Fulbright Bulgaria

18/09/2026

Какво може да даде един семестър изследователска работа в САЩ на български докторант? 🎓🇺🇸

Стелла Николова се завърна от САЩ през юни, след като проведе част от докторското си изследване в University of Georgia като Fulbright Visiting Researcher.

Именно достъпът до специализираните лаборатории я отвежда в Джорджия. Там Стелла извършва физико-химични анализи на археологически кости, извлича колаген и го анализира чрез масспектрометрия, за да изследва с какво са се хранили животните в миналото. 🔬

Но Fulbright преживяването е повече от работа в лаборатория.

„Програмата Fulbright предлага множество различни начини, по които наши студенти могат да отидат на обмен в САЩ. Може като мен да кандидатствате за краткосрочен докторантски обмен, който ще ви даде възможността да учите в Америка за един семестър в университет по ваш избор.“

А нейният съвет към бъдещите кандидати е съвсем ясен:

„Не се колебайте и кандидатствайте по Fulbright!“ ✨

📣 Конкурсът за изследователски стипендии „Фулбрайт“ за български докторанти вече е отворен.

Програмата е достъпна за български докторанти в редовна и задочна форма на обучение и предоставя финансиране за 4-6 месеца изследователска работа в университет или научен институт в САЩ.

📅 Краен срок: 4 декември 2026 г.

🔗 Научете повече и кандидатствайте:
https://www.fulbright.bg/doktoranti-research/

15/09/2026

🎒✨ Честит първи учебен ден! A new school year begins, and with it, a year of learning from one another!

Meet Thea Larsson, our new Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Razgrad, who will spend the academic year working with students at the Ekzarh Yossif Foreign Language School - FLS "Ekzarh Yosiff" - Razgrad / ГПЧЕ "Екзарх Йосиф", Разград.

“I’m looking forward to this year and being able to meet the students, teach them and have them teach me as we go through class.” ❤️

For Thea, the Fulbright experience is about much more than teaching English. She is excited to learn about Bulgarian traditions and culture, explore Razgrad and the rest of the country, and become part of her new community. Her goal is to create a classroom where students feel comfortable speaking English, asking questions, making mistakes, and being themselves.

And she is already getting involved! Even before the first school bell, Thea joined her future students and the Youth Center in Razgrad for a charity initiative supporting animal rescue, a wonderful first step toward the community connections she hopes to build throughout her Fulbright year. 🐾

A very special thank you to Thea’s mentor teacher, Ani Kiranska, for creating this wonderful video and giving us a glimpse into the beginning of Thea’s journey in Razgrad! ❤️ As Thea’s mentor teacher, Ani will be her primary source of support throughout the academic year, helping her navigate the school, classroom, and community and making this exchange a truly shared experience.

As classrooms across Bulgaria fill with students again, we wish Thea and all our Fulbright ETAs an inspiring first day of school and a year filled with curiosity, discovery, and friendships.

And a very special greeting to all Bulgarian teachers and students beginning the new academic year! 📚🇧🇬 May your classrooms be places of curiosity, kindness, courage, and new ideas. To the teachers, thank you for the knowledge, patience, and inspiration you share every day. To the students, stay curious, ask questions, try something new, and never be afraid to make mistakes along the way.

Want to get to know Thea better? Her new school asked her about everything from why she chose Bulgaria and what she hopes to bring to the classroom to Bulgarian food, travel, and even birdwatching!

https://gpcherazgrad.com/novini/amerika-sreshta-razgrad

14/09/2026

🎶 On Saturday, the American Festival Singers and Elitsa Folk Choir came together for “Two Worlds” - a joyful celebration of music, cultural exchange, and the connections at the heart of Fulbright.

The concert was especially meaningful as we celebrate two major milestones: 80 years of the Fulbright Program and the 250th anniversary of the United States. It also marked the launch of our new Fulbright open calls for Bulgarian scholars, university lecturers, and PhD students seeking research opportunities in the U.S. 🇺🇸🇧🇬 https://www.fulbright.bg/en/research-grants-for-bulgarians/

From American choral music, spirituals, and Gospel to the rich harmonies of Bulgarian folklore, all performers sang beautifully and brought the two musical traditions together in a truly memorable way. Fulbright Bulgaria Executive Director Angela Rodel also took on a different role for the evening - joining Elitsa Folk Choir as one of its singers!

