026), or
  • IELTS 6.0, or
  • Other scores as required by the host U.S. university.

Eligible applicants include university lecturers, government officials, researchers, professionals in the private sector, NGOs, research institutes, and related organizations. Preference is given to applicants with strong academic or professional research achievements. Applicants must return to Vietnam upon completion of the program. Priority will also be given to candidates with limited or no recent experience in the United States.

Ineligible Applicants

Applicants are not eligible if they:

  • Are currently living, studying, teaching, or conducting research in the United States, or have received a Fulbright grant (Fulbright Master’s, FLTA, Fulbright Scholar, Fulbright U.S.-ASEAN Scholar, or Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program) within the past five years
  • Participated in a U.S. exchange program under a J-1 Professor/Research Scholar visa within the past two years
  • Are employees of the U.S. Mission in Vietnam under the U.S. Department of State, or spouses/children of such employees (during employment and within one year after leaving the position)

Research Fields

Science and Technology.

As part of the U.S. effort to support shared prosperity through the development of a high-tech workforce in Vietnam and to strengthen global supply chain resilience, the Fulbright Program especially welcomes applications from candidates in:

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Semiconductor-related fields
  • Other high-tech industrial research areas

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit their application online at:
https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2027/

Required documents include:

  • Online application form
  • Official confirmation of current PhD enrollment from a Vietnamese university
  • Degree certificates and academic transcripts from undergraduate level onward
  • Valid English test certificate meeting program requirements, or an invitation letter from a U.S. university waiving English requirements
  • Research proposal (3–5 pages maximum; clinical research-related topics accepted)
  • Personal statement (maximum 1,000 words / 2 pages)
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Three recommendation letters

Program Duration

  • 6 or 10 months
  • Participants are expected to begin their program during the U.S. academic year (August–May)

Program Format

Full-time research.

VSRs will work directly with a faculty mentor at a U.S. university and will not enroll in credit-bearing coursework. Participants are expected to engage in cultural exchange activities and local community interaction throughout the program.

Application Deadline

5:00 PM (Vietnam time), June 15, 2026

Applications submitted via fax or email will not be considered.

Selection Timeline

Applicants Timeline Activities
All applicants January 2026 Online application announcement
June 15, 2026 Original application deadline
Interview candidates August 2026 Application review and online interviews
September 2026 Interview results announcement
Selected nominees September 2026 Submit TOEFL iBT/IELTS if required
October 2026 Applications and nominations submitted for final Fulbright approval
November 2026 – March 2027 Applications to U.S. universities
April – May 2027 Final host university placement decisions
Final awardees May – June 2027 Mandatory pre-departure orientation
June – July 2027 Medical check-up & U.S. visa interview
July – August 2027 Departure to the United States

Contact Information

Fulbright Program in Vietnam
Tel: (024) 3850-5089
Email: VNFulbright@state.gov

For more details, please visit:
https://vn.usembassy.gov/fulbright-vietnamese-visiting-student-researcher-program/