Are you an experienced professional interested in advancing your career and making a positive impact in your home country? The Humphrey Fellowship Program could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for! In this blog post, we’ll dive into all the important details you need to know about this non-degree program, from the fields of study to the application process.
What is the Humphrey Fellowship Program?
The Humphrey Fellowship Program is a prestigious program for experienced professionals who are interested in enhancing their leadership skills through a mutual exchange of knowledge and understanding about issues of common concern in the United States and their home countries. The program is designed to provide fellows with opportunities for professional development through selected university courses, attending conferences, networking, and practical work experiences.
Where will you study?
Fellows are placed at one of the participating universities in the USA. The program does not allow fellows to choose which university they will attend. Instead, they are assigned to the most appropriate host institution based on their area of interest and professional field. This provides fellows with a unique opportunity to study and work alongside other professionals from diverse backgrounds and fields.
What are the eligible fields of study?
The Humphrey Fellowship Program offers 16 fields of study for fellows to choose from. These include Agricultural and Rural Development, Communications/Journalism, Economic Development, Educational Administration, Planning and Policy, Finance and Banking, Higher Education Administration, HIV/AIDS Policy and Prevention, Human Resource Management, Law and Human Rights, Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, and Climate Change, Public Health Policy and Management, Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration, Substance Abuse Education, Treatment and Prevention, Teaching of English as a Foreign Language, Technology Policy and Management, and Trafficking in Persons Policy and Prevention, Urban and Regional Planning.
Who is eligible to apply?
Citizens of eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, East Asia and Pacific, South and Central Asia, and Western Hemisphere are eligible to apply. Applicants must have an undergraduate (first university) degree, a minimum of five years of full-time, professional experience, limited or no prior experience in the United States, demonstrated leadership qualities, a record of public service in the community, and English language ability.
What does the scholarship cover?
The Humphrey Fellowship provides a range of benefits for fellows, including 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), and a professional development allowance for professional activities, such as field trips, professional visits, and conferences.
How to apply?
Application deadlines vary by country but generally fall around May to September each year. The nominating U.S. Embassy or Binational Fulbright Commission will advise you of its internal deadline for receiving applications. Embassies and Commissions must submit their nominations to the Institute of International Education office in Washington, DC by 1 October. Interested applicants should contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy or Bi-national Fulbright Commission in their country for more information about application procedures. For more information visit the official website
Read also: Fulbright Foreign Student Program: A Gateway to Pursuing Masters/PhD Degrees in the USA
Conclusion
The Humphrey Fellowship Program offers experienced professionals an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, broaden their knowledge about issues of common concern in the U.S. and their home countries, and network with other professionals from around the world. If you meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in the program, contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy or Bi-national Fulbright Commission in your country for more information about the application process.
