Click here for Fulbright Program Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply. All applicants enrolled in U.S institutions must apply through their home campuses. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

If you are an undergraduate student, you are eligible to apply in the fall of your senior year.  If you are a graduate student, you are eligible as long as you will not have a PhD degree by the application deadline.

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.

Blog Contact Us 

    

        

            
        

        

            
South Africa

            
                
            
            

                

                    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
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                    
Award Profile

                                                                

                                    

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


The U.S. Embassy in South Africa supports a balanced countrywide distribution of grants. Priority consideration will therefore be given to proposals involving affiliation with previously disadvantaged host institutions and to those seeking affiliations beyond heavily-subscribed institutions, dependent on the field of study. Institutions in the Western Cape Province are often heavily subscribed, so applying for opportunities in the more rural provinces may make an application more competitive.
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                    
Grant Length

                                                                

                                    

                                        
6-9 Months
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                    
Grant Period

                                                                

                                    

                                        
Flexible Start
Fulbright grants start between August 2023 and March 2024, subject to the approval of the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria.
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                    
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 2023.
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                    
Eligibility

                                                                

                                    

                                        
Dual citizens of this country are eligible
Residency in host country permitted in year prior to grant
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                    
Accepted Degree Levels

                                                                

                                    

                                        
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                    
Foreign Language Proficiency

                                                                

                                    

                                        
Not Required
Additional Information: Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider whether a language other than English will be necessary for the successful completion of their projects.
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                    
Fulbright Proposal Types 

                                                                

                                    

                                        
Independent Study/Research:
Yes
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
No
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                    
Affiliation

                                                                

                                    

                                        
Independent Study/Research:
Letter recommended but not required at deadline
Applicants should identify an educational institution, research facility, or other appropriate institution for their projects. They are strongly encouraged to include affiliation letters and/or research clearance letters with their applications. Affiliation is possible at any of the 26 universities in South Africa. Affiliation with other public or private institutions will also be considered. Applicants are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy’s Fulbright Office if they have questions at fpsa@state.gov.
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                    
Affiliation Fees/Tuition

                                                                

                                    

                                        
Affiliation Fees/Tuition not covered in grant benefits
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                    
Dependents

                                                                

                                    

                                        
Dependent financial support is available
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                    
Fulbright Program Management Contact

                                                                

                                    

                                        
FBstudent.AF@iie.org
                                    

                                

                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                    
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website

                                                                

                                    

                                        
http://za.usembassy.gov