Kyrgyz Republic
1 Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright Student Research Award aims at strengthening academic ties between public and/or private universities in the Kyrgyz Republic and universities in the United State. The Study/Research Awards give young U.S. scholars unique opportunities to carry out research in numerous fields related to the country's historical past or dynamic present day political, economic, or cultural developments. Scholars may also study unique aspects of Kyrgyzstan's geography, environment, and other technological specializations.
Kyrgyz and Russian are two major languages spoken in Kazakhstan.
While the competition is officially open to all fields, Fulbright Kyrgyzstan is especially keen to support students in the areas of pure and applied sciences, engineering, transportation, IT, artificial intelligence, English language acquisition, and business.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The academic year begins in September and ends in July, including a winter break. Scholars will arrive in mid-September to participate in an orientation in Bishkek, prior to starting their university research. Most academic institutions are closed during the summer months.
Orientation
Pre-Departure and In-Country Orientation: Grantees will participate in a virtual PDO organized by IIE in mid-summer and also participate in a two-day in-country orientation upon arrival in Bishkek in September, before heading off to their assigned universities. The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek organizes this orientation.
Candidate Profile
Applications are welcome from university graduates interested in conducting research in any field. Enrollment in graduate school is not required. Willingness of the candidates to contribute to some of the U.S. Embassy’s activities, such as talking clubs at American Corners, is an asset. Activities may include participation in public outreach, conversation clubs, recruitment for the Foreign Fulbright program, and the like. Applicants should consider submitting a proposal that includes teaching English language, academic writing, or research skills courses and/or other sustained cultural outreach activities in addition to their research/study, as this will create a stronger partnership with their host institutions.
Applicants should have an excellent academic record and strong reference letters. Since Fulbright grantees are representing their country in all aspects, applicants should have strong intercultural and leadership skills. Proposed projects should be innovative, feasible in the Kyrgyz Republic, fit in the candidate's previous academic training and future objectives, be based on the candidate's overall academic background and profile, and should generally align with priorities of the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
Natural, cultural, and culinary wonders await you in the Kyrgyz Republic!
The Kyrgyz Republic, sometimes called the "Switzerland of Asia," boasts unparalleled natural beauty, fresh produce and dairy, and a warm and welcoming culture. With highly-motivated students and enthusiastic faculty, it is an ideal country to spend a year researching. The country hosts relatively few Americans, making our Fulbrighters instant family among their colleagues and students. Our U.S. participants regularly give lectures and trainings across the country at the American Spaces and other universities and collaborate with their Kyrgyzstani counterparts. They also receive invitations from students and faculty to attend local holiday celebrations and weddings - unforgettable experiences with festive food and dancing.
Kyrgyzstani citizens have worked to build an open and democratic society in the heart of Central Asia, although in recent years democractic backsliding has challenge this reputation. Slightly smaller than South Dakota, the Kyrgyz Republic borders China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The country is known for its unique felt crafts, traditional oral legends, its postcard-perfect mountains, the world’s largest natural-growth walnut forest, and endangered species, including the snow leopard and Marco Polo sheep. The capital city of Bishkek is a cosmopolitan city where Fulbrighters will find bustling modern malls, high-end restaurants, street vendors selling delicious samsas and manty. Old soviet architecture, old wooden private houses, and modern high rises blend together in a construction boom that is reshaping almost every part of the Kyrgyz Republic. Regional cities where Fulbrighters may be placed offer many of the same comforts of any small U.S. city (cafes, movie theaters, small gyms, parks, etc), with a bit more of a unique local experience than Bishkek.
In their free-time, our Fulbrighters take advantage of accessible hiking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, skiing, horseback riding, ice skating, camping, bird-watching, and swimming on the pristine Lake Issyk-Kul. Fulbrighters also enjoy attending nomadic sports matches, concerts featuring traditional Kyrgyz instruments, recitations of the epic "Manas" poem, traditional Turkish and Russian spas, and cooking and felting classes. Many take Kyrgyz or Russian lessons as well! From fresh baked naan bread and pastries at the bazaar, to excellent and inexpensive international and national restaurants (Kyrgyz, Georgian, Italian, American, Japanese, Korean, Turkish etc. in Bishkek), the country's culinary offerings cater to every palate. You won't go hungry! Those who don't eat meat should be aware that it is very difficult to maintain a meat- or animal product-free diet in Kyrgyzstan, though past Fulbrighters have succeeded with difficulty. Other alternative diets will also be hard to adhere to.
Fulbrighters generally rent apartments (both new builds and remodeled Soviet-era units) solo or with a roommate within walking, bus, or biking distance of their host institutions. In their apartment buildings, Fulbrighters truly integrate into the local community. They often have to volunteer to clean common areas once a month as all residents do, and they will likely be added to a building WhatsApp chat, where they can follow all the neighborhood intrigues.
