The 2025-2026 application is now closed. The 2026-2027 competition will open in Spring 2025.

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Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Bosnia & Herzegovina


1 Open Study/Research Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Grant Period
October Start
Grant Length
9 Months
Award Type
Open Study/Research
Award Profile

This program provides grants to conduct non-degree, full-time research at the graduate level at institutions of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a maximum of nine months.

Grant Length
9 Months
Grant Period
October Start

Grants will begin on October 6, 2025.

Orientation
Pre-Departure and In-Country Orientation

In-country orientation

All grantees are required to attend a pre-departure orientation in June or July as a condition of their grant.  The event is organized by IIE as a virtual or in-person session.

It is recommended that grantees plan to arrive a week prior to the start of the academic year (which starts on October 6, 2025).  The Public Diplomacy Section at the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina will hold a required virtual Embassy-led country session in August of 2025 and an in-country orientation for grantees (tentatively scheduled for September 30, 2025). 

Candidate Profile

Applications are accepted from candidates at all degree levels and in all fields.

Grantees are expected to be extremely adaptable and flexible.  Living conditions and the infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina are improving. However, grantees should recognize that the country is still undergoing significant change, and that medical care and other services are not up to U.S. or Western standards.

Candidates should be highly motivated and demonstrate excellence through their academic record, leadership potential, and qualifying educational and professional experience. They are expected to serve as responsible representatives of their home country, to successfully undertake full-time research at the graduate level, and to adjust to life in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Candidates are encouraged to submit a thoughtful, well-written, concise, and compelling application that illustrates their qualifications, leadership, and preparedness for study in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the project's potential impact (both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the United States). Research proposals should reflect enduring concerns, demonstrate sound methodology, and avoid politicization of scholarly inquiry.  Proposed projects will be evaluated on the merits of their objectives and feasibility.

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a post-war country in transition.  Society in Bosnia and Herzegovina is still very much in the midst of healing, reconciliation and reconstruction at all levels – educational, political, social, psychological, economic, etc.  There are opportunities to engage with citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the international community in country, and other interlocutors on issues of reconstruction, reconciliation, and recovery.  The academic calendar varies from university to university, but in general, the academic year runs from the first week of October through June with semesters running from the first week of October through December and the last week of February through mid-June.  U.S. Fulbright Open Study/Research awards are for the academic year.

Eligibility
Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant
Indicate how many months is considered residency:
12 Months
Dual citizens of this country are eligible
Degree Level of Applicant
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Recommended - Novice

Additional Information: Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian proficiency is recommended but not required, depending on the nature of the project.  However, applicants should demonstrate that they will have language skills commensurate with the project by the beginning of the grant.  If a project can be carried out in English, applicants without these language skills should include plans for language study in their proposals and are encouraged to improve their language skills concurrent with their research after arriving in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Fulbright Proposal Types
Independent Study/Research:
Yes
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
No
Affiliation
Independent Study/Research:
Letter recommended but not required at deadline

Candidates are responsible for securing their own affiliations.  Preliminary contacts and letters of support from host institutions are preferred but are not required at the time of application.

Study/Research participants should affiliate with accredited institutions of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina and pursue academic research at the graduate level in their fields of study.  They may not undertake academic classes or hold on-campus work authorization.  Grantees advance their academic work, establish professional contacts in their academic fields, gain international experience and personal enrichment, and help promote mutual understanding between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition not covered in grant benefits
Award Benefits
  • A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
  • International travel benefits
  • Accident & sickness health benefits
  • 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
  • 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount

This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.

1,730 monthly stipend amount in
$ [US Dollar]
One-Time Allowances

This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.

5,409 in
$ [US Dollar]
  • Excess baggage fees
  • Language training allowance
  • Registration/Permitting fees
  • Research/Materials allowance
  • Settling in allowance
  • Local transportation allowance
Estimated Cost of Living

Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.

 

Apartment Rent: Rental costs in Bosnia and Herzegovina vary significantly based on location. In major cities like Sarajevo or Banja Luka, one-bedroom apartments typically range from $450 to $650 or more per month. Prices in smaller towns tend to be lower. It's important to ensure that a rental agency operates in compliance with local laws and regulations.

Transportation: Public transportation is affordable, with a single bus or tram ticket priced around $2. Monthly passes are available for regular commuters. Taxis are also reasonably priced compared to Western Europe.

Groceries: The cost of groceries is generally lower than in many Western European countries. Basic groceries for a single person may range from $300 to $400 per month, depending on eating habits.

Eating Out: Eating out at restaurants and cafes is often quite affordable, with prices varying based on cuisine and location. Generally, they are lower compared to those in Western Europe.

Utilities: Utility costs, including electricity, water, heating, and internet, can vary based on apartment size and usage habits. Monthly utility expenses amount to about $250.

These estimates serve as general guidelines; however, actual prices may fluctuate based on factors such as specific location, lifestyle preferences, and prevailing economic conditions.

 

 

Dependents
Dependent financial support is NOT available

While dependents are allowed to accompany applicants on the grants, the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina does not provide financial support for dependents accompanying the grantees.

Housing Arrangements

Housing arrangements are not provided.  Host institutions generally designate a point of contact to assist Fulbright Study/Researchers with logistics, including identifying housing arrangements.

Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Visa Requirements

U.S. grantees, as well as all accompanying dependents, regardless of age, must register with the local police within 24 hours of receiving an entry stamp at a border crossing or airport, and must apply for temporary residency status within three to four weeks of arrival in Bosnia and Herzegovina.   (Please note:  most hotels will automatically complete the initial police registration process, but grantees should verify this with their hotel prior to their arrival.)  The Embassy will provide additional guidance on the residency visa process and the host institution will directly assist grantees with their residency visa applications.

Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Elizabeta Delic: delalice@state.gov
Jasenka Oruc: orucJ@state.gov