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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.

Kenya

Open Study/Research Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Grant Period
Flexible Start
Grant Length
6-9 Months
Award Type
Open Study/Research
Specialized Grant Types
  • Arts
  • Science/Public Health
  • Environmental
Award Profile

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program in Kenya aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Kenya. 

Grant Length
6-9 Months
Grant Period
Flexible Start

Fulbright grants will begin between August 2025 and March 2026, subject to the approval of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.

Orientation
Pre-Departure Orientation

As a condition of their grants, all grantees may be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2025.

Candidate Profile

The candidate must be committed to carry the grant through to completion. They should also be open to help bridge a working relationship between their host institution and the Embassy during the duration of their grant.

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

Previous Fulbright grantees have had a fairly smooth time while on their programs in Kenya. The capital city of Nairobi is cosmopolitan, always buzzing and very modern. Other towns away from the City are vibrant too but at a lower scale. The Embassy finds ways to keep Fulbright grantees involved in networking events and other activities of relevance. Fulbright grantees typically arrange their own housing, medical services access, access to funds/cash needs without requiring much help from the embassy. Striking the right balance in their relationships with host institutions and obtaining a study permit for those who require it are some of the most challenging issues some grantees have pointed out.

Eligibility
Residency in host country permitted in year prior to grant
Dual citizens of this country are eligible
Degree Level of Applicant
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Not Required

Additional Information: Although English is one of the two official languages of Kenya, Kiswahili and/or other languages may be useful outside of Nairobi.

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

It is the applicant’s responsibility to secure affiliation with an appropriate host institution. It is strongly recommended that applicants identify appropriate host institutions for their projects and that they include affiliation letters with their Fulbright applications. Fulbright grantees affiliate with a university department as graduate students for non-credit coursework, or as research associates who may teach in a classroom at the department’s discretion. Affiliations with Kenyan government ministries or research institutions are also acceptable.

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.

3,150 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.

3,550 in
$ [US Dollar]
  • Excess baggage fees
  • Research/Materials allowance
  • Settling in allowance
Additional Grant Benefits
  • Diplomatic pouch
Estimated Cost of Living

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

The grant amount is budgeted to cover the Fulbrighter's housing, transportation, utilities, settling-in costs, and registration/visa fees.

Dependents
Dependent financial support is available
Fulbright Program Management Contact
FBstudent.AF@iie.org
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
https://ke.usembassy.gov/
Special Considerations

Many Kenyan universities have constituent colleges outside of Nairobi with acute capacity-building needs. To help alleviate these concerns, candidates are strongly encouraged to consider affiliations with these colleges wherever possible. However, candidates should note that most of these constituent colleges lack sufficient infrastructure, meaning that office space and housing might be difficult to find on campus.

Research Clearance

The website linked here details the process for obtaining a research permit. It is important to start early and work with the host institution to obtain the documentation needed to begin research.

Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Susan Muriungi: MuriungiSK@state.gov