Fulbright Program France┋Fulbright-Tocqueville Distinguished Chair
SCHOLARS SELECTED FOR THIS AWARD WILL BE REQUIRED TO
- Advise and/or mentor students
- Conduct a research project of the applicant’s choosing
- Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses designated by the host institution
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
Award Activity
The Fulbright-Tocqueville Distinguished Scholar (All Disciplines) award aims to reinforce collaborative research between the United States and France in all fields of study. Grantees are invited as guest teachers and researchers at a French host university, where they have the opportunity to meet with French colleagues, to organize and participate in conferences, and to interact with French graduate and doctoral students in their area of expertise. Grantees will teach courses at the postgraduate and doctoral level, undertake research, and help organize and participate in conferences and seminars related to their area of expertise. We expect that grantees will show an interest in developing or strengthening long-lasting ties with the host institution.
Locations
Location Selection: Applicant may propose an appropriate host
French public universities, university consortia, and other French institutions of higher learning or any institution affiliated with France Universités or the Conference of Engineering Schools (CDEFI).
Applicants may propose projects in metropolitan France or any of the DROM-COM (overseas regions and departments), such as Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Mayotte, and New Caledonia.
Special Features
Host institution may facilitate housing.
Award Requirements
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Citizenship/Residency Requirement
- Applicants residing in the award country at the time of application or thereafter are not eligible to apply for this award.
- Permanent residents of the award country are not eligible to apply for this award.
Invitation Requirement
A letter of invitation is required.
- Invitation Requirement Additional Information
- In lieu of a letter of invitation, it is required that the potential host institution complete the host institution invitation form on behalf of the candidate.
- Language Proficiency Requirements
- None, English is sufficient. However, feasibility of conducting the project must be demonstrated in the project statement
- Additional Language Requirement
- Teaching language is to be decided with the host institution.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION INFORMATION
Candidates should hold the rank of associate or full professor and have at least five years of teaching experience.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The Fulbright-Tocqueville Distinguished Scholar (All Disciplines) award was offered for the first time in 2005, marking the bicentennial of the birth of Alexis de Tocqueville, the notable French historian, politician, and author of "Democracy in America."
CONTACTS AND HELPFUL LINKS
Charlotte Goodwin, US Program Officer at the Franco-American Fulbright Commission
France Universités
Conference of Engineering Schools (CDEFI)
Directory of universities - Doctorate granting - Master's
List of university federations
Award Benefits
Award Allowances
€6500 (approx. $7000) per month in Paris and from €6100 (approx. $6600) to €6300 (approx. $6800) depending on location outside of Paris. There is no allocation for accompanying dependents. Applicants are responsible for finding their own housing, although some host institutions may facilitate the process. The Euraxess network can also help with housing and local logistics.
Estimated Travel and Relocation Allowance for Grantee
International travel allowance provided for grantee only. All research scholars receive a travel allowance of €1,200 (approx. $1,300).
Estimated Cost of Living
France offers free public schooling from nursery school through high school of excellent quality. The French healthcare system is among the best in the world. It is very easy to book appointments with healthcare professionals, and costs are affordable. A standard doctor's visit costs 26.50 euros (approximately $28). Housing can be expensive, particularly in the bigger cities. In Paris, the average rent for a two-room apartment is around $1400 per month, and $900 per month for a studio apartment. There are comprehensive public transportation and high speed rail networks throughout France. In Paris, an annual adult public transportation pass costs between 700 and 800 euros (approximately $870). There are reduced prices available for seniors, young adults, and children.
Special Award Benefits
Visa fees will be waived for Fulbright grantees and their accompanying dependents. The Fulbright Commission will provide support and guidance for the visa process.
Through a new partnership between the Franco-American Fulbright Commission and the Collegium de Lyon, applicants to one of the three national Fulbright scholarship programs (All Disciplines, French Studies, Fulbright-Tocqueville) who wish to be hosted in a research unit in Lyon or Saint-Etienne are now eligible for a Collegium fellowship. This includes all-inclusive housing in the Collegium residence on the ENS de Lyon campus, assistance with administrative formalities, and integration into the 2025-2026 interdisciplinary cohort of international fellows.
The Collegium de Lyon is the Institute for Advanced Study of the University of Lyon, the umbrella organization that brings together all the major academic institutions in the Lyon/Saint-Etienne area. With nearly 200 research units (many of them inter-institutional) in virtually all disciplines, the University of Lyon is France's second largest academic research cluster.
The Collegium hosts international fellows for research stays of 5 or 10 months (from September to January and/or February to June) that foster ambitious and innovative research in all disciplines, as well as participation in the collective dynamics of the local research ecosystem.
Scholars interested in the Collegium fellowship program are asked to include a letter of support from the director of the targeted research unit at the University of Lyon with their Fulbright application.
Website: https://collegium.universite-lyon.fr
Contact email: collegium@universite-lyon.fr
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
