Madagascar
Open Study/Research Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodFlexible StartGrant Length6-9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program in Madagascar aims to strengthen educational and cultural relationships between the United States and Madagascar.
Research linked to supporting the following strategic objectives of the U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo is highly recommended: advancing democratic values, promoting economic growth, and supporting efforts to protect Madagascar's biodiversity and promote conservation.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Fulbright grants will begin between October 2026 and March 2027, subject to the approval of the U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo.
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
Ph.D. candidates conducting doctoral research and candidates conducting advanced Master's-level research who can work independently are preferred.
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.
Living in Madagascar can be a unique experience due to the country's rich biodiversity, culture, and stunning landscapes. The island nation is known for its unique wildlife, including lemurs, and its beautiful beaches and coral reefs. The Malagasy people have a rich cultural heritage, with influences from Africa, Asia, and Europe. Nevertheless, Madagascar's customs and traditions are unique in the world. It requires resourcefulness to adjust to the isolated environment, to the language and cultural barriers, and to a developing country with a poor economy and infrastructure. However, the pleasant climate, the people, and the uniqueness of Malagasy life make an assignment to Madagascar a fondly remembered experience.
Besides, Madagascar also faces challenges such as poverty and environmental issues. Overall, living in Madagascar can offer a mix of natural beauty, culture, and the opportunity to experience a different way of life. People are usually very welcoming. Roads could be better, since one may spend up to 6 hours for 360 kilometers and sometimes even 1 day for 190 kilometers because there is no freeway. There is also a lot of local transportation such as buses (taxi-be), taxis, "pousse-pousse" or "tuck-tuck" like in Bangkok. The problem with the traffic in cities is that there is usually only one road for everybody. As far as the economy is concerned, it has started to be more prosperous, but Madagascar was unstable politically which affects the economy.
Regarding the internet, it is still slow, and sometimes when there is a power cut, there is no internet as well for some time. Some areas are considered more modern and "connected" than others , big cities have better access to the internet, and there are some cities in the bush where the Internet don't even exist.
Overall, Fulbright grantee's flexibility is important as each region has its own uniqueness and context.
Eligibility
Degree Level of Applicant
- 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.
French language proficiency is necessary, not only for the development of the proposed project, but also in order to settle in easily and communicate on a daily basis. Higher level proficiency may be necessary depending on the requirements of the proposed project.
Since French is not often spoken in rural areas, a working knowledge of spoken Malagasy is needed by anyone planning anthropological, historical, and ethnological or other field research. Furthermore, archival research requires reading ability in Malagasy. Researchers can arrange tutoring to acquire a working knowledge of Malagasy.
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 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.
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.
Source 1: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Madagascar
Summary of cost of living in Madagascar:
- A family of four estimated monthly costs are $1,362.70 (6,188,683.2Ar) without rent.
- A single person estimated monthly costs are $396.20 (1,799,113.4Ar) without rent.
- The cost of living in Madagascar is, on average, 66.2% lower than in the United States.
- Rent in Madagascar is, on average, 82.1% lower than in the United States.
Source 2: https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/country/madagascar
Summary of cost of living in Madagascar
Family of four estimated monthly costs: 9,895,827 Ariary
Single person estimated monthly costs: 3,969,323 Ariary
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
Housing is best secured in close collaboration with the host institution depending on the main research site location. If necessary, the U.S. Embassy can assist in this process.
Health Considerations
Fulbright grantees should be aware of special health considerations and must take malaria prophylaxis if traveling to coastal areas or other areas of Madagascar where malaria is prevalent.
Fulbright grantees should make sure they are in good health and able to carry out the program in the host country. If they are under a specific treatment or health care, they should make sure the specific care they need is available in the host country.
Visa Considerations
Grantees must secure an extendable, one-month entry visa with a mention "Prorogeable et Transformable en Long Sejour" while in the U.S and specify the visa type requested as “ Visa Scientifique." Following the grantee's arrival in Madagascar, the U.S. Embassy will assist them in securing the long-term visa.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Brice Rakotondrafara: Rakotondrafarab@state.gov
Antananarivo - Established Opinion Leaders Team: antananarivoeol@state.gov