The Humphrey Fellowship Program provides mid-career professionals from designated countries around the world with an opportunity to enhance their professional capabilities through participation in specialized, 10-month, non-degree programs developed for small clusters of Humphrey Fellows at selected U.S. universities.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program was established in 1978 as a Fulbright exchange that advances U.S. foreign policy goals through the exchange of mid-career professionals representing approximately 140 eligible countries from all world regions. Humphrey Fellows work in critical fields for collaboration, such as law and human rights, public health, including infectious diseases, climate change, and public policy.

The Humphrey program is not degree-related or aimed at providing scholarly preparation or basic training in a field. The objective is to provide Humphrey Fellows with an overall experience that broadens their perspectives, enhances their capability to assume greater career responsibilities, and provides opportunities to establish useful professional contacts. The programs include various combinations of coursework, independent projects, internships, consultations with U.S. faculty or experts, field trips, and special seminars. Under the guidance of a designated faculty advisor or “coordinator,” Fellows plan programs that best suit their individual career development needs.

For additional information on the Humphrey Fellowship Program, please visit the Humphrey website https://www.humphreyfellowship.org/

Program Components

a. Non-Degree Academic Study

Humphrey Fellows pursue tailored study programs at participating host institutions, where freedom from the requirements of a degree program gives each Fellow the flexibility to pursue a self-directed, individualized program at a host campus. Approximately 13 U.S. campuses have been selected through a competitive process based on their ability to offer institutional and professional resources to host cohorts of Fellows in designated fields of study. Humphrey Fellows may not request placement at any particular university.

Each campus has at least one designated faculty coordinator for academic and administrative support. In addition, faculty advisors assist Fellows in pursuing balanced academic and professional programs. Even though Fellows will spend time in an academic setting and are able to take classes at a U.S. university, the Humphrey Fellowship Program is classified as a non-degree program by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Humphrey Fellows cannot transfer from non-degree status to degree status under any circumstances under their program.

b. Leadership and Professional Development

Professional enrichment activities include professional visits, enhancement skills workshops, conferences, training programs, and a professional affiliation (placement). The professional affiliation provides firsthand exposure to a U.S. work environment on a full-time basis for a minimum period of six weeks. Early in the academic year, each Fellow develops, with assistance from the local campus coordinator and faculty advisors, a detailed plan of practical professional activities geared to the Fellow’s program objectives.

c. Duration

The program arranged for Humphrey Fellows extends from August or early September 2022 to the following June 2023. Applicants who need additional English training may be required to arrive in the United States as early as 20-25 weeks ahead for intensive language study before beginning their regular university programs. Candidates must be able to participate in the full period of the English and/or university programs.

d. Financial Provisions

The Humphrey Fellowship provides:

• a monthly maintenance stipend
• accident and sickness coverage
• tuition and university fees
• round-trip international travel to the host institution (and to the Fellow’s English-language training program when applicable), and domestic travel to required Humphrey workshops and seminar events
• settling-in allowance, book allowance
• computer subsidy (when applicable)
• and professional development allowance

Humphrey Fellows should plan to bring with them some personal funds to cover incidental expenses not covered in the grant. Humphrey Fellows are responsible for providing travel, insurance, and financial support for any dependents accompanying them to the United States. Please note that Long-Term English program and other orientation centers cannot accommodate dependents. Even if dependent approval is obtained, dependents may not arrive in the United States until the Fellows are settled into their academic year programs and have secured housing (at least 90 days after the Fellow’s arrival) at the primary Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship host campus.

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must be policy-makers, managers, or administrators in leadership positions with a commitment to public service from the public or private sectors including non-governmental organizations. Fellowships are competitive and will be awarded on the basis of excellence in professional and personal qualifications as well as leadership potential.

All applicants must

• Possess Nepali citizenship.
• Be employed at a mid-career, policy level with progressively more responsible working experience in the government, NGO or private sector.
• Have at least 5 years of progressively more responsible professional experience in Nepal as of the application submission deadline of July 23, 2021. Volunteer jobs, internships, and work done as a requirement for an academic degree shall not be counted towards the required duration of work experience.
• The professional experience should be in the relevant field, after the completion of a university degree i.e. a 4-year bachelor’s degree, or if the bachelor’s degree is of 2-year/3-year duration, then a master’s degree is also required. Candidates who have two or more 2-year/3-year bachelor’s degrees in different fields but who do not have a master’s degree are ineligible to apply.
• Be proficient in speaking, reading and writing English (See the Supplemental English Program.)
• Be eligible for a non-immigrant J-1 U.S. visa (see Visa Sponsorship below)
• Have a demonstrable commitment to public service and potential for national leadership.
• Have a wish to develop problem-solving capacities, enhance capabilities to assume greater career responsibilities, and return to a significant public service role upon completion of the Humphrey Program.

The Humphrey competition is not open to:

• Recent university graduates (even if they have significant positions),
• University teachers with no management or policy responsibilities (except in the fields of Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, and Treatment and Teaching of English as a Foreign Language),
• Individuals who have attended a graduate school in the United States for one academic year or more during the seven years prior to August 2022,
• Individuals with U.S. in-country experience of any kind lasting more than six months during the five years prior to August 2022,
• Individuals with, or in the process of obtaining, dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status, and
• Employees of USEF-Nepal and local employees of the U.S. Mission in Nepal who work for the U.S. Department of State, and their spouses and dependent children (they are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment).

Application Section

• Academic History
• English Language Testing
• Additional Information – Supplemental Materials
• Recommendations

Program Timeline

• 24:00 Midnight, July 23, 2021 : Application deadline
• August 2021: Interviews Nominated candidates informed
• February 2022: ECA reports final selection results
• August 2022: Program start

Application Deadline: 24:00 Midnight, July 23, 2021

MORE INFORMATION: OFFICIAL LINK