The Embassy of the United States of America is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 Fulbright Foreign Student Program. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is a one to two-year degree program for young professionals and university graduates interested in pursuing a master’s degree in the United States. Fellowships are awarded competitively to candidates who best demonstrate a commitment to service in public and/or private sectors and the potential to influence the future of Albania.
Program Fields
Applications are open to all fields of study. Please select the most appropriate major academic discipline and primary specialization from the drop list in the application form.
Pursuant to the September 25, 2019 Memorandum of Understanding on the Fulbright Academic Exchange Program, applications in the following study programs will be considered for Fulbright scholarships funded by the Government of Albania:
- Education
- Engineering
- Natural Sciences
- History
- Linguistics
- Computer Science/IT
- Public Administration
Note: Per J-1 visa regulations, applicants interested in medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacology or other clinical fields of study, should be aware that direct patient care, including animal care, is not permitted, and therefore academic coursework and/or program activities at participating U.S. institutions may be limited.
Duration of Grant
The Fellowship is generally awarded for one or two academic years at a university in the United States to pursue a masters’ degree. Fellows are required to return to Albania for at least two (2) years at the conclusion of their fellowship. Family members may be eligible to accompany fellows on a case-by-case basis. They are also subject to the 2-year home residency rule.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be citizens of the Republic of Albania.
- Applicants must hold a Bachelor degree requiring at least four years of full-time study (or three + one, three + two in the Bologna system);
- Applicants must have a minimum of two years of professional experience in the field of study and demonstrate leadership ability
- Applicants must be proficient in oral and written English (equivalent to B2 level; TOEFL test scores are not required at the time of application.)
- Applicants must be eligible for a J-1 visa.
- Applicants must receive a satisfactory medical clearance.
Note: Individuals who fall under one of the following categories: U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, immediate family members of U.S. Embassy employees or Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth staff (for the special funds), recipients of Fulbright grants within the last five years, students already registered at or attending study programs in the United States or with more than one year of previous study in the United States, individuals employed in the United States, those married to American citizens, those who have applied to immigrate or those have sought asylum in another country are not eligible to apply for the Fulbright Program.
Financial Provisions
The Fulbright 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. The Fulbright Fellowships are not renewable.
Application Procedure
All interested applicants must fill in the Fulbright Foreign Student application online. Click on 2022 Fulbright Student Program for the online application form, create an account, and then log in to start a new application. Submit the complete application forms electronically and scanned copies of all required documents no later than June 30, 2021. If you are able to submit the application and all supporting documents through the online system, you do not need to send any information through the mail.
If you are not able to submit the supporting documents online, you may send the entire package via mail; however, to be considered for the scholarship, the actual application form must still be filled out and submitted online. After you have submitted the on-line application, print a copy, add all the required documents translated and notarized, and the ink-signed signature form, and mail it to:
Fulbright Program Public Affairs Office
U.S. Embassy
Rruga Stavro Vinjau, No. 14
Tirana, Albania
A complete application includes:
- Application form (generated by the Embark system including attachments available in the system)
- Translated and notarized copies of university diploma(s) and grade transcripts from all higher educational institutions attended
- Three letters of reference
- Curriculum Vitae
- Letter from employer confirming employment
- Copy of passport bio page
- Copies of certificates from previous trainings (relevant to field of study only)
For further information, contact: Public Affairs Office, U.S. Embassy Tirana via e-mail at CultureandEducationTirana@state.gov or register here to attend a program information session by Public Affairs staff.
Please note: Applications received in the embark system after June 30, 2021, emailed as Google Docs or via We Transfer will not be accepted or considered.