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Please contact the U.S. Embassy (Public Affairs Section) or Binational Fulbright Commission in your country to access the Humphrey Fellowship application and learn more about applying.

The Humphrey Program is a non-degree program. Participants may complete academic coursework at their host university to update their academic and professional knowledge in their field, but they do not receive an academic degree as a result of their participation in the Humphrey Fellowship Program.

Application deadlines vary by country. The nominating U.S. Embassy or Binational Fulbright Commission will advise you of its internal deadline for receiving applications. U.S. Embassies and Commissions must submit their nominations to the Institute of International Education in Washington, D.C., by mid September.

U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions must submit their nominations to the Institute of International Education in Washington D.C. mid-September. Selection of Fellows are announced in February the following year, and Humphrey Fellows start their program in the U.S. between April and September of the same year, depending on the amount of English language training required. Humphrey Fellows with inadequate TOEFL scores may be required to attend intensive English language training before the start of their Fellowship. The program ends the following June.

  • Payment of tuition and fees at the assigned host university 
  • Pre-academic English language training, if required 
  • A maintenance (living) allowance, including a one-time settling-in allowance
  • Accident and sickness coverage 
  • A book allowance 
  • A one-time computer subsidy 
  • Air travel (international travel to and from the U.S. for the Program and domestic travel to required program events) 
  • A Professional Development allowance for professional activities, such as field trips, professional visits, and conferences 

Candidates for the Humphrey Program should have at least five years of full-time experience in their professional field and be at a point in their careers to fully benefit from this mid-career program. Candidates with only part-time work experience may not be considered eligible.

Previous experience in the United States is not necessarily a disqualifying factor. Provided the number of years spent in the United States has not been substantial (more than three years), and you have been back in your home country and employed at a level of professional responsibility for at least four years, you are eligible to apply.

Candidates with low testing scores may be brought to the United States for English language training before beginning the program at their host university. If necessary, testing alternatives such as International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Duolingo English Test can be utilized.

The Humphrey Program is quite rigorous, and life as a Humphrey Fellow does not resemble that of a graduate student with regular hours and a predictable schedule. There are many activities required of Humphrey Fellows as part of the Program.  Learn more about the program components.

Humphrey Fellows may choose to apply to have their family join them shortly after they have arrived in the United States. However, consideration should be given to bringing one’s family, as the Humphrey Program is very demanding, and Fellows spend considerable time away from their host campus. The Humphrey Program does not provide an additional maintenance allowance for dependents. Humphrey Fellows must show proof of financial support, adequate insurance coverage for their dependents that meet U.S. State Department requirements, and child care plans before they may be approved to apply for J-2 visa(s) for their dependents. Not all countries permit Humphrey Fellows to bring their dependents during their Fellowship year. Please check with the U.S. Embassy or Binational Fulbright Commission for country-specific policies.

Humphrey Fellows are not able to choose which university they will attend. Instead, they are assigned in diverse groups of 7-15 to the most appropriate host institution based on their area of interest and professional field.

Participants generally may reapply for the program; however, please consult the Embassy or Fulbright Commission in your country for specific guidelines about doing so.