Specialized Fulbright Programs offer targeted opportunities beyond the core Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Specialist programs and are designed to support specific career stages, project formats, or applied goals. These programs operate independently, each with its own eligibility criteria, structure, and timelines, and are particularly well-suited for MSU faculty, early‑career researchers, and professionals whose international work does not align with a traditional single‑country teaching or research award.
Postdoctoral Awards are designed for recently graduated scholars to conduct research and receive professional training abroad, and may include limited teaching depending on the specific award. Within the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, these awards are generally open to applicants who have earned a terminal degree within five to seven years of the fellowship start date, as specified in the individual award description, and the degree must be conferred before the award begins. Postdoctoral Awards support early‑career scholars in establishing international research collaborations, expanding publication records, and strengthening their academic or professional trajectories.
The Fulbright Arctic Initiative brings together scholars, practitioners, and professionals from Arctic Council countries for sustained, collaborative research on shared Arctic challenges. Participants engage in interdisciplinary, policy‑relevant work through virtual collaboration, thematic working groups, multiple in‑person meetings, and an individual exchange visit to another Arctic nation. The program focuses on issues such as climate change, sustainability, security, governance, and community well‑being and is particularly relevant for MSU researchers in areas such as agriculture, environmental science, health, and public policy.
The Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship places U.S. early‑ to mid‑career professionals and practitioners in foreign government ministries or public‑sector institutions for hands‑on policy experience. In addition to the professional placement, fellows complete an independent professional project that supports engagement with local communities and contributes to longer‑term career development. The fellowship typically lasts four to nine months, with participating countries varying by year, and is well-suited for MSU faculty and professionals whose expertise translates directly into applied policy work in fields such as public administration, economics, law, education, public health, or agriculture policy.
The Fulbright Global Scholar Award supports multi‑country, trans‑regional projects, allowing U.S. academics and professionals to propose research or combined teaching and research activities in two to three countries across at least two world regions. The award offers flexible scheduling options, with a total grant period of approximately three to six months and a minimum of one month spent in each host country. This program is particularly well-suited for MSU scholars conducting comparative, regional, or cross‑border research that cannot be accomplished within a single national context.