The Kyrgyz Republic is a bi-lingual country, where almost everyone you encounter will be comfortable speaking in Kyrgyz or Uzbek or another local language and Russian. Russian is even more widely used in Bishkek and the north, whereas those placed in southern regions may hear more Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and even Tajik. This is a great opportunity to study a foreign language, regardless what language you choose. Language tutors are very cheap compared to U.S. norms, and most Fulbrighters take full advantage of this.
Applicants should be prepared for different experiences of racial differences than they might be used to in the United States. The Kyrgyz Republic does not have the same long, rich history of race relations that the United States has. Therefore, most locals will not understand the American norms of commenting or not commenting on someone's ethnicity. Participants of African American or African heritage have been addressed regarding their race in a way that hurt emotionally. Participants of South Asian heritage should know that there are, infrequently, tense relations towards South Asians due to a large population of immigrants from South Asia in the Kyrgyz Republic. Fulbrighters of Central and East Asian heritage might be assumed to be local or to be from China until locals learn they are American. Because the Kyrgyz Republic is a different context than the United States, Fulbright applicants should be emotionally prepared to deal with unwanted attention due to racial differences.
The U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic's Public Diplomacy Section supports participants as much as possible on every step of their Fulbright journey - from detailed pre-departure and in-country orientations, to coordination with host institution counterparts on housing, teaching load, and visa issues. We are committed to helping you take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will give you unique experience that sets you apart from most of your peers.
Eligibility
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
Basic local language skills will be helpful day to day, but are not required for project. Grantees are provided with a stipend to study a local language while in-country as part of their grant benefit.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
The U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) will assist in making institutional assignments based on the best and most appropriate match between the interest and expertise of the grantees and the interest of prospective host institutions. An invitation letter may help facilitate placement at that institution, but is not a guarantee of final placement. PDS will decide on the final affiliation. Local institutions must have the capacity to support the work visa of the applicant.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
No tuition fee or tuition is required.
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.
The monthly stipend for a single grantee without dependents is $2,250.
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.
- Excess baggage fees
- Housing allowance (separate from living stipend)
- Language training allowance
- Research/Materials allowance
Base amount of $1,750 is intended to cover baggage fees, in-transit costs, and relocation expenses. Round trip travel is included as a grant benefit and grantee flights are coordinated and pre-approved by the Fulbright program's approved travel agency.
Research allowance: $1,500 (included in 1st grant payment)
In-country orientation allowance: $500 (included in 1st grant payment)
In-country travel allowance: $1,000 (included in 1st grant payment)
Language study: $1,000 (included in 1st grant payment)
Additional Grant Benefits
- Diplomatic pouch
- Health insurance (in addition to ASPE)
- Mid-year seminar
Student grantees are eligible to use country-bound diplomatic pouch service to send educational materials to the Kyrgyz Republic. The Public Diplomacy Section will mediate your search for accomodation with your host institution.
The South and Central Asia (SCA) Fulbright Conference brings together Fulbright U.S. Scholars and U.S. Student Researchers to discuss each other’s work, network, and share their experiences as international exchange participants. Funding for the conference is provided by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The conference is typically held within the SCA region in February or March, and financial assistance to attend is provided. To be eligible, participants must be on their Fulbright grants at the time of the conference. Please note that conference plans are subject to change depending on programmatic or regional considerations.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
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Bishkek |
Karakol |
Naryn |
Osh |
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Estimated housing (cost per month) |
$500 - $1000 |
$300-$600 |
$250-$500 |
$400-$800 |
|
Food at the cafe/restaurants is good and inexpensive (cost per course including salad and soft drinks) |
$6-$12 |
$5-$10 |
$5-$10 |
$5-$10 |
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Estimated grocery costs |
$200-$400 per month per person |
$200-$400 per month per person |
$200-$400 per month per person |
$200-$400 per month per person |
Dependents
The monthly stipend for a grantee with one dependent is adjusted to $2,350. For grantees with two or more dependents, the monthly stipend is $2,450.
Housing Arrangements
Housing arrangements will be made with the assistance of host university, with involvement of Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic if necessary. Upon arrival, Student Researchers will stay in a hotel for 3-4 days before moving into an apartment.
Research Clearance and Visa Information
Research clearance is not needed, though some archives require official letters from the U.S. Embassy.
Host Universities in the Kyrgyz Republic should be able to provide candidates with a Kyrgyz Work or Student visa; or candidates should be able to receive a five-year visa from the Kyrgyz Embassy in Washington, D.C.