Kuwait
2 Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodFlexible StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Specialized Grant Types
- Arts
- Science/Public Health
- Environmental
- Journalism
Award Profile
The goal of the Fulbright Program in Kuwait is to promote mutual understanding between Kuwait and the United States and to encourage research linkages between U.S. and Kuwaiti scholars and students. The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait (aka Post) highly encourages research fields that relate to political science, STEM, the environment, media and mass communication, international relations, and gender studies.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grant Length: 10 months
Fulbright grants can begin between August 2025 and March 2026, based on grant duration and subject to the approval of the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City.
Orientation
All grantees are required to attend a Pre-Departure Orientation in the United States in the summer of 2025 as a condition of their grants.
The U.S. Embassy will provide a security briefing upon arrival. The grantee will also be invited to meet with the Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO) to discuss possible engagement opportunities that can help the grantee have a rich experience and develop academic connections.
Candidate Profile
Candidates at all degree levels and proposals in all disciplines will be considered. Ideal candidates should have a distinctive research project dealing with a subject that can be reasonably accomplished in ten months. Candidates with Arabic language fluency and with cross-cultural experience will find their research more effectively accomplished and their Fulbright experience enhanced. Candidates who present research projects showing specific knowledge of Kuwait, the Gulf, the Arab world, and Islam, for example, will have a better grasp of research possibilities.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
In 2020, the population of Kuwait was estimated to be 4,464,521 people, according to the Kuwait General Statistical Bureau. 1.3 million are Kuwaitis and 3.2 are expatriates. The society is made up of different ethnic groups, including expats from western, Asian, and Arab countries. English is widely spoken.
Kuwait lies in the northwestern part of the Arabian Gulf. Its north-west borders are with Iraq, and its south and south-west borders are with Saudi Arabia. Its shores of the Arabian Gulf lie on the east. Kuwait has a continental climate characterized by its dry, hot, long summer, and a short, warm winter with occasional rainfall. Dust storms often occur during the summer months. (Source: Kuwait Government Online)
There are significant cultural establishments and museums that inform visitors about the rich history of Kuwait, including modern museums at Al-Shaheed Park, Kuwait’s largest urban park, and the memorial museum. Other large modern establishments include Jaber Al-Ahmed Cultural Center and Abdullah Alsalem Cultural Center. Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah, Bait Al-Sadu, and Tareq Rajab Museum are also highlights of Kuwait’s cultural scene. Cultural establishments are managed by the Ministry of Information and Culture.
Kuwait has some of the best top-class shopping malls in the world that include an impressive variety of international brands. Some of the well-known shopping destinations are the Avenues Mall, Marina Mall, and 360 Mall. For more information about art and culture in Kuwait, please visit http://www.kuwaitculture.com/.
Eligibility
6 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
A proficient level of Arabic is required to conduct research on materials that are in Arabic. The local dialect is Gulf Arabic. However, a level of proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic is sufficient to carry out the proposed research.
Otherwise, Arabic is not required. It is strongly recommended that candidates who want to study Arabic in Kuwait have a minimum of two years of prior Arabic study at a recognized institution at the time of application.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Letter required for independent study or research at deadline
It is required that applicants identify appropriate host institutions for their projects and that they include affiliation letters with their Fulbright applications. In addition to the government-run Kuwait University (KU), private universities such as the American University of Kuwait (AUK) and the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) may also be considered as host institutions. Moreover, there are a number of government agencies, quasi-governmental institutions, and civil society organizations that may be open to hosting Fulbright students. However, the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait makes the final arrangements in placing grantees at the appropriate institutions.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
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.
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.
- Research/Materials 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.
Cost of living comparisons between the United States and Kuwait can be found here.
Dependents
Dependent financial support includes a modest increase in the monthly stipend. Spouses are welcome to accompany Fulbright grantees, if approved. School age children cannot accompany the grantee, as they require legal residencies (provided by a legal sponsor) to be enrolled into K-12 schools.
Housing Arrangements
Host institutions will not provide housing, but U.S. Embassy Cultural Affairs Section may assist grantees in finding nearby and appropriate housing by sharing useful real estate contact info and links to real-estate apps.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
General Comments
Candidates should be prepared to live among local students and accept the conservative trends of Kuwaiti society. Compared to U.S. standards, opportunities for social life outside the university are limited.
Security
For travel around Kuwait, please refer to the most recent State Department Travel Advisory for Kuwait.
Visa Information
Kuwait does not issue residency or long-term visas to Fulbright grantees; all grantees are issued tourist visas, which are valid for three months. Every three months, grantees must leave the country and return to get a new tourist visa. The visa is not renewed. The scholar will get a new visa upon arrival.