U.S. Department of State Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship
2024– 2025 Program Cycle

Program Objectives

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship (“Humphrey Program”) was launched in 1978 to honor the accomplishments and memory of the late Senator of Minnesota and Vice-President of the United States, Hubert H. Humphrey.  The program is sponsored and overseen by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

The Humphrey Program brings accomplished mid-career professionals to the United States for one year of study and related professional experience at a U.S. institute of higher education.  During the fellowship year, Humphrey fellows participate in programs that combine graduate-level academic coursework with professional development activities.

The Humphrey Program does not confer a degree.  Upon completion of the program, fellows receive a certificate of participation from the U.S. government and their host university.

To determine your eligibility, please review the selection criteria for candidates below, as well as the applicable professional fields for the fellowship.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Undergraduate university degree (awarded at least five years; ago, e.g., degrees dated 2018 and earlier);
• Five years of full-time, substantial professional experience in Nicaragua in one of the professional fields listed below (prior to August 2023);
• Limited or no prior experience in the United States;
• Demonstrate the required experience, skills, and commitment while also indicating how they can benefit from this program;
• Record of public service;
• Fluency in English (recommended score of 80 on the TOEFL iBT)

Ineligible Candidates

• Recent university graduates (even if they have significant positions);
• University teachers or academic researchers with no management responsibilities (except in the fields of Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, and Treatment);
• Individuals who have attended a graduate school in the United States for one academic year or more during the seven years prior to August 2023;
• Individuals with U.S. in-country experience of any kind lasting more than six months during the five years prior to August 2023; and
• Individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status.

Note: According to the policies of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB), local employees of U.S. Missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State, or the U.S. Agency for International Development, including temporary employees and contractors, and members of their families as well as individuals who work for or are otherwise associated with an organization that is responsible for nominating or selecting individuals for participation in any ECA exchange program are ineligible during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment.

Professional Fields:

Institutional Capacity

• Economic Development
• Finance & Banking
• Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration
• Technology Policy and Management

Human and Social Development

• Communications/Journalism
• Law and Human Rights

Sustainable Lands

• Agricultural and Rural Development
• Natural Resources, Environmental Policy and Climate Change
• Urban and Regional Planning

Thriving Communities

• Public Health Policy and Management
• Substance Abuse Education, Treatment and Prevention
• Educational Administration, Planning and Policy

Fellowship Components:

Shortly after arriving in the U.S., Humphrey Fellows will prepare individual program plans, detailing their goals and objectives for the year, including courses, seminars, special projects, professional and community activities. The main program components are:

Humphrey Seminar

A core part of the Fellowship is a special year-long Humphrey Seminar organized by the host university. In the seminar, Fellows are introduced to the skills and perspectives they will need as global leaders, share approaches to common issues in their regions, and learn about many aspects of U.S. culture and society.

Academic Enrichment

Fellows are placed in groups of seven to fifteen at selected U.S. universities, which serve as their academic and professional base. Fellows audit or register for a partial course load to enable them to travel and network with their American peers and experts in their field of work, attend conferences, and engage in a professional affiliation (work experience) without the pressure of meeting specific degree or diploma requirements.

Professional Development

The Program provides Fellows opportunities to meet and exchange information and share experiences with their American counterparts and Humphrey colleagues from around the world. Through conferences, networking meetings, seminars and workshops, Fellows expand their perspectives on their work and on global issues. The culmination of the Fellowship year is a six-week work experience, or Professional Affiliation, arranged by the Fellows, that involves them with American organizations and provides another opportunity for meeting and working with their American peers. The Institute of International Education also facilitates professional enhancement workshops that engage Fellows in cross-disciplinary and multi-regional exchanges.

English Language Courses

Fellows who are otherwise strong Humphrey candidates but need improved English language skills to benefit fully from the Humphrey experience participate in intensive English language training before the start of their Humphrey Fellowship Program (usually during the summer months). If needed, Fellows can also take additional English language courses at their host universities.

Applications

Applications must be submitted by July 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. Make sure your two letters of recommendation have been submitted to the online platform, and that your original diplomas and transcripts have been uploaded, along with their official English translations. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed.

Apply Online Here: https://apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey

For additional information about this program, please contact the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in Managua:

E-mail: FulbrightMNG@state.gov
Please include “Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship” in the subject line of your e-mail.