The Junior Research Scholarship sends Thai doctoral students to the United States to carry out part of their dissertation research. It is run by the Thailand-United States Educational Foundation, the binational Fulbright foundation based in Bangkok.
Applicants choose their own U.S. host university and advisor, so the placement follows the research rather than a fixed partner list. Three of the five grants are reserved for doctoral students already supported by the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program or the Research and Researchers for Industries Program, both run with the National Research Council of Thailand.
The stay abroad is non-degree research, not enrolment in a U.S. programme. Grantees finish the doctorate at their Thai university.
Benefits & funding
- Monthly stipend for a research period of up to 6 months.
- Grant period of up to 12 months for doctoral students under the RGJ or RRi programs.
- Round-trip international economy airfare.
- Accident and sickness insurance coverage.
- J-1 visa sponsorship.
Eligibility
- Thai citizenship.
- Enrolled as a doctoral student at a Thai university, with coursework completed and the qualifying exam passed.
- Approval from the doctoral program at the home university.
- English proficiency of TOEFL iBT 71, TOEFL ITP 525, CU-TEP 75 or Duolingo English Test 110.
- Duolingo scores count at the application stage only; shortlisted candidates must submit an official TOEFL iBT report meeting the minimum.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Thailand
Education required
PhD Enrolled
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Application process
- 1Identify a U.S. host university and advisor, and obtain an official invitation letter stating the research period.
- 2Obtain approval from the doctoral program in Thailand.
- 3Prepare the required documents: CV, personal essay of at most 2 pages, research proposal of at most 5 pages, three letters of recommendation, official diplomas and transcripts for all post-secondary education, a copy of a valid passport or national ID, and an English proficiency score report.
- 4Apply to Fulbright Thailand within the June to September application period; the 2027 cycle closes on 28 September 2026 at 11:59 PM Thailand time.
- 5Attend the interview in October if shortlisted, with results announced in November.
- 6Attend the pre-departure orientation in June before the grant starts in September.
Program timeline
Application period
June to September
28 September 2026
Application deadline for the 2027 cycle
Interview
October
Interview results
November
Pre-departure orientation
June
Grant begins
September