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.
Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in area of specialization, conduct independent or collaborative research, as desired and in conjunction with host institution, or a combination of both teaching and research. Thesis advising or assistance with curriculum development may also be requested, depending upon the applicant's area of expertise.
For teaching/research projects, candidates should plan a 50/50 ratio of teaching to research.
Scholars are also encouraged to engage with EducationUSA Guatemala and the Walt Whitman American Center in events such as alumni fairs and workshops.
EducationUSA Guatemala
POC: María Luisa Garnica
https://www.facebook.com/EducationUSAGuatemala
Walt Whitman American Center (WWAC)
POC: Mitchell Molina
https://www.facebook.com/wwacIGA
Open to all Guatemalan universities (public and private). Previous grantees have been hosted by Universidad de San Carlos (USAC), Del Valle University (UVG), Galileo University, and Rafael Landívar (URL) University. These universities have campuses throughout the country. Recent fellows have been hosted by URL Quetzaltenango.
Department of State Travel Advisory recommends U.S. visitors to Guatemala exercise increased caution due to crime. Based on changing circumstances, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala may advise against travel to specific areas of the country, including for Fulbright Scholars. Scholar locations and plans require approval from the Embassy before arrival in country.
3 – 6 months total for non-Flex and Flex awards. (Please see the Flex Description section for additional details on Flex award parameters.)
All grants should begin in January 2027 since the academic year in Guatemala starts in January and ends in November. Arrivals earlier than January 10 are strongly discouraged. Arrivals later than January 2027 may be considered with acceptable justification.
Note: Guatemalan universities are not accessible during the months of November and December.
For Flex grants, see Flex Option section.
All Scholars traveling to Guatemala must attend a pre-departure orientation, which typically takes place in early to mid-July in the United States prior to beginning their Fulbright grant.
Once Scholars arrive in Guatemala, the U.S. Embassy will hold an incoming briefing to address security information, points of contact, procedures in case of emergencies, among others. This briefing usually takes place in mid-January.
Flex awards are offered for teaching, teaching/research, and 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 disciplines will be accepted, though projects that connect to Mission Goals of the U.S. Embassy are especially welcome. These include improving governance, increasing economic prosperity, and enhancing citizen security.
Applicants should note Guatemalan universities are exclusively non-residential. On-campus housing is not available.
Applicants should read the information provided by the Department of State, paying particular attention to the information regarding personal safety and security in Guatemala.
U.S. Embassy Guatemala also posts updates for U.S. Citizens through social media: https://twitter.com/usembassyguate
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Invitation letters are preferred and recommended. This will ensure the host university is supportive of the scholar's project or research and facilitate teaching opportunities and access to resources. The invitation letter does not need to include specific information such as course listings or specific dates.
The Guatemalan academic year starts in January and ends in October. Guatemalan universities are generally closed during late November and December.
Applicants are encouraged to consult the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) “Can-Do Statements” to determine if they are qualified.
Applicants must 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.
Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written Spanish is required. Depending upon the project/research topic, basic knowledge of a relevant Mayan language may be useful but is not required.
Preference will be given to candidates with strong Spanish language skills.
Master's degree with at least three years of professional and teaching experience is preferred.
U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City
U.S. Department of State Guatemala Country Page
EducationUSA - Guatemala office: guatemalacity@educationusa.org
Universities:
Other Universities are Universidad Da Vinci, Universidad Rural, Universidad de Occidente, Universidad Panameriana, Universidad Mesoamericana, Universidad San Pablo, and Universidad Internaciones.
Allowances for housing may vary depending on where in Guatemala the Scholar is based. The cost of housing in Guatemala City, Antigua, and Quetzaltenango is higher than other locations in the country.
$2,650
For Flex grants: round trip travel will be included for each segment of the grant for the grantee only. Dependent travel will not be provided.
$1,000 books and educational materials allowance will be provided 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.
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.
In addition, travel allowances are provided for up to two dependents. These amounts range from $1,300 to $2,600.
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.
You may choose to use a cost-of-living calculator to do further research on the potential costs of goods and services in Guatemala.
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.
Just a few hours by plane from the United States, Guatemala is a country that boasts a multicultural population and faces daunting challenges in meeting development goals. Guatemala offers a stimulating and fascinating academic environment and the opportunity to influence research and academic development in a variety of fields. As professors, scholars have the opportunity to impact the next generation of Guatemala's leaders; as researchers, scholars have the opportunity to lay foundations for continued growth in specific areas and more generally as Guatemala continues to reach its full potential.
The objectives of the Fulbright Scholar Program in Guatemala are to support collaborative research in the sciences, social sciences and humanities; strengthen Guatemalan graduate education; and contribute to the establishment of broader and longer term U.S.-Guatemalan academic linkages in the areas of increased prosperity, effective governance and improved security. Proposals in all disciplines will be considered but proposals that specifically describe support for the above objectives will be given preference.
Awards are open to faculty with three years of experience in the field or professionals with equivalent experience. Preference will be given to those who can build and strengthen collaborative and sustainable linkages between U.S. and Guatemalan institutions.
During the academic year (January-November with breaks in December and June), grantees are generally expected to conduct seminars, advise students, participate in conferences, give public lectures and engage in research. The Embassy will assist grantees to find opportunities for public engagement as appropriate. Short-term flex grants for teaching, research or teaching/research, for one-to-three month segments over one or two consecutive years, are available for applicants.
As of July 2023, Guatemala has a travel alert Level 3: Reconsider Travel. "Reconsider travel to Guatemala due to crime. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Information available here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Guatemala.html.
It is highly recommended that you review carefully the full Travel Advisory (see link above), as it includes links to CDC and other websites which will provide the most up-to-date information regarding health concerns should they arise.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Candidates should endeavor to establish contact with a host institution in Guatemala before applying.
The institutions listed below have expressed their interest in hosting U.S. Fulbright Scholars:
Universidad Galileo
José Ramírez (Fulbright Alumni)
joser@galileo.edu
Universidad del Istmo (UNIS)
Vanessa de Martínez
Directora de Dociencia y Relaciones Internacionales
abatres@unis.edu.gt
Universidad Rafael Landívar
Licda Rosa Catalina López.
Coordinadora General de Movilidad Estudiantil.
rclopez@url.edu.gt
Universidad de Occidente (UdeO) based in Quetzaltenango
Víctor Manuel Rosal González
Director General
victorrosal@udeo.edu.gt
Universidad de San Carlos (USAC)
Applicants should contact faculty members directly.
Universidad del Valle
Lorena Flores Moscoso
Dirección de Vinculación
Coordinación de Internacionalización
oflores@uvg.edu.gt
Da Vinci University
Jacobo Nietsch
Jnitsch@udv.edu.gt
T. +502 5630 9804
Other universities in country:
*This list is not exhaustive.
Housing
Guatemala City is divided into zones. For security reasons, the recommended zones for Scholars are 10, 14, 15, and 16. Scholars should consider preferences according to the location of the host institution because travel between zones can be time-consuming, costly, and difficult. The U.S. Embassy recommends strongly that Scholars do not use mass public transportation (buses). There are reliable rideshare services; the Embassy can provide more details. Please note that accommodation-hosting online services are also working currently in Guatemala City, Cobán, and Antigua, but not in smaller cities.