After the final notes, Fulbright alumni, partners, and guests gathered for a glass of w**e and a bite, catching up with familiar faces, making new connections, and learning more about the newly opened Fulbright grants.

And the music continues! 🎵 Tonight, the American Festival Singers take the stage in Veliko Tarnovo, where they will be joined by the Bulgarche Children and Youth Folk Ensemble for another special meeting of American and Bulgarian musical traditions.

Thank you to everyone who made Saturday’s evening so special - and see you tonight in Veliko Tarnovo!

10/09/2026

🇺🇸 Thinking about taking your research to the U.S. with Fulbright?

Join our upcoming Zoom Info Session and discover how a Fulbright research grant can give you the time, academic environment, and international connections to move your work forward. https://www.fulbright.bg/en/info-sessions-scholar-phd-grants/

Whether you are an established scholar looking to develop a research project in the United States, or a PhD student ready to advance your dissertation research, Fulbright offers two distinct opportunities for Bulgarian academics and researchers. Both programs provide the chance to spend a few months in the U.S., connect with American universities and colleagues, exchange ideas, access new academic resources, and build collaborations that can continue long after the grant ends.

🔹 Fulbright Visiting Scholar Grants are designed for Bulgarian scholars and professionals who want to pursue research and strengthen their academic and professional networks in the U.S. for 3-5 months https://www.fulbright.bg/en/visiting-scholar-grants-research/

🔹 Fulbright Visiting Researcher Grants is a program for Bulgarian PhD students who want to conduct research related to their doctoral work at a U.S. institution for 4-6 months https://www.fulbright.bg/en/non-degree-research-programs-bg/

The two programs have different applicant profiles and requirements, but they share the same application deadline: December 4, 2026.

💻 Zoom Info Session
📅 September 16
⏰ 17:00
🎙️ Speaker: Maria Kostova

Come meet us online, learn which program is right for you, explore the opportunities Fulbright can open, and get practical guidance for preparing your application.

✨ Your next research collaboration, academic connection, or big idea might begin here.

Register now and join us on September 16!

09/09/2026

07/09/2026

📣 Отворени конкурси за стипендии „Фулбрайт“ за български учени и докторанти!

Имате изследователска идея, която искате да развиете в международна академична среда? Стипендиите „Фулбрайт“ дават възможност на български учени и докторанти да продължат своята научна работа в САЩ през академичната 2027-2028 г. 🇺🇸

Това е възможност да:

🔬 задълбочите своето изследване и да го развиете в нова академична среда
🌍 разширите международната си научна мрежа
🤝 обменяте идеи и опит с утвърдени специалисти във Вашата област
🚀 създадете контакти за бъдещи международни изследователски проекти
📚 получите достъп до академичните ресурси на приемащата институция
💡 се върнете в България с нови знания, професионални контакти и идеи за бъдещото развитие на своята работа

🎓 За учени и университетски преподаватели със защитена докторска степен: възможност за 3–5 месеца научноизследователска и/или преподавателска дейност в американски университет или научен институт.

🎓 За български докторанти (в редовна и задочна форма на обучение): възможност да развият част от своята дисертационна работа и изследователски проект в САЩ за 4-6 месеца.

Една кандидатура може да бъде началото на нови научни партньорства, международен опит и следващ важен етап във Вашето професионално развитие.

✨ Разширете границите на своето изследване с „Фулбрайт“.

👉 Научете повече за отворените конкурси и кандидатствайте за академичната 2027-2028 г.
https://www.fulbright.bg/stipendii-za-izsledovateli/

06/09/2026

🇧🇬 Днес България отбелязва 141 години от Съединението от 1885 г. - едно от най-значимите събития в новата ни история.

На 6 септември 1885 г. Княжество България и Източна Румелия се обединяват, с което територията на страната значително се увеличава, а България се доближава до историческите граници, към които се стреми след Освобождението.

Забележителното е, че самото Съединение е осъществено не чрез война, а благодарение на политическа смелост, единство и умела дипломация. Въпреки силния международен натиск, българите успяват да превърнат общия национален идеал в реалност.

