Last update: March 29, 2010.

The Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program provides short-term study/travel seminars abroad for US educators in the social sciences and humanities for the purpose of improving their understanding and knowledge of the people and culture of another country (ies). The seminars were created under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange (Fulbright-Hays) Act of 1961. Topics and host countries of the seminars vary from year to year. Seminars are designed to provide a broad and introductory cultural orientation to a particular country (ies). The program is geared towards those educators with little or no experience in the host country (ies) that demonstrate the need to develop and enhance their curriculum through short-term study and travel abroad. There are seven to ten seminars each summer with approximately 16 positions per seminar, subject to the availability of funds. Seminars take place from late June to mid-August for a duration of four to six weeks.

Those qualified to apply: Elementary school teachers; Middle or high school educators in the fields of social sciences, humanities, including languages; Administrators or curriculum specialists who have responsibility for curriculum in the fields of social sciences, humanities, including languages; Librarians, museum educators or media or resource specialists who have responsibility for curriculum in the fields of social sciences, humanities, including languages; and Faculty or administrators from public or private, 2- or 4-year institutions of higher education whose discipline is related to humanities, languages, and/or area studies.

Basic eligibility requirements: Citizenship - must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident. Academic Preparation - must hold at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Professional Experience - (1) must have at least 3 years of full-time experience - by the time of departure for the seminar; (2) must be currently employed full-time in a U.S. school system, institution of higher education, local education agency (LEA), state education agency (SEA), library, or museum. Language Proficiency - must meet the general language requirement. (Japan seminar only). Health - The candidate must be physically and psychologically able to participate in all phases of the seminar. Award recipients must provide a physician's statement to reflect participant's readiness for travel. Those individuals who have participated in the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program or Group Projects Abroad Program must wait three summers before they can be eligible to participate a second time.

Terms of the award include: (1) round-trip economy airfare; (2) room and board; (3) fees; and (4) program-related travel within the host country(ies). Participants are responsible for a cost share, usually $350.00. Updated application forms are available in August of each year.

For further information on how to apply for the next program visit the US Department of Education website here