Deadline: April 11, 2023
The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) fellowship program provides opportunities for doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. The program is designed to deepen research knowledge and increase the study of modern foreign languages, cultural engagement, and area studies not generally included in U.S. curricula.
Program features
Students may request funding to support overseas research for a period of no less than six months and no more than 12 months. Funds support travel expenses to and from the residence of the fellow and the country or countries of research; maintenance and dependent allowances based on the location of research for the fellow and his or her dependent(s); an allowance for research-related expenses overseas; and health and accident insurance premiums. Projects may focus on one or more of the following geographic areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, South Asia, the Near East, Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and the Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and its territories).
Eligible applicants
Institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the United States are eligible to apply for grants under this program. As part of the application process, eligible students submit their individual research narratives and application forms to their home IHE. The IHE compiles all eligible individual student applications for inclusion in the institutional application that is submitted to the U.S. Department of Education (Department). A student is eligible to receive a DDRA fellowship from their IHE if they:
- Are a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States.
- Are a graduate student in good standing at an IHE.
- Are admitted to candidacy in a doctoral degree program in modern foreign languages and area studies at that institution when the fellowship period begins.
- Are planning a teaching career in the United States upon completion of their doctoral program.
- Possess sufficient foreign language skills to carry out the dissertation research project.
How to apply
The U.S. Department of Education’s International and Foreign Language Education office (IFLE) expects to make 90 new awards totaling approximately $3.8 million under the fiscal year (FY) 2023 DDRA program competition. The FY 2023 application is available online through the Department’s G5 system between Feb. 10 and April 11.
Please refer to the official Federal Register notice for detailed information about the FY 2023 competition.
Application technical assistance webinar and web chat
IFLE will post a prerecorded technical assistance webinar on its YouTube channel on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. (Eastern Time) to help students and institutions learn more about the 2023 DDRA program and how to apply. Please subscribe to IFLE’s YouTube channel and check periodically for updates.
In addition to the webinar presentation, IFLE will host a live web chat to answer specific applicant questions. There will be a LIVE Question & Answer Session hosted by DDRA staff on March 8 3-4:15 p.m. (Eastern Time). All potential applicants are welcome to attend the live session by clicking the following link: Join the Live Q & A Session on Microsoft Teams. Attendees should ensure they have viewed the prerecorded webinar ahead of the live question and answer session.
If you have questions about the program or application process, please send them by email to DDRA@ed.gov.