The Fulbright U.S. Student Program and Fulbright Brazil offer 30 awards for independent study or research at academic or research institutions across Brazil. The 2027–2028 grant runs for nine months from September 2027 to June 2028.
Applicants design a feasible project, secure a Brazilian affiliate, and explain how the work advances mutual understanding between the United States and Brazil. All fields are accepted, while projects outside urban São Paulo, Salvador, and Rio de Janeiro receive priority. CAPES, the Brazilian federal graduate-education agency, co-sponsors the award.
Benefits & funding
- An estimated USD 1,020 monthly stipend is paid in USD 3,060 installments every three months.
- One-time allowances total up to USD 2,120: USD 50 for registration or permits, USD 1,000 for research, USD 1,020 for settling in, and USD 50 for local orientation transport.
- Benefits include international travel, accident and sickness coverage, a 24/7 mental-health support line, and 12 months of federal non-competitive eligibility status.
- The São Paulo arrival orientation includes accommodation, meals, and an airport-transport allowance; the award also provides a visa-fee waiver and simplified visa process.
- Affiliation fees or tuition, dependent support, and housing are not covered.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals by the national deadline; permanent residents are ineligible, while dual citizens of Brazil may apply.
- Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent before the grant starts; current bachelor’s students may apply if the degree will be conferred by then, and master’s and doctoral students are accepted.
- Anyone who holds or will hold a doctoral degree by the national deadline is ineligible; candidates expecting a Ph.D. by June 30, 2027 are directed to the Fulbright Scholar Program.
- Residence in Brazil is not permitted during the year before the grant; three months counts as residence, with an exception for no more than three months of formal language study during the 12 months before the start.
- By the grant start, participants must have at least intermediate Portuguese; weak or no Portuguese proficiency at application will not harm candidacy if the applicant explains a language-study plan for the period before the grant, and the required Foreign Language Evaluation must be submitted.
- Every application must include an affiliation letter from a Brazilian academic institution or research institute; graduating seniors and recent graduates must audit at least one class per semester at the affiliate.
- The program describes relatively limited professional experience, typically seven years or less, as the expected profile for non-enrolled applicants rather than a hard cap.
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Eligible nationalities
USA
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor · Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled
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Application process
- 1Confirm the general Fulbright eligibility rules and the Brazil award’s degree, residence, language, and affiliation requirements.
- 2Build an independent research plan and prepare the project title, 1,750-character abstract, 6,000-character Statement of Grant Purpose, and three required short answers.
- 3Secure the signed affiliation letter, complete the language self-evaluation and required Foreign Language Evaluation, register three recommenders, and collect all required post-secondary transcripts.
- 4Apply through the Fulbright online application; enrolled applicants coordinate with their Fulbright Program Adviser and campus deadline, while at-large applicants submit directly.
- 5Review the generated application PDF for completeness and submit by October 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Program timeline
Last time for a recommender to request that a submitted letter be reopened.
October 2, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET
National application deadline.
October 6, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET
IIE technical review for eligibility and completeness.
October 2026
National Screening Committee review.
November–December 2026
Initial recommended or non-recommended status released.
End of January 2027
Host-country, U.S. Department of State, and Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board review.
January–April 2027
Final decisions released on a rolling basis.
March–June 2027
Grant begins with mandatory in-country orientation.
September 2027
Nine-month grant period ends.
June 2028