Cameroon
Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length6-9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program in Cameroon aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Cameroon.
Applications in all fields of study will be considered, but preference is given to researchers in economic development, the humanities, natural resource management, natural and technical sciences, public health and political science.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Fulbright grants will begin in September 2026. The U.S. Embassy in Yaounde will not consider applicants who wish to arrive in the middle of an academic year (i.e., at the beginning of the Spring semester).
Orientation
As a condition of their grants, all grantees will be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2026.
Candidate Profile
U.S. Fulbright students should be flexible, professional, and prepared to work in challenging environments with living standards that are not as high as those in the U.S.
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.
Cameroon is a lively Central African nation that is renowned for its wide range in geography, religion, ethnicity, and culture. Affectionately known as “Africa in Miniature,” Cameroon includes all the continent's major geographic landscapes including white beaches in the south, mountains in the west, tropical rainforests in the Congo basin, savannah grasslands further north and sparse deserts in the far north. The Community Liaison Office at Post offers a welcome package for Fulbrighters that includes guidelines on places to visit and leisure activities.
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.
Additional Information:
English and French are the official languages of Cameroon. Almost 250 ethnic groups, speaking more than 80 major languages, co-exist in Cameroon. Pidgin is another lingua franca commonly used in all ten administrative regions. Although Cameroon is officially bilingual, French speakers outnumber English speakers by a 4-to-1 ratio.
There are eight predominately French-speaking and two predominately English-speaking regions and the acceptance of one language over the other differs from region to region. A working knowledge of the French language is required for candidates planning to live in one of the predominately French speaking regions of the country.
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
It is strongly recommended that applicants identify appropriate host institutions for their projects and that they include affiliation letters with their Fulbright applications.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Typically, universities and research institutions do not charge affiliation fees for Fulbrighters.
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.
- Excess baggage fees
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in 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.
Average monthly rent for a furnished apartment with a generator, water tank, and 24-hour security, ranges from 500,000FCFA (approximately $850 USD) to 700,000FCFA (approximately $1200 USD).
Transportation via taxi (not shared) ranges from 2500FCFA ($4) to 5000FCFA ($8) per trip.
Grantees can expect to spend between 200,000FCFA ($330) and 300,000FCFA ($500) a month on groceries.
Dependents
The U.S. Fulbright Student may bring dependents on the program. Students with accompanying dependents (i.e. spouses and/or children who will be with them for at least 80% of the grant term) receive modest adjustments in living allowances. Student grantees receive no travel allowances for dependents or education allowances to defray tuition costs for accompanying dependent children. ECA’s Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges provides basic health and accident benefits and medical evacuation coverage for the grantee only. Grantees must arrange separately for dependent medical and emergency medical evacuation insurance prior to the commencement of their grant.
Housing Arrangements
It is the host institution's responsibility to assist the grantee in securing housing. In the event that the host institution is unable to identify suitable housing for the grantee, the Embassy will provide assistance.
Research Clearance
Research permits, issued through the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation (MINRESI), are required in Cameroon. Researchers must have institutional affiliations in Cameroon and should indicate in their applications the names and academic titles of the individuals and institutions with whom they will work before research permits are issued. MINRESI requires that researchers work with a Cameroonian or local scholar. This local scholar must have a PhD in order to serve as the academic advisor.
Applicants should contact their host institution or the Embassy about applying for a research permit, providing the area of research and timeline. A permit may be renewed, and for each renewal, the research team must present a preliminary report of activities. The U.S. Embassy may work with Fulbright grantees to secure research permits, if the need arises.
Other and more specific permits are issued by the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife for research in forests, and the Ministry of Public Health for ethical clearance and access to state healthcare institutions.
Security Considerations
Due to ongoing security concerns, travel to the Northwest, Southwest, North and Far North regions of the country is discouraged. Candidates interested in doing research in these regions should check this website periodically for updates, and contact the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde for additional details.