The 2025-2026 application is now closed. The 2026-2027 competition will open in Spring 2025.

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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.

Kyrgyzstan


1 Open Study/Research Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Grant Period
September Start
Grant Length
10 Months
Award Type
Open Study/Research
Award Profile

As unofficial cultural ambassadors, Fulbright Student Researchers live and conduct their research in cities and villages throughout the Kyrgyz Republic. Through their exchange, these Americans create knowledge and form powerful and enduring people-to-people ties with Kyrgyzstani students, colleagues, and community members.

Grant Length
10 Months
Grant Period
September Start

The academic year begins in September and ends in June, including a winter break. It is preferable to arrive at the end of August to have time to find appropriate accommodation and receive an on-site orientation. Academic institutions are closed during the summer months. If the research includes field studies during the summer, the grantee should plan to begin the grant in January.

Orientation
Pre-Departure and In-Country Orientation
Candidate Profile

Applications are welcome from university graduates interested in conducting research in any field. Enrollment in graduate school is not required. Willingness of the candidates to contribute to some of the U.S. Embassy’s activities is an asset. Activities may include participation in public outreach, conversation clubs, recruitment for the Foreign Fulbright program, and the like.

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

Natural, cultural, and culinary wonders await you in the Kyrgyz Republic!

The Kyrgyz Republic, sometimes called the "Switzerland of Asia," boasts unparalleled natural beauty, fresh produce and dairy, and a warm and welcoming culture. With highly-motivated students and enthusiastic faculty, it is an ideal country to spend a year teaching and researching. The country hosts relatively few Americans, making our Fulbrighters instant family among their colleagues and students. Our U.S. participants regularly give lectures and trainings across the country at the American Spaces and other universities and collaborate with their Kyrgyzstani counterparts. They also receive invitations from students and faculty to attend local holiday celebrations and weddings - unforgettable experiences with festive food and dancing.

Kyrgyzstani citizens have worked to build an open and democratic society in the heart of Central Asia. Slightly smaller than South Dakota, the Kyrgyz Republic borders China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The country is known for its unique felt crafts, traditional oral legends, its postcard perfect mountains, the world’s largest natural-growth walnut forest, and endangered species, including the snow leopard and Marco Polo sheep. 

In their free-time, our Fulbrighters take advantage of accessible hiking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, skiing, horseback riding, ice skating, camping, bird-watching, and swimming on the pristine Lake Issyk-Kul. Fulbrighters also enjoy attending nomadic sports matches, concerts featuring traditional Kyrgyz instruments, recitations of the epic "Manas" poem, traditional Turkish and Russian spas, and cooking and felting classes. Many take Kyrgyz or Russian lessons as well! From fresh baked naan bread and pastries at the bazaar, to excellent and inexpensive international and national restaurants (Kyrgyz, Georgian, Italian, American, Japanese, Korean, Turkish etc.), the country's culinary offerings cater to every palate. You won't go hungry! Fulbrighters generally rent apartments (both new builds and Soviet-era units) within walking, bus, or biking distance of their host institutions. And, on winter break, our participants have traveled to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to see historic silk road sites. 

The U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic's Public Diplomacy Section supports participants on every step of their Fulbright journey - from detailed pre-departure and in-country orientations, to coordination with host institution counterparts on housing, teaching, and visa issues. We are committed to helping you take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.   

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

Kyrgyz or Russian proficiency is recommended, but not required. Grantees are provided with a stipend (via reimbursement) to study a local language while in-country as part of their grant benefit.

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

The U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) will assist in making institutional assignments based on the best and most appropriate match between the interest and expertise of the grantees and the interest of prospective host institutions. An invitation letter may help facilitate placement at that institution, but is not a guarantee of final placement. PDS will decide on the final affiliation. Local institutions must have the capacity to support the work visa of the applicant.  

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition not covered in grant benefits

No tuition fee or tuition is required.

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.

2250 monthly stipend amount in
$ [US Dollar]

The monthly stipend for a single grantee without dependents is $2,250.

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
  • Housing allowance (separate from living stipend)
  • Language training allowance
  • Research/Materials allowance

Base amount of $1,500 is intended to cover baggage fees, in-transit costs, and relocation expenses. Round trip travel is included as a grant benefit and grantee flights are coordinated and pre-approved by the Fulbright program's approved travel agency.

Research allowance: $1,000 (included in 1st grant payment)

In-country orientation allowance: $500 (included in 1st grant payment)

In-country travel allowance: $1,000 (included in 1st grant payment)

 

Language study: Up to $1,500 in costs allowed, paid as reimbursement.

Additional Grant Benefits
  • Diplomatic pouch
  • Mid-year seminar

Student grantees are eligible to use country-bound diplomatic pouch service to send educational materials to the Kyrgyz Republic. 

Estimated Cost of Living

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

 

Bishkek

Karakol

Naryn

Osh

Estimated housing (cost per month)

$500 - $1000

$300-$600

$250-$500

$400-$800

Food at the cafe/restaurants is good and inexpensive (cost per course including salad and soft drinks)

$6-$12

$5-$10

$5-$10

$5-$10

Estimated grocery costs

$200-$400 per month per person

$200-$400 per month per person

$200-$400 per month per person

$200-$400 per month per person

Dependents
Dependent financial support is available

The monthly stipend for a grantee with one dependent is adjusted to $2,350. For grantees with two or more dependents, the monthly stipend is $2,450.

Housing Arrangements

Housing arrangements will be made with the assistance of host university, with involvement of Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic if necessary. Upon arrival, Student Researchers will stay in a hotel for 3-4 days before moving into an apartment.

Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Research Clearance and Visa Information

Research clearance is not needed, though some archives require official letters from the U.S. Embassy.

Host Universities in the Kyrgyz Republic should be able to provide candidates with a Kyrgyz Work or Student visa; or candidates should be able to receive a five-year visa from the Kyrgyz Embassy in Washington, D.C.

 

Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Gulzat Kochorova: KochorovaGT@state.gov