Fellowship•USA

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

Funding

Fully Funded

Program dates

Aug 1, 2027

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship is a Fulbright exchange funded by the U.S. Department of State (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs) and administered by the Institute of International Education. It brings accomplished mid-career professionals from designated countries to the United States for a 10-month, non-degree year that combines graduate-level study at a U.S. host university with a professional affiliation in the Fellow’s field. Fellows are placed in cohorts at one of several U.S. host campuses, take part in a national Humphrey Seminar and a Global Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., and build networks with American counterparts. It is not a degree program; the goal is professional enrichment and leadership development.

Benefits & funding

  • Payment of tuition and university fees at the host institution
  • A monthly maintenance (living) allowance for the Fellow
  • Accident and Sickness coverage (the Fulbright Accident & Sickness Program)
  • A modest allowance for books and supplies, plus a computer subsidy
  • Round-trip international air travel to the host institution (and to the pre-academic English/professional training where applicable)
  • Domestic travel to Washington, D.C. for the required seminar
  • Supplementary funds for professional activities — field trips, professional visits, and conferences
  • A six-week Professional Affiliation with a U.S.-based organisation
  • Note: the program does NOT provide a dependent allowance; the stipend is not sufficient to support accompanying family members.

Eligibility

  • Citizen of one of the ~146 participating countries (the U.S. Embassy or Binational Fulbright Commission in your country administers the program; U.S. citizens are not eligible)
  • An undergraduate (first university / Bachelor’s) degree
  • A minimum of five years of full-time professional experience prior to the fellowship year
  • Demonstrated leadership and a record of public service in the community
  • English language ability (assessed by TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo; commissions set minimum scores — e.g. India requires TOEFL 72 / IELTS 6.0 / Duolingo 100)
  • Limited prior experience in the United States
  • No published age limit

Application process

  1. 1
    Identify your country’s nominating body — a Binational Fulbright Commission (in 28 countries) or the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy (in all other participating countries) — via the program’s U.S. Embassies & Commissions directory.
  2. 2
    Apply through that body by its internal deadline (deadlines vary by country, typically falling between June and mid-September of the year before the fellowship).
  3. 3
    The Embassy or Commission screens, interviews, and nominates candidates, submitting nominations to the Institute of International Education by mid-September.
  4. 4
    IIE reviews nominations; finalists are confirmed and host-university placements arranged, with selections announced around March.
  5. 5
    Selected Fellows begin the program in August, sometimes after an eight-week pre-academic English and professional training.

Program timeline

  1. Country-level application deadlines (vary by Embassy/Commission)

    2026-07 to 2026-09

  2. Embassies/Commissions submit nominations to IIE

    2026-09 (mid)

  3. Selections announced

    2027-03

  4. Fellowship year begins (10 months)

    2027-08