Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program (Kazakhstan)

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, a Fulbright exchange, enhances leadership among international professionals who collaborate to address local and global challenges and foster changes for the collective good.

Through academic study and professional development with U.S. counterparts, this growing global network shares best practices and builds expertise in fields of critical importance to advance societal and institutional capacity, promote human rights and freedoms, ensure sustainable environments, and develop thriving communities.

This ten-month Fellowship program is offered to mid-career professionals who have a proven track record of leadership, a public service commitment, and the capacity to take full advantage of a self-defined program of independent non-degree study at a leading U.S. university.

The Humphrey Fellowship Program provides current and future international leaders with professional collaboration, a personalized academic experience, and leadership development, while building lasting, productive ties in critical fields between Americans and their professional counterparts overseas.

Professional Fields

• Human and Institutional Capacity:
  • Economic Development
  • Finance & Banking
  • Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration
  • Technology Policy and Management
• Rights and Freedoms:
  • Communications and Journalism
  • Law and Human Rights
• Sustainable Lands:
  • Agricultural and Rural Development
  • Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, and Climate Change
  • Urban and Regional Planning
• Thriving Communities:
  • Educational Administration, Planning, and Policy
  • Public Health Policy and Management
  • Substance Abuse Education, Treatment and Prevention

Costs Covered

• The Humphrey Fellowship provides international travel, tuition and university fees, English language training, if needed, accident/sickness coverage, monthly maintenance allowance and funding for books and professional activities.
• The Humphrey Program does not provide financial support for accompanying dependents.

Eligibility Criteria

• Be young and mid-career professionals in leadership positions with a strong commitment to public service, leadership ability, communication skills, motivation, resourcefulness, and adaptability to new or challenging environments, interpersonal skills, potential for growth, and short- and long-term professional goals;
• Have a first university degree (equivalent of a 4-year bachelor’s or undergraduate degree);
• Have at least five years of full-time professional experience beyond attainment of a first university/undergraduate degree prior to August 2025;
• Not be university teachers or academic researchers with no management responsibilities (except in the fields of Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, and Treatment);
• Not have attended a graduate school in the United States for one academic year or more;
• Have not participated in U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs within the last three years prior to the submission of their application;
• Be a citizen of Kazakhstan and not have a permanent resident status in another country;
• Proficient in both written and spoken English and have a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 71. Please note, when submitting the application, TOEFL iBT test is not required. Only candidates, who pass interview successfully will be invited to take the TOEFL iBT test at no cost.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status;
• Applicants who are not qualified to hold a valid passport as a citizen, national, or permanent resident in Kazakhstan;
• Local employees of U.S. Missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State, or the U.S. Agency for International Development, including temporary employees and contractors, and members of their families as well as individuals who work for or are otherwise associated with an organization that is responsible for nominating or selecting individuals for participation in any ECA exchange program.

Application Requirements

• Candidates must submit a complete application including:
  • Complete answers to all questions; essay responses must be in English and thoroughly address the prompts;
  • Two letters of reference in English; one must be from the applicant’s current employer;
  • Official transcripts in English; Ensure all uploaded transcripts are official and valid. If necessary, please provide English translation and notarized copies. Transcripts must list courses taken and grades received for undergraduate (first university or Bachelor’s) degree. Diplomas are required for all other higher education degrees (Masters and Doctoral), no transcripts are needed.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan.