Cameroon
Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
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, the natural and technical sciences, public health and political science.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Fulbright grants will begin in September 2024. 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), or wish to depart before the end of the academic year.
Orientation
As a condition of their grants, all grantees may be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2024.
Eligibility
Accepted Degree Levels
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
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 French-speaking and two English-speaking regions and the acceptance of one language over the other differs from region to region. A working knowledge of French is not required for students who plan to stay in the English-speaking North West and South West regions of Cameroon (although such students are nevertheless encouraged to demonstrate how they will effectively conduct their research and navigate life in the country given its linguistic context.) A working knowledge of the French language is required for candidates planning to live in the other eight regions of the country.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Letter recommended but not required at deadline
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
Dependents
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 North West and South West 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.