Kenya
Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodFlexible StartGrant Length6-9 Months |
Award Type
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
Grant Period
Fulbright grants will begin between August 2026 and March 2027, subject to the approval of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
Orientation
As a condition of their grants, all grantees may be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2026.
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?
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.
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
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: 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
Yes
No
Affiliation
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
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
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
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
This website link https://research-portal.nacosti.go.ke/ 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.