Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program

The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program provides grants to colleges and universities to fund individual doctoral students who conduct research in other countries in modern foreign languages and area studies for periods of no less than six months and no more than 12 months.

This program funds projects that deepen research knowledge on and help the nation develop capability in areas of the world not generally included in U.S. curricula. Projects focusing on Western Europe are not supported.

Applications for this award must be reviewed by the University prior to submission.  The deadline for submitting materials for internal review is 8 a.m. on March 18, 2024. 

Please read the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Instructions. For your application to be reviewed, you must follow these instructions exactly.  All applications must be completed in the Department of Education's G5 e-application system. Detailed instructions begin on page 39 of the instructions. For questions about the DDRA application or program, please contact Project Director, Assistant Dean, Tyisha Hathorn, at nbc4cf@virginia.edu.

Eligibility

  • Citizen or national of the United States or is a permanent resident of the United States
  • A graduate student in good standing at an institution of higher education in the United States who, when the fellowship begins, is admitted to candidacy in a doctoral program in modern foreign languages and area studies at that institution
  • Planning a teaching career in the United States upon graduation
  • Possesses adequate skills in the language(s) necessary to carry out the dissertation project
  • Students may not accept certain grants (Fulbright US Student Program administered by
    IIE(FUSP), Boren, IREX, Japan Foundation) in the same fiscal year that they receive a US/ED Fulbright-Hays grant.
  • Student applicants who have received support for more than 6 months under the DDRA Program are not eligible to re-apply.

Deadline

By 8 a.m. on March 18, 2024 –

  • Complete (but do not submit) your application in G5
    • This includes all references and languages references
    • Graduate Student Reference Forms (3)
    • Letters of affiliation, if applicable
    • The G5 budget section may remain blank; complete your budget using the CGAS-provided template
    • Students must initiate the emails to their references and request letters from their affiliates as early as possible to avoid last minute delays and notify/remind them of the March 18, 2024 internal deadline.
  • Notify Cate Cunningham (cc9ha) that your G5 application is ready for UVA review
    • Send your Excel budget (template here), human subjects narrative (if applicable), and G5 full application PDF

Note: This is a hard deadline; your application must be reviewed by UVA institutional officials in advance of the external deadline.

Application Materials

  • G5 e-Application (Form 022), which includes:
    • Application information
    • Proposed dissertation title
    • Dissertation abstract
    • List of previous overseas travel
    • Certification by physician or certified nurse practitioner
    • Budget request - Use CGAS-provided template
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • A narrative*
  • A bibliography - No more than 2 pages
  • One Fulbright-Hays Foreign Language Reference Form, for each language needed to conduct the research outlined, submitted by your referring specialist via G5 e-Application
  • Three Fulbright-Hays Graduate Student Reference Forms submitted by your referring specialists via G5 e - Application
  • Transcripts** (Graduate transcripts are required. Undergraduate transcripts are recommended to demonstrate the student’s language and area studies experience.)
  • Any letters of affiliation you wish to include. Note: Letters of Affiliation must be uploaded to G5 e -Application.
    Letters of affiliation may not be mailed.

*The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than 10 pages and the bibliography to no more than two pages and (2) use the following standards:

  • A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5′′ x 11′′, on one side only, with 1′′ margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
  • Double-space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
  • Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
  • Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial.
  • The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet, budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurance and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the biography, or letters of support. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of the application narrative.

**Students must scan all transcripts and upload into the G5 e-Application. Students must remove any personally identifiable information (PII) such as birthdate, social security numbers, student IDs, or addresses from each transcript submitted. Only one upload is allowed, so all transcripts must be scanned and combined into one document.  Transcripts obtained electronically must have all security features disabled. Failure to disable all security features may result in the inability of the panel reviewers to access the document as part of the official application process.

Note:  Please refer to Student Instructions for Form 022 starting on page 39 of the Instructions provided here.

Assistance with Project Narratives

Students seeking support with project narratives are encouraged to reach out to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs at: ogpafellowships@virginia.edu and a member of the PhD+ Research Communication team will respond. 

Application Technical Assistance Webinar and Web Chat

A Pre-application webinar for the DDRA program is available to stream beginning Feb. 15, 2024 on IFLE’s YouTube channel. The webinar covers a variety of topics, including DDRA program requirements, selection criteria, and frequently asked questions.

There will be a LIVE Technical Assistance Webinar on February 20 at 3:00-4:15 PM Eastern Time for applicants who need assistance navigating the G5 system. Link to Join Feb. 20 Webinar.

There will be a LIVE Question & Answer Session hosted by DDRA staff on February 22, 2024 from 3:00-4:15 PM (Eastern Time). All potential applicants are welcome to attend the live session by clicking the following: Link to Join February 22 Webinar. Attendees should ensure they have viewed the pre-recorded webinar ahead of the live question and answer session.

Additionally, the DDRA Fellow Alumni Panel Discussion and Application Tips is available to stream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da5YM-ROF4U

Recommended Timeline

Note:  These are the latest recommended dates. Applicants are welcomed and encouraged to complete tasks early!

By Monday, February 19, 2024 –

By Friday, February 23, 2024 –

  • Initiate emails to references and language references
    • Reminder referees that their forms must be uploaded by the UVA deadline of 8 a.m. on March 18, 2024 (not the deadline listed in G5)

By Monday, March 4, 2024 –

  • Complete draft of your narrative
    • Then ask others (e.g. peers, advisor) to review your draft (using the provided technical review form)

By 8 a.m. on Monday, March 18, 2024 (REQUIRED) –

  • Application complete (not submitted) in G5
  • Email Cate Cunningham (cc9ha) in CGAS Pre-Award with your Excel budget, human subjects narrative (if applicable), and note that your G5 application is ready for UVA review