8. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship
Full funding · Non-degree professional development · One academic year
The Humphrey Fellowship is a U.S. government-funded program built for experienced professionals rather than degree-seeking students, and it’s run through the same Fulbright Commission network as the Foreign Student Program. It’s genuinely useful for STEM-adjacent careers, including natural resource management, public health, technology policy, and related fields, even though it doesn’t result in a formal degree.
Who it’s for
- Mid-career professionals from Fulbright-eligible countries with several years of substantive professional experience in their field, not recent graduates
- Applicants working in fields with a clear public-service or policy dimension, which can include STEM-adjacent areas like public health, environmental management, and science policy alongside more traditional Humphrey fields
- Candidates demonstrating leadership potential and a commitment to returning home to apply what they’ve learned
What it covers
Full funding for one academic year of non-degree study and professional affiliation at a U.S. university, including a living stipend and program-related costs. Because it’s non-degree, there’s no tuition in the traditional sense, funding instead covers your coursework, professional development activities, and affiliated program costs.
How selection works
As with the Foreign Student Program, applications are processed through your home country’s Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy rather than a single global portal, so the exact process, required work experience, and competitiveness vary by country.
How to apply
- Confirm your home country participates in the Humphrey Fellowship program through its Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy
- Prepare documentation of your professional experience and achievements, this program weighs career track record far more heavily than recent academic performance
- Articulate a clear plan for how a year of U.S.-based professional development connects to your ongoing career and your home country’s needs
- Apply through the same country-specific Fulbright application channel used for the Foreign Student Program