U.S. Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship

Purpose of the Program: The DDRA provides opportunities to doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. The program is designed to contribute to the development and improvement of their study in the U.S.

Absolute Priority: For FY 2025, this priority is an absolute priority: Geographic Regions of the World: A research project that focuses 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). [Unchanged from the previous three competitions.]

Competitive Preference Priority #1: Less commonly taught languages: A research project that focuses on any modern foreign language except French, German, or Spanish. [2 points]

Competitive Preference Priority #2: Thematic focus: Applications that propose dissertation research projects in modern foreign languages and area studies with an academic focus on any of the following academic fields: science (including climate change), technology, engineering (including infrastructure studies), mathematics, computer science, psychology, social work, education (comparative or international), international development, political science, public health (including epidemiology), or economics. [2 points]

Competitive Preference Priority #3: Promoting Equity in Student Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities [UIC is a minority-serving institution and thus additional points will be awarded] [2 points]

Maximum 6 extra points — researchers should not feel constrained by the disciplines listed in priority #2.

• Type of Award: Discretionary grants redistributed as fellowships to individual beneficiaries. (Benn W. will be the PI on the institutional grant.)
• Estimated Available Funds: $3,000,000 [down from 28% since spring 2022].
• Estimated Range of Awards: $15,000-$60,000 [unchanged].
• Estimated Average Size of Awards: $37,500 [decrease of 18% since 2022]
• Estimated Number of Awards: 80. [11% decrease from last year]
• Project Period: 6-12 months in an 18-month period.
• Assistance Listing Number: 84.022A. OMB Control Number: 1840-0005.

1. be a citizen, naturalized citizen, or permanent resident of the United States;
2. be a graduate student in good standing who, when the fellowship period begins, has been admitted to candidacy in a doctoral degree program in modern foreign languages and[/or] area studies at that institution;
3. plan a teaching career in the United States upon graduation, or plan to apply language skills (in world areas vital to US national security) and knowledge of these countries in the fields of government, international development, and various professions; and
4. possess adequate skills in the foreign language(s) necessary to carry out the dissertation research project;
5. submit their materials to UIC Project Director, Benn Williams, Fellowships and Awards Coordinator, via email to: DDRA.7t4vnvr34m6zsdr5@u.box.com by 11:59 pm on December 31, 2025.

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;
• have received support for more than 6 months under the DDRA Program previously.

If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual’s application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact:

Pamela J. Maimer, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453-6891. Email: DDRA@ed.gov.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from the regulations for this program in 34 CFR 662.21 and are as follows:

(a) Quality of proposed project (63 points), i.e., quality of the research project proposed, especially…

1. The statement of the major hypotheses to be tested or questions to be examined, and the description and justification of the research methods to be used; [20 points]
2. The relationship of the research to the literature on the topic and to major theoretical issues in the field, and the project’s originality and importance in terms of the concerns of the discipline; [10 points]
3. The preliminary research already completed in the United States and overseas or plans for such research prior to going overseas, and the kinds, quality and availability of data for the research in the host country or countries; [10 points]
4. The justification for overseas field research and preparations to establish appropriate and sufficient research contacts and affiliations abroad; [10 points]
5. The applicant’s plans to share the results of the research in progress and a copy of the dissertation with scholars and officials of the host country or countries; [3 points] and
6. The guidance and supervision of the dissertation advisor or committee at all stages of the project, including guidance in developing the project, understanding research conditions abroad, and acquainting the applicant with research in the field. [10 points]

(b) Qualifications of the applicant (37 points)

1. The overall strength of the applicant’s graduate academic record; [10 points]
2. The extent to which the applicant’s academic record demonstrates strength in area studies relevant to the proposed project; [10 points]
3. The applicant’s proficiency in one or more of the languages (other than English and the applicant’s native language) of the country or countries of research, and the specific measures to be taken to overcome any anticipated language barriers; [10 points] and
4. The applicant’s ability to conduct research in a foreign cultural context, as evidenced by the applicant’s references or previous overseas experience, or both. [2 points]

For FY 2025, doctoral student applications will be divided into seven categories based on the geographic area focus of their research projects, as described in the absolute priority. Foreign language and area studies experts assigned to geographic area-based panels will review the doctoral student applications. Each panel will review, score, and rank its applications separately from the applications assigned to the other geographic area panels. At the conclusion of the peer review process, however, all fellowship applications in the competition will be ranked from the highest to the lowest score for funding purposes.

If there are applications on the rank order slate with the same average score, the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board’s (FFSB) policy governing veteran’s preference will be used in the tiebreaker and selection process. Veteran’s preference will be used first to determine which application to recommend for funding. This means that in instances where two or more applications have the same average score on the rank order slate, and there are insufficient funds to support all of the equally ranked applications, the veteran’s application will be given preference.

The campus deadline is about ONE MONTH prior to the hard national deadline in order for the Program Director to provide feedback and to work with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research on the components that it must approve. You will be expected to have all of your components (unsubmitted application, budget, narrative, bibliography, CV, IRB, transcripts, and letter(s) of affiliation ready for review by the Program Director at the campus deadline.  Referees will enjoy a grace period; however, their uploads should be done ONE week prior to the national deadline. (NOTE: G5.gov does not currently allow uploads from non-US servers or email addresses! Talk to the Program Director beforehand.) The nebulous SF-424 forms and their ilk will be  handled by the Program Director BUT may require your input (see below).

• Narrative of a maximum 10 pages (double-spaced with 1-inch margins) including footnotes, charts, figures, titles, headings, quotations, endnotes, and captions (newly revised criterion; PD will want to see 2+ drafts)
• Bibliography of 2 pages (double-spaced as well)
• 12 point font or no smaller than 10 pitch of Times New Roman, Arial, Courier, or Courier New font (select “12” in word processing app)
• Ten-page limit does not apply to cover sheet, budget, budget narrative, abstract, CV, or letters of support
• Application for Federal Assistance face sheet (SF 424), a supplemental form without pages limits; [Benn will handle]
• Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF424 [Benn will handle but will need your Human Subject information, narrative, etc.];
• Budget Information (see the Monthly Maintenance Form)
•  Transcripts [redact SSN, birth date, unlock]
• References forms, i.e., information regarding who will submit letters of reference
• Do NOT use fillable, interactive, or password-protected PDFs
• Most recent campus deadline: NOON, March 20, 2023

• DoEd Website Description
• Full Funding Announcement
• Federal Register Notice
• Application Technical Assistance (webinar)
• G5 Application Portal
• ED Abstract Form
• SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance
• SF-424 Instructions
• Supplemental information for SF-424
• FY22 and FY23 DDRA Application Checklist
• Budget Narrative Form
• FY22 Maintenance Allowances
• FY23 IRB Information
• FY23 Technical Review (How you are evaluated)

Fulbright-Hays Application Tips

IFLE has posted a prerecorded technical assistance webinar on its YouTube channel to help students and institutions learn more about the 2023 DDRA program and how to apply. It has also posted an Alumni Panel: Application Tips webinar. 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. The chat will take place via Microsoft Teams at 2 p.m. ET on March 2. A link to join the web chat on the designated date and time will be posted soon under the “Tips and Assistance” section of the DDRA program “Applicant Information” webpage. Please check there for updates.

• Technical assistance webinar
• DDRA Web Page