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.

Madagascar

Open Study/Research Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • 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 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
6-9 Months
Grant Period
Flexible Start

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

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

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?

Living in Madagascar can be a unique experience due to the country's rich biodiversity, diverse 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, cultural diversity, 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
Residency in host country permitted in year prior to grant
Dual citizens of this country are eligible
Degree Level of Applicant
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Required - Advanced

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.

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.

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition 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.

3,520 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.

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
Dependent financial support is available
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. 

Fulbright Program Management Contact
FBstudent.AF@iie.org
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
https://mg.usembassy.gov
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 Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Lovamanitra V. Felantsoa: Felantsoalv@state.gov
Brice Rakotondrafara: Rakotondrafarab@state.gov
Antananarivo - Established Opinion Leaders Team: antananarivoeol@state.gov