Note

The 2026-2027 competition is now closed. The next competition will be announced in May/June 2026.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship provides grants for mid-career professionals with demonstrated leadership potential, public service commitment and the capacity to take full advantage of a self-defined program of independent study at a leading U.S. university. The program offers a year of combined academic (non-degree) and professional work and awards a certificate from the U.S. Government.

ELIGIBLE FIELDS
  • Human and Institutional Capacity: Economic Policy and Finance; Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration; Technology Policy and Management; 
  • Rights and Freedoms: Communications/Journalism; Law and Human Rights; 
  • Sustainable Lands: Agricultural and Rural Development; Natural Resources and Environmental Policy; Urban and Regional Planning;
  • Thriving Communities: Public Health Policy and Management; Substance Abuse Education and Policy*; Educational Administration, Planning and Policy.
  • *Note: Candidates in this field must have either a research background in the field or a demonstrated ability to learn the results and policy implications of current research; candidates must complete the supplementary field-specific page of the Humphrey application.
ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must have:

  • Romanian citizenship; green card holders and persons with dual (Romanian and U.S.) citizenship are ineligible;
  • at least a Bachelor’s degree;
  • a minimum of five years of full-time professional experience after completing a university degree;
  • demonstrated leadership qualities and a record of public service;
  • English language proficiency (a valid TOEFL score will be required in a later stage of the competition);
  • limited prior experience in the U.S.

Applicants should not be recent university graduates or university teachers/academic researchers with no management or policy responsibilities (except for the EFL teachers and specialists in drug abuse prevention and treatment).

GRANT DURATION

One year of non-degree graduate-level academic coursework and professional development activities.

AWARD BENEFITS
Tuition and university fees
Monthly maintenance allowance
Accident/sickness coverage
Funding for books and professional activities
Round-trip international travel to the host institution
*The Humphrey Program does not supply financial support for accompanying dependents.
SELECTION PROCESS

After the national selection, Romanian nominations are sent to the U.S. in early October in order to be assessed by independent review committees. These review committees make recommendations to the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB). Finalists are announced by March, while the fellowships begin in August/September, the year following the application.

For further information visit: www.humphreyfellowship.org

Questions? Contact us at:
Email office@fulbright.ro
Phone 021 230 77 19
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Instagram FulbrightRomania
LinkedIn Fulbright Romania
Fulbrighter Global Network

Timeline

May/June

competition opens

May – June

program advertising

July

application deadline

August

assessment phase

Mid-September

interviews

Early October

preliminary notification; nominated applications are sent to Washington D.C. for the international final selection

March

finalists are notified

June – July

Terms of Appointment signed; J1 visa paperwork

July

Pre-Departure Orientation

Mid-August

program begins (Fellows with inadequate TOEFL scores may be required to attend intensive English language training before the start of their Fellowship.)

FAQ Humphrey Fellowship

Is the Humphrey Program a degree-granting program?

The Humphrey Program is a non-degree program. Participants may complete academic coursework at their host university to update their academic and professional knowledge in their field, but they do not receive an academic degree as a result of their participation in the Program.

I worked part-time in a professional position while I was in graduate school. Does that qualify me for the Humphrey Fellowship Program?

Candidates for the Humphrey Program should have at least five years of full-time experience in their professional field and should be at a point in their careers to fully benefit from this mid-career program. Candidates with only part-time work experience may not be considered eligible.

If I’m selected, what are the time demands of the Program?

The Humphrey Program is quite rigorous and life as a Humphrey Fellow does not resemble that of a graduate student with regular hours and a predictable schedule. There are many activities required of Humphrey Fellows as part of the Program. Fellows go on field trips, attend a weekly Humphrey Seminar, as well as other conferences and networking meetings, and may spend long hours each day in classes and involved in campus and community activities, in addition to spending time with other members of the group on campus. Fellows also travel away from their host campus as part of the Program, spending two weeks in Washington, DC for national program events. Fellows may also attend workshops and conferences in other parts of the country at various times throughout the year.

May I bring my family with me?

Fellows may choose to apply to have their family join them shortly after they have arrived in the U.S. Careful consideration should be given to bringing one’s family, however, as the Humphrey Program is very demanding, and Fellows spend considerable time away from their host campus. The Humphrey Program also does not provide an additional maintenance allowance for dependents. Fellows must show proof of financial support and adequate insurance coverage for their dependents.

May I choose the university I will go to?

Fellows are not able to choose which university they will attend. Rather, they are assigned in diverse groups of 7-15 to the most appropriate host institution based on their area of interest and professional field. The list of host universities is available at: https://www.humphreyfellowship.org/host-universities

What does the Fellowship stipend cover?

The Fellowship provides for:

  • 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)
  • A Professional Development allowance for professional activities, such as field trips, professional visits and conferences

"I am grateful for this amazing experience and I hope that the legacy of Hubert H. Humphrey will further continue to create agents of change across the world, united around a common set of values."

Mădălina Turza

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow 2016-2017

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