Research

2026-2027 Competition Deadline: Tuesday October 7, 2025 at 5 pm Eastern Time

Program Description

Applicants for the Fulbright US Student Program research awards usually design their projects and will typically work with research counterparts from Indonesian universities or research institutes. Many student research projects are part of doctoral or master’s degree programs, but independent, non-degree research projects are also acceptable.

Student researchers may be asked to participate in seminars or workshops focused on their project, their field of study, or related topics that may interest local event organizers.

General Requirements

The applicant should:

• Be a US citizen
• Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree
• Have at least novice-level knowledge of Indonesian language
• Applicants currently residing in Indonesia (or those living there during the relevant academic year) will not be considered.

Fields of study

Applications from any discipline are welcomed.

Grant Period                                          

Ten months (without Critical Language Enhancement Award); nine months (with CLEA). Research grants can begin anytime from September through May.

Pre-Departure Orientation

All grantees are required to attend virtual pre-departure Orientation (vPDO) in summer before starting their grants.

Affiliation

Affiliation with an Indonesian university is required. Applicants should contact the Indonesian institutions they wish to collaborate with and include affiliation letters with their applications. The Indonesian government does not permit nongovernment organizations to serve as affiliates. AMINEF will assist in establishing affiliations for candidates officially awarded Fulbright grants and reserves the right to finalize all affiliations based on the best match between the expertise of selected scholars and the needs of participating institutions. The affiliating institution may be in a different location than the research site.

Invitation letters from a host institution are not required, but advance communication with a host institution is highly recommended.

Geographical Restrictions

Due to Indonesian government restrictions, permission to conduct research in Aceh, Papua, parts of North Kalimantan, and Central Sulawesi may not be granted. Work in other areas may also not be feasible due to permit restrictions. Candidates must remain flexible about affiliates and research sites.

Foreign Language Proficiency

Proficiency in Indonesian is not a requirement in the candidate selection process, but prior study (one year of college-level study or the equivalent to novice level) is preferred. Applicants without language proficiency should include plans for language study in their Fulbright applications, and selected candidates should begin studying the language as soon as possible since language proficiency will greatly enhance the Fulbright experience. It is recommended that grantees have a novice level of Indonesian language.

Critical Language Enhancement Award

Applicants may also apply for a supplemental Critical Language Enhancement Award (CLEA) to study Indonesian before starting their research. With the CLEA, grantees may take a three-month intensive Indonesian language course at several approved institutions throughout Indonesia.

CLEA grantees begin their language study in September and attend one of the institutions named below for a maximum of three months. The grants must be completed in full before starting the Fulbright Student research grant. Applicants are responsible for indicating their preferred language institutions. Tailor-made programs can be developed upon request at some institutions listed below.

• Wisma Bahasa, Yogyakarta
• Indonesian Language and Culture Learning Service (INCULS), Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta
• Alam Bahasa, Yogyakarta
• Bandung Talent Source, Bandung, West Java

Visa Requirements

US Student Research grantees will need an Ethical Clearance and/or Research Permit from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). After securing those permits, grantees must also acquire a research visa (C315) from the Indonesian immigration office.

AMINEF will assist grantees in securing the necessary permits and visas. Projects that are deemed sensitive by that ministry may be declined. Although the vast majority of applications are approved, AMINEF cannot guarantee Indonesian government agencies’ approval. In the case of a rejected application, the grantee may not be able to take up the award offer. Detailed procedures for obtaining a research permit will be communicated to grantees after selection.

How to Apply?

Please note that AMINEF does not receive applications for the Fulbright US Student Program directly. Please refer to the website of the Institute of International Education (IIE) for guidance on the application process and completing it online.

Please visit the US Student Awards page on the grants offered for Fulbright programs in Indonesia.

To start an application, click here.

If you still have questions about the application procedure and program deadline, please email FBstudent.EAP@iie.org.

Important information to consider before applying

Before applying for this program, applicants are strongly encouraged to read  Information to consider before accepting a Fulbright Grant to Indonesia.

Selection Process

Selection is made based on:

• Quality and feasibility of the proposal as described in the Statement of Grant Purpose
• Academic or professional record
• Personal qualifications
• Language preparation
• Preference factors as established by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) and the Fulbright Commissions/Foundations
• The extent to which the candidate and the project will help to advance the Fulbright aim of promoting mutual understanding among nations through engagement in the host community, among other activities
• Ability of the supervising agencies abroad to arrange/confirm supervision and facilitate research clearance, if necessary
• Desirability of achieving wide institutional and geographic distribution

Selection is first made by American academic selection panels. The nominated candidates are then decided in a final review by a binational Educational Exchange Committee of AMINEF in Indonesia. Candidates recommended for final review by AMINEF may be contacted via video calls or phone for interviews. Finally, candidates nominated by AMINEF are approved by the presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board in Washington.

Note: It is the policy of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board that reasons for the non-recommendation of candidates should not be given.

Grant Benefits

• Round-trip transportation
• Maintenance allowance to cover room, board, and incidental costs
• Accident and health insurance
• One-time allowances for research, relocation, and permit
• Arrival briefing and enrichment activities during the grant

Dependents
Dependent support is not available.

Funds from Other Sources
If awarded a Fulbright grant, a grantee is required to report all funds received from other sources.  Funds from other scholarships, fellowships, or grants in dollars or foreign currencies received concurrently with a Fulbright grant that duplicate Fulbright benefits will be deducted. However, no deduction will be made if such grants are for assistance in meeting grantees’ family expenses or other expenses not covered by the Fulbright grant. Fulbright grantees may not accept remunerative work abroad during the grant period; this is a stipulation of the research visa grantees receive.