Fulbright Scholar Award

All Disciplines

Botswana

Application Deadline
closed
Award Code
25033-BW
Activity Type
Professional Project
The Professional Project activity type provides professionals and artists in various fields the opportunity to interact with relevant organizations abroad to explore a topic related to their field without answering a defined research question. Professional Projects may include: professional consultations; artist residencies; visits to organizations in the applicant's field; practical experience in day-to-day operations; public lectures; mentoring; arranging exhibitions, performances or musical compilations; preparation of print materials (books, articles, or reviews); exchange of expertise with other professionals; participation in public events; or other appropriate professional activities.
Teaching
Teaching includes classroom teaching, as well as giving guest lectures, workshops, and seminars, and engaging in other related activities. Classroom teaching is typically at the undergraduate and graduate level, and courses may be designed by the scholar or prescribed by the host institution and may be taught or co-taught by the scholar. The teaching load varies by award, as well as the host institution. Scholars may also consult on building research capacity, advise graduate students, and assist with thesis advising.
Teaching/Research
A combination of teaching and research as described above. Refer to the award description for any specifications on percentages of time that should be devoted to teaching vs research.
Degree Requirements
Ph.D. (or other terminal degree) not required
Career Profile
Mid-Career Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for more than seven, and less than 13, years.
Senior Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for more than 13 years.
Professionals
Awards are open to individuals who have more than seven years of experience in a particular profession.

Number of recipients

Up To
3
Award Start Period
August 2026 - September 2026 or January 2027
Award Length
6 months - 10 months
Flex Option
No
Multi-Country/Area Award
No
Disciplines
Projects are sought in all disciplines
Scholars selected for this award can choose to
Advise and/or mentor students
Assist in faculty, curriculum, and/or program development
Conduct a research project designated by the host institution
Conduct a research project of the applicant’s choosing
Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses designated by the host institution
Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses of the applicant’s choosing
Conduct a professional and/or artistic project

In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities‎.

Award Activity

Applications that include a teaching component are highly encouraged, but professional projects are also acceptable, particularly in the fields of cybersecurity, FinTech, computing, entrepreneurship and business incubators. 

Generally speaking, scholars will teach undergraduate or graduate courses in their area of specialization; advise students and provide guidance on research techniques; develop courses and training manuals; supervise theses and dissertations. Scholars may also conduct research in their area of specialization, in combination with teaching responsibilities. Interested scholars may organize seminars or workshops focused on developing and building the capacity of faculty in their host institutions.     

For Scholars who will be hosted at Botho University's Faculty of Computing, they should prepare to teach undergraduate courses in cybersecurity or Financial Technology (FINTECH), approximately 8 hours per week. Courses will include lectures along with hands-on tutorials. The Scholar will be assigned local teaching instructors and assistants to help with the tutorials, and is expected to provide a complete guide on how labs and tutorials should be run, and provide TIs and TAs with training as necessary. The emphasis should be on practical hands-on experience. The Scholar will also be expected to co-supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students and to deliver a training in Cyber Security and/or Digital Forensics with a focus on FINTECH for faculty, and possibly other stakeholders.

The US Mission in Gaborone may ask the scholar to engage with partners of similar interests and conduct outreach to share and exchange expertise in FINTECH.

Locations
Location Selection: Applicant may propose an appropriate host
Locations Detail

This award is open to all universities in Botswana.

Please contact FulbrightBotswana@state.gov or PASGaborone@state.gov if you have questions about the host institutions.

Award Length and Period

Grants may be 6-10 months in length and start in August or September, in accordance with host institution needs. In some instances, scholars may plan to arrive in January as may be mutually agreed with the host.

Areas of Interest

The following disciplines are of special interest to the U.S. Mission in Gabarone: Democracy, Gender Equality, Water Management, Energy Resources, and Cultural Preservation. 

University of Botswana welcomes applications for HIV/AIDS related work or applicants in the following disciplines: anthropology, area studies, communications, economics, education, political science, psychology, social work, sociology, history and environmental sciences. 

University of Botho and Botswana International University of Science and Technology welcomes applications for computing/cyber security/digital forensics/FinTech.

Special Features

Scholars may also collaborate with the U.S. Mission and provide regular feedback on their activities.

All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).

Citizenship/Residency Requirement
Not applicable – all U.S. citizens are eligible to apply, regardless of dual citizenship or residency.
Invitation Requirement
A letter of invitation is required.
Invitation Requirement Additional Information

Letter from the host institution is required

Language Proficiency Requirements
None, English is sufficient
Additional Qualification Information

For academics, a PhD and more than 5 years of teaching, research, and graduate supervision is desired. For non-academics, more than eight years of professional experience within the area of specialization and some teaching experience is desired.  

You may be asked to participate in an interview as part of the in-country selection process.

Researcher and Professional Project Monthly Allowances
$5455
$6225
Teaching or Teaching/Research Award Monthly Allowances
$6225
$7215
Estimated Travel and Relocation Allowance for Grantee

Round-trip, economy-class, international travel arranged by travel agent designated by IIE, for scholar and up to two accompanying dependents. A $2,850 allowance will be provided to cover the costs associated with relocation and excess baggage.

Estimated Book and Research Allowance

$1,000 books and educational materials allowance; if possible, educational materials should be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon grantee's departure. (For Teaching and Teaching/Research awards only.) 

Do you offer additional dependent benefits
Yes

Additional living and housing allowance is provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependents. These amounts range from $200/month to $500/month. 

In addition, round-trip, economy class travel is provided for up to two dependents. 

Dependent education allowance of up to $12,500 per child or $25,000 per family for accompanying dependents in grades K-12 is reimbursed for a full academic year, upon submission of receipts, and depending on funding availability. Amount may be adjusted for shorter grant periods. Reimbursement is based on actual cost of tuition and fees only. 

Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.

Special Award Benefits

When university housing is provided to Fulbright Scholars, grantees will receive a supplemental housing allowance in lieu of a full housing allowance for refurbishments, utilities, and other miscellaneous expenses that arise. The full housing allowance will not be provided to grantees if they elect to decline on-campus or university housing.

Please refer to the figures above for an estimate of total monthly Fulbright award benefits. Benefits may include a monthly base stipend, living and housing allowances, and additional one-time allowances. Benefits may vary based on a scholar's current academic rank (or professional equivalent), the city of placement, the type of award (teaching, teaching/research, or research), and the number of and duration of stay of accompanying dependents. Research-only or Professional Project grantees receive a standard stipend that is not adjusted for academic rank. In most cases, dependent benefits will not be provided to Flex grantees, or to grantees pursuing grants less than four months (or a semester) in length.

Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State reserves the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.

Botswana

What is life like for Fulbrighters in your country?

The academic year consists of two semesters: August to December and January to May. English medium schools (otherwise referring to private schools), including Westwood International, Maru-a-Pula, Northside, Thornhill, Broadhurst Primary School, Rainbow International School, Al-Nur International School, Gaborone International School, Regent Hill School, and Hillcrest are available in Gaborone for dependent children in grades K-12 who accompany the Scholar. Other towns may have private schools as well.

All scholars in the country are expected to report prior and upon arrival, and keep in regular contact with the U.S. Embassy and report on their activities. The Embassy may collaborate with the scholars and their hosts on specific project, as needed.

Previous Fulbright Recipients

Fulbright alumni are welcome to apply as long as they are not returning to the same institutions they worked with before.

Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.