The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program enhances leadership among international professionals who collaborate to address local and global challenges and foster change for our collective good.
Through academic study and professional development with U.S. counterparts, this growing global network shares best practices and builds expertise in fields of critical importance to advance societal and institutional capacity, promote human rights and freedoms, ensure sustainable environments, and develop thriving communities.
The Humphrey Fellowship Program, a Fulbright Exchange, builds connections between U.S. and foreign leaders to advance solutions to the most pressing global challenges, from combatting climate change, to protecting human rights, increasing access to education, and building global health security.
- Leadership development that builds lasting ties in critical fields between Americans and their professional counterparts overseas.
- Personalized academic experience at more than 12 U.S higher education institutions that leads to collaboration across disciplines.
- A network of over 6,450 alumni, including heads of state, supreme court justices, mayors, governors, and leaders in diverse organizations.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a Humphrey Fellowship Program, applicants must:
- Be a citizen of an eligible country
- Have an undergraduate (first university or Bachelor’s) degree
- Have a minimum of five years of full-time professional experience
- Demonstrated leadership qualities and a record of public service in the community
- Limited experience in the United States
- Demonstrated English language ability
Fellowship Components
Professional Affiliation
A core component of the Humphrey Fellowship Program is a six-week Professional Affiliation (PA) experience that allows Fellows to collaborate with U.S.-based organizations, share best practices and knowledge with U.S. professionals, and apply their classroom learning to real-world settings. Humphrey Fellows serve an essential role at U.S. organizations while forming connections and impact that last long beyond their Fellowship year.
Humphrey Seminar
The Humphrey Seminar is a required course where Humphrey Fellows develop their individual program goals and plan. It focuses on broad programmatic objectives, including an increased understanding of U.S. society and culture, professional networking, and leadership development.
Global Leadership Forum
The Global Leadership Forum provides an opportunity for all Humphrey Fellows to participate in activities that enhance their leadership and professional skills; develop their understanding of social, cultural, and political processes and institutions; foster cross-sector collaboration between the cohort; and leverage the resources and networks available to them in our nation’s capital.
Professional Development
The Humphrey Fellowship provides development opportunities to contribute to Humphrey Fellows’ professional growth and help them build partnerships that can take their work to the next level. Humphrey Fellows expand their perspectives on their work and global issues through immersive learning, collaboration, and networking. This includes participating in a tailored experience at a U.S. community college, engaging in thematic workshops that enhance Fellows’ skillsets, attending high-profile events with policymakers and scholars, and much more.
Academic Enrichment
Humphrey Fellows are placed in cohorts at one of 13 Humphrey host universities based on the host university’s impact areas and the Fellows’ professional expertise. Humphrey Fellows partake in an educational experience where they learn from renowned faculty without the expectation of meeting specific degree or diploma requirements. This makes it possible for them to travel and network with American counterparts in their field of work, attend conferences, and engage in professional affiliation.
Application Process
Interested applicants must apply through the U.S. Embassy (Public Affairs Section) or Binational Fulbright Commission in their country. Application deadlines vary by country. Applications must contain:
- Complete answers to all questions; essay responses in English must thoroughly address the prompt.
- Two letters of reference in English; one must be from the applicant’s current employer.
- Official transcripts in English: Ensure all transcripts uploaded by the applicant are official, valid documents. Transcripts must list courses taken and grades received. Diplomas need only be uploaded if the transcript does not show proof that the degree was obtained.
After national selection, independent review committees review nominations in the United States, and final candidate approval is determined by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. After receiving approval from the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, the U.S. Embassies and Binational Fulbright Commissions will inform candidates of their status.
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Application Deadline: Varying by Country
