The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program brings accomplished young and mid-level professionals to the United States for a year of combined academic (NON-DEGREE) and professional work. Fellows are selected based on potential for leadership and commitment to public service. By providing future leaders and policy makers with experience in U.S. society, culture, and professional fields, the program provides a basis for lasting, productive ties between Americans and their professional counterparts overseas.
Fellowship fields: Fellowships are granted competitively to both public and private sector candidates with strong leadership potential and a commitment to public service in the fields of:
Human and Institutional Capacity
- Economic Development
- Finance & Banking
- Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration
- Technology Policy and Management
- Human Resource Management
Rights and Freedoms
- Communications and Journalism
- International Religious Freedom
- Law and Human Rights
- Trafficking in Persons Policy & Prevention
Sustainable Lands
- Agricultural and Rural Development
- Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, and Climate Change
- Urban and Regional Planning
Thriving Communities
- Contagious and Infectious Diseases
- Public Health Policy and Management
- HIV&AIDS, Policy and Prevention
- Substance Abuse Education, Treatment and Prevention (see 4b)
- Educational Administration, Planning, and Policy
- Higher Education Administration
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Appropriate candidates are young and mid-career professionals in leadership positions who have a commitment to public service and the potential for professional advancement. Prospective Fellows should have a minimum of five years full-time professional experience (prior to August 2023) in the relevant field and should be interested in the policy aspects of their field of specialization. Candidates must have completed a university degree program requiring at least four years of full-time study to qualify for participation in U.S. graduate study programs.
Not eligible:
- Recent university graduates (even if they have significant positions);
- University teachers or academic researchers with no management responsibilities (except in the fields of Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, and Treatment and Teaching of English as a Foreign Language);
- Individuals who have attended a graduate school in the United States for one academic year or more during the seven years prior to August 2023;
- Individuals with U.S. in-country experience of any kind lasting more than six months during the five years prior to August 2023; and
- Individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status may not apply to the program; they are ineligible for a J visa.
Basic requirements: Citizenship of the Republic of North Macedonia, five years of full-time professional experience, university degree, English proficiency.
Nature of the program: It is essential that candidates have a clear understanding of the professional development component of the program. If a candidate’s intent is to pursue an advanced academic degree, or to attend a specific university, he/she cannot be nominated for the program. Candidates should also understand that Humphrey maintenance support may not enable them to maintain the standard of living they enjoy at home.
Applications: Applications can be accessed at: https://apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey.
General information about the Humphrey Program can be found at: https://www.humphreyfellowship.org/
The deadline for receipt of applications is May 30, 2022.
Each page of the enclosed application carries its own instructions and should be read carefully before proceeding. Following the instructions given for each item, please answer every question as completely as possible.
Additional documents: Proof of citizenship (passport copy); evidence of employment history in North Macedonia (letter from employer confirming employment); notarized copies of all university transcripts and diplomas; English language assessment form, curriculum vitae. Please provide translation of all the documents that are not in English.
Academic placement in a non-degree program: Humphrey Fellows pursue tailored study programs at participating host institutions, where freedom from the requirements of a degree program gives each Fellow the flexibility to pursue a self-directed, individualized program at a host campus. Approximately 13 U.S. campuses have been selected through a competitive process based on their ability to offer institutional and professional resources to host cohorts of Fellows in designated fields of study. Humphrey Fellows may not request placement at any particular university. Each campus has at least one designated faculty coordinator for academic and administrative support. In addition, faculty advisors assist Fellows in pursuing balanced academic and professional programs. Even though Fellows will spend time in an academic setting and are able to take classes at a U.S. university, the Humphrey program is classified as a non-degree program by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Humphrey Fellows cannot transfer from non-degree status to degree status under any circumstances.
Professional development: This is one of the strongest features of the program. Each fellow’s professional plan may include professional visits, conferences, and a professional affiliation (work placement) of at least six weeks. Early in the academic year, each fellow develops, with assistance from the Institute of International Education (IIE), the campus coordinator, and faculty advisers, a plan for professional activities carefully geared to the fellow’s need for relevant, practical professional experiences.
English language testing (TOEFL TEST): All finalists will be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Do not register for the test before you are notified of your status. If you have taken the test in the past two years, please attach the score report. Minimum required score is 71 IBT (Internet Based Test).
Financial Provisions and dependents
The Humphrey Fellowship provides tuition and university fees, a monthly maintenance allowance, a book and supplies allowance, a computer subsidy, round-trip international travel to the host institution (and to the Fellow’s English-language training program when applicable), and domestic travel to Washington, D.C. for a special seminar. Supplementary funds are available for professional activities such as field trips or attendance at conferences. Humphrey Fellowships are not renewable.
Humphrey Fellowships do not include funds for dependents (family members). Humphrey Fellows are responsible for providing travel, insurance, and financial support for any dependents accompanying them to the United States. Please note that English and orientation centers cannot accommodate dependents. Therefore, dependents should not arrive in the United States until the Fellows are settled in their academic-year programs and have secured housing (at least 30 days after the Fellow’s arrival).
You may interact with current Fellows and alumni and learn more about the program through our social media posts. The Humphrey Fellowship Program is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and website: https://www.humphreyfellowship.org/
For additional information, please contact:
Gazmend Ilazi
Exchanges and Alumni Coordinator
Public Affairs Office
e-mail: ilazig@state.gov
Phone: 389-2-310 2099