На Деня на Съединението отдаваме почит на всички, допринесли за това историческо постижение, и си припомняме неговото непреходно послание: Съединението прави силата.

Честит Ден на Съединението, България! 🇧🇬

03/09/2026

🇺🇸🇧🇬 A new Fulbright year is officially underway!

This week, we are welcoming our AY 2026–27 U.S. Fulbright cohort to Bulgaria: 5 Fulbright Scholars, 6 Student Researchers, and 30 English Teaching Assistants who will soon bring their energy, ideas, and curiosity to classrooms and communities in 23 towns across the country.

The first two days of our Fulbright Orientation have been packed with learning, new friendships, practical preparation, and, of course, a first taste of Bulgarian culture.

September 1 began with an official welcome from Fulbright Bulgaria Executive Director Angela Rodel and Nancy Schiller, President and CEO of the America for Bulgaria Foundation.

We are deeply grateful to the America for Bulgaria Foundation for its longstanding and generous support of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program. Thanks to this partnership, we are able to bring as many as 30 young U.S. teachers to Bulgarian classrooms every year, reaching students and school communities across the country. Their support makes possible thousands of meaningful encounters, new perspectives, stronger English-language skills, and friendships that extend far beyond a single academic year. Thank you for believing in the transformative power of education and people-to-people exchange! ❤️

Throughout the day, our grantees explored everything they need for the months ahead, from the Fulbright and ETA programs in Bulgaria to health, communication, banking, housing, transportation, safety, and emergency preparedness. They also began their Bulgarian language training and learned their first horo steps!

The evening brought everyone together for a special welcome dinner at Vodenitzata, complete with Bulgarian folk dancing and a firewalking performance, a memorable introduction to some of the traditions they will encounter during their year here.

On September 2, the immersion continued with Bulgarian language classes, a meeting with U.S. Embassy officials, and a session on Bulgaria and its European integration with Prof. Hristo Panchugov. Angela Rodel introduced the cohort to Bulgarian music, while our ETAs rolled up their sleeves for mock lesson planning and brainstorming, beginning to translate all that excitement into ideas for their future classrooms.

And this is only the beginning! Over the full Orientation week, our grantees will gain the knowledge, tools, cultural context, and connections they need before heading out to their host institutions and communities across Bulgaria.

A huge shoutout goes to Iliana Dimitrova, the event manager and organizer behind this intensive Orientation. ❤️ Bringing together such a large and varied cohort and preparing them for the year ahead takes tremendous coordination, thought, care, and energy. Thank you, Iliana, for making their first days in Bulgaria welcoming, meaningful, and memorable!

To our new Fulbrighters: welcome to Bulgaria! We cannot wait to see where this year takes you, what you discover, whom you meet, and the connections you build along the way. 🌍✨

Here’s to an unforgettable AY 2026–27! 🇧🇬🇺🇸

31/08/2026

🇧🇬❤️ “My students will not fit in my suitcases, but the relationships that I have built with students, in many ways, will.”

After two years as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Smolyan, Caroline Cassell reflects on what they will carry home from Bulgaria, not in their luggage, but in memories, relationships, and the person they have become.

Cassell will miss the everyday moments just as much as the milestones: walking to the local market, seeing Yulia the grocer, buying fresh cucumbers, and being part of a school and community that welcomed them with such warmth.

Their time in the classroom also brought lessons that went far beyond teaching. Some days did not go as planned. Others brought incredible focus, connection, and joy. Through both, Cassell learned patience, resilience, and the importance of moving forward.

💬 “Learning that everything is temporary and learning to stay positive in the midst of that... to let it go, and to keep moving forward into what is next.”

Perhaps that is one of the most meaningful parts of a Fulbright experience: discovering how much you can change while building relationships that stay with you.

As Cassell puts it, “Because of Fulbright, I am a more confident, courageous, and emotionally in tune person.”

Thank you, Cassell, for two wonderful years in Smolyan, for the care you brought to your students and community, and for allowing Bulgaria to become part of your story. We have a feeling some of Smolyan will always travel with you. 🇺🇸🇧🇬