The Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program offers mid-career professionals from specific countries the opportunity to spend a year in the United States. This initiative focuses on non-degree graduate-level study, leadership development, and professional collaboration with U.S. counterparts.
The program is divided into two main components: academic study and leadership/professional development. Fellows engage in tailored study programs at selected host institutions across approximately 13 U.S. campuses. These programs allow for self-directed learning without the constraints of a degree program. Leadership and professional development include activities such as professional visits, skills workshops, conferences, training programs, and professional affiliations lasting at least six weeks. Each Fellow collaborates with local campus coordinators and faculty advisors to develop a plan of practical professional activities aligned with their program objectives.
It is important to note that participation in the Humphrey Fellowship Program does not result in obtaining a Master’s degree. The program is strictly for professional development purposes.
Fields of study under this fellowship include economic policy and finance, public policy analysis and public administration, technology policy and management under human and institutional capacity; communications/journalism, law and human rights under rights and freedoms; agricultural/rural development, natural resources/environmental policy, urban/regional planning under sustainable lands; public health policy/management, substance abuse education/policy, educational administration/planning/policy under thriving communities.
Eligibility requirements specify that applicants must be Malawian citizens or permanent residents eligible for a valid passport issued by Malawi. They should have an undergraduate or advanced degree along with at least five years of substantial professional experience in Malawi relevant to their field of specialization. Applicants are expected to have demonstrated leadership qualities and a record of public service while having little or no prior experience studying or working in the U.S., with preference given to those who have not studied overseas in the last five years.
Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are currently open until June 30, 2025. All applications must be submitted online through https://apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey.
For more information about the fields of study available within this fellowship program or further details about eligibility criteria, interested individuals can visit https://www.humphreyfellowship.org/frequently-asked-questions.