All Disciplines
Paraguay
Number of recipients
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.
Applicants may propose research projects, teaching projects, or a combination of both in any discipline. Professionals may propose a professional project.
For a combination of teaching/research projects, the recommended ratio is 60/40.
Teaching and teaching/research grantees are expected to conduct seminars (at least 2), give public lectures, and advise on university curriculum and administration.
Any appropriate institution of higher education, research center, government Institution or NGO in Paraguay.
Four to six months; for Flex grants, see Flex Option section.
Grants may begin in August 2025 or later. For Flex grants, see Flex Option section.
All Scholars to Paraguay are required to attend a pre-departure orientation, which typically takes place in mid-June, prior to beginning their Fulbright grant.
Flex awards are offered for teaching and teaching/research grants.
The Flex Award is designed for scholars who require multiple visits to the host country. This option allows grants to be conducted over two or three short segments. Applicants must select Flex in the application form, and clearly describe their plans for Flex in their project statement, including a project timeline. Flex grantees may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host-country academic community.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Applicants are encouraged to register qualified language evaluator, such as a language instructor or a translator, to conduct the external assessment in the application. Being a native speaker alone does not qualify an individual to conduct the assessment.
Applicants who are native speakers do not need to complete an external evaluation.
Guarani is required if necessary for research projects.
It is recommended that, if the host institution accepts a grantee with lower language proficiency, that institution be prepared to find and fund an interpreter.
Ph.D. is preferred, but professional candidates with a minimum of seven years of experience will be considered.
Applicants seeking assistance with local contacts may contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion. Inquiries may be directed to Sergio Jimenez.
$850, in addition to round-trip airfare coordinated through travel agency GBT.
For Flex grants, round-trip travel will be included for each segment of the grant for the scholar only. Dependent travel will not be provided for Flex scholars.
$1,000 books and educational materials allowance; these materials should be donated to the host institution or other entity upon grantee's departure.
$300 - $500 research allowance for research-only grants and professional project grants.
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.
Round-trip airfare is also provided for up to two eligible dependents and is coordinated through travel agency GBT.
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.
During their grant period, Fulbright U.S. Scholars in the Western Hemisphere (WHA) region may apply for a short-term regional travel grant for activities such as workshops, seminars, presentations, lectures, performances, exhibits, curricular advising and similar projects at institutions in eligible WHA countries. (Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Uruguay).
The Regional Travel Program covers travel to and from the destination; lodging may be offered by the host institution. Scholars may only apply for this grant once they are in country on their Fulbright grant. Scholars who apply for the Flex award are ineligible for the Regional Travel Program. Additional information can be found on the Regional Travel Program website.
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.
Paraguay
In the Heart of South America
Due to its location, Paraguay is known as the heart of South America, a landlocked country surrounded by Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia. Paraguay is home to about 6 million people. where almost a third of the population lives and works in the metropolitan area around the capital city Asuncion.
Most Paraguayans speak two languages: Spanish and Guarani, an indigenous language. Culture revolves around family and simple pleasures. Tourism is small but steadily growing and centered on its rich natural landscape.
Demographics
Paraguay's population is distributed unevenly throughout the country. Most people live in the eastern region, most within 160 kilometers (99 mi) of Asunción, the capital and largest city. The Gran Chaco in the north-west, which accounts for about 60% of Paraguayan territory, is home to less than 2% of the population.
Ethnically, culturally, and socially, Paraguay has one of the most homogeneous populations in South America. About 75% of the people are mestizo (mixed Spanish and Guaraní Native descent), 20% are Caucasian, and the rest are small minorities of Indigenous or Afro Paraguayan origin. Little trace is left of the original Guaraní culture except the language, which is spoken by 90% of the population. About 75% of all Paraguayans also speak Spanish.
Both Guaraní and Spanish are the official languages.
Climate and Weather
Paraguay has a subtropical climate and is humid with abundant rainfall throughout the year and only moderate seasonal changes in temperature. Warmer temperatures may be expected from October to March and cooler or cold from May to August. In the transitional months of April and September, temperatures may even dip below freezing at night.
Precipitation is evenly distributed across the eastern region. Although local meteorological conditions play a contributing role, rain usually falls in dominant tropical air masses. The least rain falls in August, when averages in various parts of the region range from 100 millimeters (3.9 in) to 200 millimeters (7.9 in). The two periods of maximum precipitation are March through May and October to November, when rainstorms and severe weather conditions may occur.
Housing
Founded on August 15, 1537, Asuncion—which was once the capital of the colonial River Plata Viceroyalty—is one of the oldest cities in the Americas. Modern hotels and office buildings are springing up beside weathered structures of an earlier age in Asuncion's downtown shopping and business area. With profuse, colorful, year-round blossoms in residential gardens and along tree-lined avenues, Asuncion retains a quiet charm but is slowly modernizing and growing upwards. All neighborhoods have large supermarkets nearby, as well as American-style shopping malls, movie theaters and shops. More and more quality restaurants are opening throughout the city. There are several large parks spread throughout central Asuncion.
Tereré
One thing that defines Paraguay’s social behavior is the Tereré, an infusion made by steeping yerba mate – dried leaves – in ice cold water. To be offered a round of Tereré is a sign of social acceptance. Having more than one Tereré set is very common in every Paraguayan home, as people can take them everywhere. Paraguayans can be seen drinking Tereré in every public place imaginable. It is the most typical sight in the country.
Academic Year
The academic year runs from March to December, with only two-week breaks between semesters (usually in June/July).
Useful Telephone Information
Country Code: +595
Asunción City Code: 21
Cell phone numbers are ten-digit numbers that always begin with 09 – e.g. 0981 123 456.
Landlines are advertised two different ways as a 6- or 7-digit number, or include area code 021 before the 6- or 7-digit number – e.g. 607 930 or (021) 607 930
Click here to view a list of Fulbright alumni to Paraguay.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Candidates may be invited to participate in a virtual interview as part of the host country review process.