Prospective exchange visitors/scholars are defined as foreign nationals who are interested in coming to the University of Miami (UM) as participants in the Exchange Visitor Program to engage in nonclinical research, teaching, or long-term observation at a UM department under the supervision of a UM faculty member.
UM is designated as a program sponsor of the U.S. Department of State's (DoS) Exchange Visitor Program (EVP). Following a rebranding by DoS in 2020, the private sector component of the EVP is now referred to a BridgeUSA Program.
BridgeUSA annually attracts around 300,000 individuals to the United States from 200 countries and territories to study in U.S. high schools, universities, and research institutions; build professional networks; enhance English language and intercultural skills; and teach in U.S. schools, colleges, and universities. BridgeUSA provides participants with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to thrive as leaders in an interconnected world and to make lasting impact, both locally and globally.
Since its establishment as part of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (The Fulbright-Hays Act), the program has served as a valuable and important diplomatic tool of U.S. foreign policy. Its mission - to increase mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries - remains vital to U.S. national security and building people-to-people connections around the world.
UM is the sponsor of the Exchange Visitor Program P-1-00212, which is administered by the Department of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). Through UM's J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, academic departments can bring qualified participants to UM departments to engage in nonclinical research, teaching, consultation, and long-term observation under the supervision of a UM faculty member. UM is authorized to sponsor exchange visitors in five program categories: Professor, Research scholar, Short-Term Scholar, Specialist, and Student. Students will not be discussed here. The other four categories are those that the University refers to as scholars.
If you are a foreign national and interested in participating in the University of Miami's Exchange Visitor Program, please contact the department you wish to join to inquire if the department has an interest in hosting you as an exchange visitor/scholar, and how you may apply to become an exchange visitor/scholar. It is up to each individual department to decide whether to invite a person to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program, and to advise prospective exchange visitors regarding appropriate steps to take to become an exchange visitor/scholar. This includes the documentation prospective exchange visitors need to provide to their host department for the electronic Form DS-2019 Request.
The following is a list of University of Miami departments and contact information for these departments. This list includes departments that have hosted international scholars in the past. If you are interested in a department but do not see it on this list, please email International Student and Scholar Services and indicate which department you wish to contact regarding participation in the Exchange Visitor Program. We will forward your inquiry to the appropriate department for a direct response to you.
