Fulbright Scholar Award

All Disciplines

Bolivia

Application Deadline
closed
Award Code
25196-BO
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.
Research
Research includes activities involving scientific research, qualitative research, quantitative research, and practice-based research, including artistic research. Research can take place in locations such as the laboratory, the field, the archives, or an artist residency. It can be experimental, clinical, or applied. It can include examining policies, systems, theories, methods, interactions, and works of art and music, with the objective to evaluate or develop new knowledge or works. Quantifiable (tangible) outcomes can include publications (books, journal articles, scripts, etc.), conference presentations, artistic and musical compositions, exhibitions, performances, films, and patents.
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) required
Career Profile
Artists
Awards are open to individuals who have more than seven years of experience in an artistic profession.
Early Career Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for no more than seven years.
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.
Professionals
Awards are open to individuals who have more than seven years of experience in a particular profession.
Senior Academics
Awards are open to those who have been working in the capacity of a teacher or scholar for more than 13 years.
Community College Faculty
Community College Faculty

Number of recipients

Approximately
2
Award Start Period
August 2025 - May 2026
Award Length
3 months - 6 months
Flex Option
Yes
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

Teaching and teaching/research scholars are expected to conduct seminars, advise on university curriculum, or provide other assistance as requested by the host institution. All scholars may be asked to deliver occasional public lectures.

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

Any appropriate institution of higher education.

Award Length and Period

Three to six months; For grants over three months, Scholars must apply for a Flex grant (see Flex description), unless they have dual U.S.-Bolivian citizenship.

Grants may begin in August 2025 or later.

All Scholars to Bolivia are required to attend a pre-departure orientation, which typically takes place in early to mid-July, prior to beginning their Fulbright grant.

Flex Description

U.S. citizens may enter Bolivia for a maximum of three months every 12-month period. However, you may propose a longer-term project by applying for a Flex grant. The Flex option allows grants to be conducted in two segments over two consecutive years, during the fall and/or spring semesters.

Flex grant parameters:

• Minimum length of the total grant is three months and the maximum is six months.
• Minimum length for any grant segment is two months and the maximum is three months.
• Two grant segments may take place over two consecutive years.

Alternatively, applicants may propose a three-month project, which can be conducted at one time rather than conducted as a Flex grant.

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.

Grant segments are allowed to be conducted in summer months (June, July, and August)
No
SEGMENTS MAY BE PROPOSED FOR Up to a 2 year PERIOD
2 Segments MAY BE PROPOSED
MAXIMUM LENGTH FOR ANY GRANT SEGMENT IS 3 MONTH(S)
MAXIMUM LENGTH OF THE TOTAL GRANT IS 6 MONTH(S)
MINIMUM LENGTH FOR ANY GRANT SEGMENT IS 2 MONTH(S)
MINIMUM LENGTH OF THE TOTAL GRANT IS 3 MONTH(S)
Areas of Interest

While applications in all disciplines will be considered, preference will be given to projects that fall within the Bolivia program's priority areas, which include: economic development (broad-based growth), public health, environmental issues (sustainable development and ecology), American studies, education (including curriculum reform) and rural development.

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.
Language Proficiency Requirements
Recommended (Advanced): Spanish
Required Proficiency

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.

Level of Proficiency
Advanced
Required Languages
Spanish
Additional Language Requirement

As noted above, all applicants should complete the Language Proficiency Report: Self-Evaluation and are encouraged to register qualified language evaluator to complete the Language Proficiency Report: External Evaluation. Applicants without Spanish fluency should explicitly address in their project statement the feasibility of their project without being fluent in Spanish.

Additional Qualification Information

Awards are open to faculty with a minimum of three years of experience in their field or professionals with equivalent experience. Preference will be given to those who can build and strengthen linkages between U.S. and Bolivian institutions.

Additional Comments

Dual citizens with U.S. and Bolivian citizenship may be required to enter Bolivia on their Bolivian passports. Dual citizen applicants should check with the Bolivia Embassy or Consulate for the latest guidelines.

Researcher and Professional Project Monthly Allowances
$3470
$3820
Teaching or Teaching/Research Award Monthly Allowances
$4240
$4810
Estimated Travel and Relocation Allowance for Grantee

$1,350 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.

Estimated Book and Research Allowance

$1,000 books and educational materials allowance for teaching and teaching/research grants; these materials should be donated to the host institution or other entity upon grantee's departure.

$300 - $500 research allowance for research-only grants.

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 dependent. These amounts range from $300/month to $600/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.

Estimated Cost of Living

Bolivia is often considered the least expensive country in South America. On average, the cost of living in Bolivia is about 50% lower than in the United States, while rent is, on average, 75% lower than in the United States. It is possible to find a good apartment for about $300 - $400 USD per month, depending on the city and the particular neighborhood. In terms of expenses, taxi rides are available starting at $1.50 USD, a family-sized meal is about $12 USD, and a nice bottle of locally produced table wine costs less than $3 USD.

Special Award Benefits

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.

Bolivia

What is life like for Fulbrighters in your country?

Located at the heart of South America, Bolivia is one of the most diverse nations in Latin America, with the Amazon Rainforest in the north; wine-growing regions to the south; cosmopolitan cities and ethnically diverse rural communities in the East; and the Altiplano highlands in the West famous for mountain lakes, Inca ruins, salt flats, and some of the largest indigenous-majority cities in the Western Hemisphere. Bolivia is also home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, and domestic travel infrastructure is cheap and relatively efficient. 

In the year 2025, Bolivia will celebrate the bicentennial of its independence from Spain and conduct national elections that will determine the country’s political and economic trajectory over the next five years, making this an ideal time to be in Bolivia.

The academic year runs from February to November with a break from mid-June to mid-July. Awards are open to faculty with a minimum of three years of experience in their field or professionals with equivalent experience. 

Preference will be given to those who can build and strengthen linkages between U.S. and Bolivian institutions.

Previous Fulbright Recipients

For a list of past Fulbright Scholars to Bolivia, visit the Alumni Directory here.

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