Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): International Foreign Language Education (IFLE): Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program—Short-Term Projects, Assistance Listing Number 84.021A | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program (Assistance Listing 84.021)?

The Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program is a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant program administered through the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) and its International Foreign Language Education (IFLE) portfolio. It funds organized overseas group projects intended to strengthen modern foreign language and area studies in the United States through improved teaching, stronger curricula, and increased U.S. capacity in international education.

2) What is the specific opportunity covered here (84.021A)?

This opportunity is the short-term competition under the GPA Program: Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad for Short-Term Projects (Assistance Listing Number 84.021A).

3) What is the difference between the short-term track (84.021A) and the long-term track (84.021B)?

The short-term track (84.021A) supports three project types with typical durations ranging from about 4 weeks up to 12 months (depending on the project type). The long-term track (84.021B) focuses on advanced, intensive overseas language training and can run for a summer term or longer academic timeframes (quarter, trimester, semester, academic year, or full year). Long-term projects also have specific expectations, such as participants already having at least two academic years of prior study in the target language and the language being indigenous to the host country.

4) Do applicants have to choose between short-term and long-term when applying?

Yes. Applicants are required to clearly state on the SF-424 cover sheet whether they are applying for the short-term or long-term track. The requirements and project designs differ between tracks, so selecting the correct track is important.

5) What is the main purpose of funding group projects abroad?

The overseas component is meant to produce practical expertise and tangible outputs that participants bring back to U.S. classrooms, departments, and school systems. The goal is not international travel by itself; it is strengthening U.S.-based instruction, curricula, and capacity in modern foreign languages and area studies.

6) What types of short-term projects are allowed under 84.021A?

Under the short-term GPA track (84.021A), the notice describes three allowable project types:

• Short-term seminar projects (usually 4 to 6 weeks)
• Curriculum development projects (typically 4 to 8 weeks)
• Group research or study projects (lasting from 3 to 12 months)

7) What is a short-term seminar project in this program?

A short-term seminar project is typically 4 to 6 weeks and is designed by the applicant organization to help participants integrate international studies into curricula when they return to the U.S. Seminars commonly focus on a defined area-studies theme (for example, the history, society, or culture of a particular country or region) and are expected to translate into improved instruction and course content in the United States.

8) What is a curriculum development project under 84.021A?

A curriculum development project is typically 4 to 8 weeks and emphasizes acquiring resources and materials overseas that can be used to build or strengthen modern foreign language and area studies curricula in the United States. A key element is collecting and developing usable instructional resources and supporting dissemination for broader impact.

9) What is a group research or study project under 84.021A?

A group research or study project can last from 3 to 12 months and provides an extended opportunity for participants to carry out research or focused study in a foreign country. It is more intensive and sustained than seminars or curriculum collection trips, but it remains a structured group project rather than individual fellowships.

10) Is the long-term GPA option (84.021B) also described, and why does it matter?

Yes. Even though this listing highlights the short-term competition (84.021A), the broader program description also references the long-term option (84.021B). This matters because applicants must indicate on the SF-424 whether they are applying to the short-term or long-term track, and the long-term model has distinct design expectations (advanced language training, indigenous language requirement, reliance on local institutions/personnel, and prior language study expectations).

11) Who is eligible to apply for the grant (organizational eligibility)?

Eligibility to apply is organizational (not individual). Eligible applicants include:

• Institutions of higher education (IHEs), including public/state-controlled and private IHEs
• State educational agencies (SEAs)
• Private nonprofit educational organizations
• Consortia made up of eligible entities

The opportunity synopsis also notes nonprofits may be eligible with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status, consistent with program rules.

12) How does a nonprofit document nonprofit status?

The notice references 34 CFR 75.51 for acceptable ways to document nonprofit status, such as IRS recognition under 501(c)(3), state certification, incorporation documentation that clearly establishes nonprofit status, or documentation linking a local affiliate to a qualifying parent organization.

13) Who is eligible to participate in a funded overseas group project (participant eligibility)?

Eligible participants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents, and must fit one of the participant categories described, such as:

• Faculty who teach modern foreign languages or area studies at an IHE
• Elementary or secondary teachers
• Experienced education administrators who plan, conduct, or supervise language/area studies programs at K-12 or postsecondary levels
• Graduate students or undergraduate juniors/seniors who plan to pursue teaching careers in modern foreign language or area studies

14) Can individuals apply directly for this funding?

No. Individuals are eligible as participants, but the application is submitted by an eligible U.S.-based institution or organization that designs and runs the structured group project abroad.

15) What kinds of outcomes is the program looking for after the overseas component ends?

The program emphasizes U.S.-based educational outcomes such as improved teaching, new or revised courses, teaching modules, curricular materials, professional development resources, and broader dissemination within schools, districts, or higher education settings.

16) What is meant by "structured group projects abroad"?

Projects are organized and led by faculty or educators and implemented as a cohort experience. The design is expected to be coherent, include appropriate overseas partnerships and logistics, and culminate in concrete deliverables that strengthen modern foreign language and area studies education back in the United States.

17) What is the opportunity number for this competition?

The opportunity number provided is ED GRANTS 011824 001.

18) What was the original closing date listed in the synopsis?

The synopsis lists an original closing date of March 18, 2024.

19) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) shown in the synopsis?

The listed award ceiling is $180,000.

20) How many awards did the Department anticipate making?

The synopsis indicates the Department anticipated about 20 awards, with the note that figures can vary based on the official notice, available funds, and the quality of applications.

21) Where should applicants look for the authoritative requirements and instructions?

The synopsis emphasizes it is not the authoritative source. Applicants are expected to rely on the official Federal Register application notice for details such as application formatting, required narratives and attachments, budget rules, selection criteria, program priorities, performance measures, and submission instructions.

22) What are the "Revised Common Instructions," and how do they relate to this program?

The notice directs applicants to the Department of Education Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 7, 2022). These provide standardized guidance on how and where to submit materials and how to address common federal application requirements.

23) What is the overall intent behind investing in these overseas experiences?

The stated through-line is building U.S. capacity in modern foreign languages and area studies. The federal investment is intended to translate overseas experience into measurable benefits for U.S. education, including stronger curricula, better teaching, and broader institutional capacity in international education.

24) Are project durations the same for every short-term project type?

No. The notice describes typical durations by project type: seminars are usually 4 to 6 weeks, curriculum development projects are typically 4 to 8 weeks, and group research or study projects can last from 3 to 12 months.

25) What are key design expectations for the long-term language training model (84.021B)?

For the long-term option, the program description emphasizes advanced, intensive language training; participants should already have at least two academic years of prior study in the target language; the language must be indigenous to the host country; and projects are expected to rely heavily on local institutions and personnel to support authentic immersion and local expertise.