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

US Fulbright Logo

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.

Costa Rica

2 Open Study/Research Award

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

Applicants for study/research awards design their own projects and will typically work with advisors at foreign universities or other institutes of higher education.  

Grant Length
10 Months
Grant Period
Flexible Start

Grant Length: 10 months.

Grants must start between August 2025 and March 2026. Most grantees choose to begin in the fall, but the start date is flexible depending on the project. The latest possible start date is March 31, 2026.

Orientation
Pre-Departure Orientation

As a condition of the grant, all grantees to Costa Rica are required to participate in the Pre-Departure Orientation in the U.S.

 

 

Candidate Profile

An open-minded person willing to build significant community relationships as a cultural ambassador for the United States. 

What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?

Fulbrighters typically get very involved and volunteer in their communities. Many enjoy teaching English and participating in cultural events. It is also important that Fulbrighters to Costa Rica be openminded and feel comfortable dealing with potential bureaucracy within the host institution. Fulbrighters are also expected to attend activities hosted by the embassy. 

Group of people eating lunch around table

Eligibility
Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant
Indicate how many months is considered residency:
12 Months
Dual citizens of this country are NOT eligible
Degree Level of Applicant
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
Special Application Instructions

Candidates may be invited to participate in a virtual interview as part of the host country review process. Not all semi-Finalists may be interviewed, and being interviewed is not necessarily indicative of being selected.

Foreign Language Proficiency
Required - Intermediate

Additional Information: Spanish 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. A Foreign Language Evaluation by a college level Spanish language instructor is required.

Fulbright Proposal Types
Independent Study/Research:
Yes
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
No
Affiliation
Independent Study/Research:
Letter required for independent study or research at deadline

Applicants are responsible for arranging their own affiliations with an academic institution, research facility, or another appropriate organization, and for submitting supporting documentation verifying this affiliation at the time of application.

Most of the students affiliate with the following universities:

University of Costa Rica: Universidad de Costa Rica (ucr.ac.cr)

Universidad Nacional: Universidad Nacional | UNA Siempre necesaria para Costa Rica

Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica: TEC | Tecnológico de Costa Rica

Universidad Técnica Nacional: Inicio | Universidad Técnica Nacional | Costa Rica (utn.ac.cr)

Universidad Estatal a Distancia: Inicio | Universidad Estatal a Distancia (uned.ac.cr) 

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition not 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.

2,050 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]
  • Registration/Permitting fees
  • Research/Materials allowance
  • Settling in allowance
  • $2550 base allowance to cover round-trip international travel, transit, excess baggage, settling-in expenses
  • $500 research allowance
  • $500 immigration document allowance
Estimated Cost of Living

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

Please visit this website to help estimate the cost of living, meals, and incidentals in different major cities in Costa Rica. Significant differences can exist in smaller towns where costs tend to be lower.

Dependents
Dependent financial support is available
Housing Arrangements

Grantees are responsible for arranging their own housing. Host institution affiliates and former grantees may serve as resources in this process. 

Fulbright Program Management Contact
FBstudent.WHA@iie.org
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
https://cr.usembassy.gov
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Angie Robles: roblesam2@state.gov
Shirley Brenes: brenessx@state.gov