Visiting Student Researcher Program Information

Deadline for Applications: March 9, 2026

All applications must be submitted using Slideroom. The France-Stanford Center for Interdisciplinary Studies invites proposals for collaborative research projects to be held during academic year 2026-27 (September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027). Late applications are unlikely to be accepted.

Notification of fellowship recipients will occur in late spring/early summer.

Overview

The goal of this program is to encourage exchanges between Stanford and educational or research institutions based in France or another francophone country. Applicants are responsible for identifying the department at Stanford or other educational or research institution in which they seek to pursue the fellowship.

Eligibility

Graduate students

Fellowships are available to graduate students (pursuing either a master’s or doctoral degree):

  • Students affiliated with an educational or research institution in France or another francophone country who are interested in pursuing a research project at Stanford.
  • Stanford students interested in pursuing a research project at an educational or research institution in France or another francophone country.
  • Fellowship applicants are responsible for securing any necessary permissions for their research.
First time applicants

Priority will be given to first time applicants.

Citizenship

Please note that there is no citizenship requirement for these fellowships: applicants need not possess either French or U.S. citizenship.

Application Procedure

Please note that the procedure outlined above is solely for the purpose of obtaining a fellowship from the France-Stanford Center. All applicants must obtain separate and independent approval from the department that they intend to visit prior to applying to the France-Stanford Center Fellowship Program.

Applicants should submit the following documents:

Application form
Letter to the France-Stanford Center Director

A letter to the center’s director describing your research project and plans during the proposed visit. Letter should detail very specifically the scope of your research project, and should identify the individual who agrees to serve as your official “sponsor” and indicate the length of your visit (between two to four months) (1-2 pages).

Letter of endorsement

A letter of endorsement from your official sponsor detailing plans to integrate you into the host community (1-2 pages).

Recommendation letter

Recommendation letter from your home institution supervisor, discussing the merits of the proposed visit. Advisor should upload the letter directly into Slideroom (1-2 pages).

Resume (1 page).
Unofficial academic transcript
Budget (1 page).

Additional Program Details

Funding

The extent of the funding available depends on where the applicant is based. Projects may be 2-4 months long.

Funding for Stanford Students

Maximum funding available:

  • 2 month visit: up to $8,000.
  • 3 month visit: up to $9,000.
  • 4 month visit: up to $10,000.

Funding for Visiting Student Researchers Coming to Stanford

Pursuant to Stanford University Policy, Visiting Student Researchers are required to pay a monthly tuition fee while in residence at Stanford. Fees are charged per calendar month and cannot be prorated. For AY 2026-27, the VSR fee will be approximately $1,377 per month. For this reason, student researchers from elsewhere seeking to do research at Stanford are highly encouraged to apply for additional funding to cover monthly VSR tuition fees. The center will fund a maximum of four months in VSR tuition fees.

Students may apply for total funding as follows (research and tuition):

  • 2 month visit: up to $10,755 ($8,000 + $2,755 tuition fees).
  • 3 month visit: up to $13,135 ($9,000 + $4,135 tuition fees).
  • 4 month visit: up to $15,510 ($10,000 + $5,510 tuition fees).

Please note that this tuition charge, as well as all the VSR fees and privileges identified in this link, are determined by the University and cannot be modified at the discretion of the France-Stanford Center. 

Option to apply for collaborative research funding

Applicants for the center’s Collaborative Research Projects are strongly encouraged to submit a separate application for a Visiting Student Researcher Fellowship in order to fund the participation of a student researcher in the proposed collaborative research project. Both applications should be submitted at the same time.

Mandatory Health Insurance

All Visiting Student Researchers are required to carry health insurance and will be automatically enrolled in Stanford's Cardinal Care, a university sponsored health insurance plan designed for Stanford students, unless the VSR obtains adequate independent coverage and waives Cardinal Care Coverage. For more information, please visit Vaden Health Services. Please include anticipated cost for health insurance coverage in your application budget. 

Campus Health Service Fee

Visiting Student Researchers are required to pay the Campus Health Service Fee. For AY 2026-27, this amount will be approximately $271 per quarter. Please note that this fee is billed quarterly and is not prorated. Thus, a student researcher visiting for either 2 or 3 months will pay about $271, while a student visiting for 4 months will pay about $542. Learn more about the health fee. Please include anticipated cost for the Campus Health Service Fee in your application budget if applicable.

Cautionary Note for Visitors to Stanford Concerning Application Procedures

All fellowship recipients will be appointed as Visiting Student Researchers (VSR), a category of non-matriculated graduate students at Stanford. Each fellowship recipient should contact his/her official sponsoring department regarding the procedure for such an appointment. Learn more about Visiting Student Researchers.

Stanford Visiting Student Researcher Status and Privileges

Learn about Visiting Student Researchers at Stanford. Fees and privileges associated with this title are determined by the University and cannot be modified at the discretion of the France-Stanford Center.

Visa Information for Visiting Student Researchers

All visitors to Stanford who receive fellowship support (including from the France-Stanford Center) must obtain a J-1 Visa through the Stanford host department. The total cost of applying for such a visa is approximately $500. Visit the State Department of Travel for more information on visas.

  • $200 to be paid by the France-Stanford Center or the Stanford host department to the Stanford Bechtel International Center for the preparation of the visa request form (DS-2019).
  • $50 to be paid by the France-Stanford Center or the Stanford host department for mailing the documents via international courier to the visitor.
  • $220 to be paid directly by the visitor to the US government (SEVIS fee). Fee will be reimbursed upon arrival at Stanford as part of the fellowship stipend.

Please note as well that Stanford requires all who apply for a J-1 Visa to prove that they are able to pay $2,500/month in living costs. Learn more about funding requirements.

Visitors to Stanford are responsible for ensuring that they obtain the J-1 visa by working with the Stanford host department. All visitors to France are strongly advised to visit France-Visas and VFSGlobal to find out more information on visa requirements and application and ensure that they have the appropriate visa required for entry.

Tax Information

Fellowship stipends are considered taxable. Click here for more information on tax withholding. Non-U.S. residents may be eligible for tax exemption on fellowship stipends if their country of residence has an existing tax treaty with the US. Click here for more information on tax treaties. 

This link offers additional tax information for international students and scholars..

Logistical Information

The France-Stanford Center is unable to assist visitors with finding housing either at Stanford or in France. Visitors to Stanford may consult the following sites for housing information near Stanford University: the Community Housing site, SUpost and Craigslist to search for housing listings. The France-Stanford Center has no office space for visitors at Stanford or in France and is unable to provide computers. Visitors are responsible for paying for copying, postage, long distance telephone calls, faxes, or making arrangements directly with the department hosting them. Health benefits are not provided.

Allowable and Unallowable Expenses

Grants awarded by the Center may be used only for expenses required specifically for this collaboration. 

  • The grant may be used for travel, lodging, and living costs (including childcare) associated with research or training; the purchase of research materials; research-related services (e.g. duplication costs, production of questionnaires/surveys, human subject costs, data entry, transcribing interviews, running focus groups, etc.).
  • The grant may not be used for the purchase of equipment (e.g. computers, recording equipment, etc.), supplies, or software. It may not be used to pay for tuition fees (except in the case of tuition charged by Stanford to Visiting Student Researchers); the costs of book translations and book publishing; or to cover conference registration fees
  • It may not be used to provide salary payments in any form (e.g., to fund coordinators or principal investigators for their work in setting up collaborations, to fund administrative staff).

Questions

Questions can be directed to:

  • fgriffit [at] stanford.edu (Fiona Griffiths), Center Director
  • emeng [at] stanford.edu (Emily Engstrand), Program Manager
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