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.
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.
Any appropriate institution of higher education.
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.
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.
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).
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 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.
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.
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.
Applicants without contacts in Bolivia may contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance with affiliation. Inquiries may be directed to Marcelo R. Saldaña (SaldanaMR@state.gov)
$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.
$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.
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. Dependent travel will not be provided for Flex scholars.
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.
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. Rent has traditionally been negotiated in dollars but may be paid in bolivianos (with careful attention to the negotiated exchange rate).
Information on the following website can help scholars figure out the cost of living, meals, and incidentals in different capital cities in Bolivia. Please note that there can be significant differences between large cities and smaller towns: https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/country/bolivia?currency=USD
Since 2022 through the end of 2024, the official exchange rate has remained stable at approximately 1 USD for 7 Bolivianos, while this may change in 2025 it is important to mention that inflation has made goods and services more expensive, and this trend will most likely continue in the upcoming months.
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.
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 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 a fascinating time to be a scholar 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.
U.S. Student 2024 Douglas Gurdak, Sucre - Bolivia
“My experience as a grantee in the Fulbright US Student Program in Bolivia exceeded my expectations. I had the amazing opportunity to work alongside faculty in the Instituto Chuquisaqueño de Oncología where I gained a deeper insight into the public cancer care system in Sucre, Bolivia. Not only did I have the opportunity to assist with organization and centralization of breast cancer patient records, but I got to learn first-hand from their breast cancer care team about both the challenges and benefits of practicing in the public sector. From a cultural standpoint, I met many lifelong friends from a variety of backgrounds with whom I had the chance to try a plethora of national dishes and attended many local festivals, including the famous entrada de la Virgen de Guadalupe. In my free time I likewise had the opportunity to attend events hosted by a youth-focused political organization that inspires young Bolivians to become more involved in politics and activism. From research to food to lifelong friends, my Fulbright Bolivia Experience was one that not only awarded me crucial professional and academic development but significantly deepened my cultural insight into the politics and experiences of Bolivia”
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.
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.