Deadline: January 15, 2025
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
Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and its territories)
NEW IN 2025: The DDRA program is pleased to share that in fiscal year (FY) 2025, the academic fields of psychology and social work are now included in Competitive Preference Priority 2—Thematic Focus on Academic Fields. Projects focusing on psychology and social work are now eligible to receive two additional points. For full details on each Competitive Preference Priority, please review the 2025 DDRA application instructions.
Eligible applicants
Institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the U.S. 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.
DDRA INFO
How to Apply
The Department’s International and Foreign Language Education office (IFLE) expects to make 80 new awards totaling approximately $3 million under the FY 2025 DDRA program competition. The FY 2025 application is available online through the Department’s G5 system between Oct. 30 and Jan. 15.
Please refer to the official Federal Register notice for detailed information about the FY 2025 competition.