Research
Program Description
Applicants for the Fulbright US Student Program research awards usually design their own projects and will typically work with research counterparts from Indonesian universities or research institutes. Many student research projects are carried out as 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, or in their field of study or related topics that may be of interest to local event organizers.
General Requirements
The applicant should:
Be a US citizen
Hold a BA or MA degree
Have at least novice-level knowledge of Indonesian language
Applicants currently residing in Indonesia (or those who will be living there during the 2018-2019 academic year) will not be considered.
Fields of study
Applications from any discipline are welcomed.
Grant Period
Ten months (without Critical Language Enhancement Award); 9 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 Summers before starting their grants.
Affiliation
Affiliation with an Indonesian university is required. Applicants should contact the Indonesian institutions with which they wish to collaborate and include affiliation letters with their applications. NGOs are not permitted by the Indonesian government to serve as affiliates. AMINEF will provide assistance 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 for 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 with regard to 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 in with 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 beginning the Fulbright Student research grant. Applicants are responsible for indicating their preferred language institutions. Tailor-made programs can be developed upon request at some of the institutions listed below.
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 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, and 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. Applicants must apply online at the Institute of International Education (IIE) website. Please consult this webpage for advice on getting started and see this page for specific information on the grants on offer to Indonesia and this page to apply using the online Embark system.
If you still have questions about the application procedure and program deadline, please email to: FBstudent.EAP@iie.org
Important information to consider before applying
Before deciding to apply for this program, applicants are strongly encouraged to read Information to consider before accepting a Fulbright Grant to Indonesia.
Selection Process
Selection is made on the basis of:
- 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
- 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 who are recommended for final review by AMINEF may be contacted for interviews via Skype or phone. 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 non-recommendation of candidates 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 course of 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. But, if such grants are for assistance in meeting family expenses of grantees or other expenses not covered by the Fulbright grant, no deduction will be made. Fulbright grantees may not accept remunerative work abroad during the grant period; this is a stipulation of the research visa grantees receive.
Last Updated: Jul 10, 2023 @ 1:37 pm
