Fulbright Scholarship 2027-2028: Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship Program is Now Open for Application

Fulbright Scholarship 2027-2028: Post-graduate University Programs

Hi everyone, this is to your notice that the U.S. Embassy Dili has open the 2027-2028 Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship Program for Timorese to pursue master’s degrees in the United States. Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Foreign Student scholarship will be awarded to up to three students and cover a maximum of two years of graduate study at higher education institutions in the United States.

Please, remember that only online applications will be accepted for this application cycle. Applications must be submitted online at https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2027 by 5:00 p.m. Dili time on April 30, 2026.

The scholarship is open for any field of study except programs with clinical requirements such as dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, nursing. Please note that fields of study such as public health and nursing administration are permitted. Scholarship recipients receive a tuition grant for their coursework and a monthly stipend to cover living expenses while at their host institution. Recipients also receive round-trip transportation and health benefits.

Moreover, throughout their program, recipients may also attend special enrichment activities and will have excellent opportunities to network with fellow international Fulbright recipients and to interact with prominent Americans from a range of professional fields. Selected candidates may be required to travel to the United States by August 2027 or as early as January or March 2027 for Intensive Pre-Academic English Language Training.

Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship Requirements:

1. Applicants must be citizens of Timor-Leste.
2. Applicants must possess a four-year bachelor’s (undergraduate) degree and a strong academic background demonstrated by post-secondary transcripts.
3. Applicants must have a minimum of two years of professional work experience.
4. Applicants must demonstrate leadership qualities, including volunteer experience and involvement in their communities.
5. Applicants must demonstrate excellent English communication skills.
6. Applicants must present three letters of recommendation from their professors and/or employers. (Two from professors and one from an employer highly recommended.)
7. Applicants must submit two application essays (a personal statement and an essay on their study research objectives) with clear goals and well-reasoned statements that describe why a specific academic track is the best fit and that tie their proposed academic plans to longer-term professional goals.
8. Applicants must be committed to returning to their country of citizenship and outline a specific plan for leveraging their Fulbright experience in their professional lives and in service to their country.
9. Strong preference will be given to applicants who have not had extensive or recent experience in the United States.

Who do not Qualify?

1. Persons who have not been conferred a bachelor’s degree.
2. Persons who hold dual U.S./Timor-Leste citizenship.
3. Persons who have a spouse, parent, fiancé/ée, or child over 18 years of age who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
4. Persons who have a pending application for immigration to any country (including special immigrant visas).
5. Persons who are employees of any U.S. government agency (e.g., U.S. Embassy, USAID, DOD).

READ ALSO: Morgan Law Group Scholarship 2027-2028

How to Apply for Fulbright Scholarship for International Students

To apply for the 2027-2028 Fulbright Foreign Student scholarship program, please read the below carefully and follow all steps:

• Step 1: Before you apply, be sure you qualify.
• Step 2: Navigate to the link https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2027
• Step 3: Select “Create a new account”
• Step 4: Complete the details for your new account
• Step 5: Make sure to save your username and password.
• Step 6: Please select your own country’s location as the country of citizenship.
• Step 7: Start and complete all sections of the online application.
• Step 8: Select “Fulbright Program” – “Fulbright Foreign Student Program”
• Step 9: Select “Create Application” – “Open application.
• Step 10: Be sure to select “2027-2028 Fulbright Graduate Student Program
• Step 11: Complete and Submit your application for review

Apply Now!

Please, Note The Following

Applicants are not required to take any standardized tests at this stage of the process. Once determined, finalists and alternate candidates will receive test vouchers from the U.S. Embassy to complete any required tests as part of the candidate’s preparation for U.S. university admission. In Section 24, applicants may list the following dates to indicate when they plan to take the tests. For the TOEFL and GRE, please list “August 2026.”

Request letters of recommendation and provide all relevant instructions to professors and employers with the date by which they need to be completed. It is your responsibility to ensure they complete the letters on time to submit with your application.

Your essays are the most important part of your application. Plagiarism – the unfair use of the words and ideas of others, including AI – will not be tolerated and may lead to disqualification from the Fulbright program.

If you have additional questions or require more information, please email FulbrightTimorLeste@state.gov or contact U.S. Embassy Dili’s Public Diplomacy Section at 330-2435 during office hours.