All Disciplines
Botswana
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.
Applications with a strong teaching and training focus are highly encouraged, alongside applied professional projects in cybersecurity, FinTech, computing, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and business incubation.
Most TVET learners in Botswana are enrolled in certificate, diploma, and competency-based lifelong learning programs, while partner universities offer instruction from diploma through graduate level. Scholars are expected to emphasize practical, hands-on instruction, including applied laboratories, tutorials, project-based learning, and industry-relevant casework. Engagements should also support the preparation of teacher trainees and collaboration with local universities to strengthen articulated learning pathways from vocational education to higher education.
Activities may include teaching; curriculum, assessment, and evaluation design; faculty skills training; applied research supervision; program review and evaluation; and the integration of AI-enabled tools and digital technologies into instruction and institutional practice. In addition, engagements may support academic and institutional leadership development, including training for administrators on instructional leadership, accountability, quality assurance, and performance management.
Through these activities, scholars will contribute to the strengthening of Botswana’s technical and higher education institutions, promote high academic and professional standards, and demonstrate the value of U.S. expertise in applied education, innovation, and institutional excellence.
This award is open to all universities in Botswana.
Please contact FulbrightBotswana@state.gov or PDSGaborone@state.gov if you have questions about the host institutions.
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.
The U.S. Embassy in Gaborone invites outstanding American scholars and practitioners to engage with Botswana at a pivotal moment of national transformation. Scholars with expertise in sports management, creative arts, journalism/media, applied sciences, engineering and technology, renewable energy, agribusiness and food systems, and digital and advanced manufacturing are encouraged to apply.
Engagements will showcase American academic excellence, innovation, and practical problem-solving, while strengthening institutional partnerships and supporting Botswana’s efforts to modernize key economic sectors. Through teaching, research collaboration, and applied exchange, scholars will advance high-quality standards, share best practices, and demonstrate the enduring value of U.S. leadership in science, technology, and education.
This opportunity offers U.S. scholars a platform to contribute meaningfully to a trusted democratic partner, expand professional networks, and reinforce the United States’ role as a global leader in innovation, competitiveness, and knowledge-driven growth.
Community college faculty and applied scholars with strong industry engagement and hands-on teaching experience are especially encouraged to apply.
This award features a strong applied teaching focus, with engagements spanning certificate, diploma, and graduate-level instruction in priority technology and innovation fields, emphasizing hands-on learning and real-world application. Scholars will also contribute to institutional effectiveness and academic systems excellence, including curriculum design, assessment and evaluation, and leadership and accountability training for academic administrators. The award encourages the integration of AI-enabled and digital tools to strengthen instructional quality and institutional performance.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
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.
Applicants to Botho University, Faculty of Computer, may reach out to Dr. Ivy Anish, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academics) for further details via email address ivy@bothouniversity.ac.bw with copies to the PASGaborone@state.gov.
University of Botswana
Mrs. Kaboyaone Hiri-Khudu
Deputy Director, International Education and Partnerships
Tel: 267- 355-4139
Email: khuduk@mopipi.ub.bw
Botswana International University of Science and Technology: www.biust.ac.bw
U.S. Mission Gaborone: bw.usembassy.gov
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.
$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.)
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.
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
Botswana’s academic year generally follows a two-semester calendar: August to December and January to May. This schedule applies across most universities and tertiary institutions and should guide the planning of teaching, research, and engagement activities.
For scholars relocating with families, English-medium private schools are available in Gaborone for dependent children in grades K–12, including Westwood International, Maru-a-Pula, Northside Primary, Thornhill Primary, Broadhurst Primary, Rainbow International School, Al-Nur International School, Gaborone International School, Regent Hill School, and Hillcrest Preparatory. Other major towns may also offer private schooling options, though availability will vary.
All scholars — both new participants and returning Fulbright alumni — are expected to report to the U.S. Embassy prior to arrival and upon arrival in country, maintain regular contact with the Public Diplomacy Section, and provide periodic updates on their activities. While returning scholars may already be familiar with Botswana’s context, continued engagement with the Embassy remains essential. The Public Diplomacy Section has a responsibility to track program progress and impact, sustain productive relationships with host institutions, and ensure that each exchange delivers clear, mutual benefit for the scholar, the host organization, and for the people and governments of the United States and Botswana. The Embassy may also collaborate with scholars and host institutions on specific projects or public engagement activities, as appropriate, to enhance the reach and long-term value of the exchange.
Fulbright alumni are welcome to apply, provided they are not returning to the same institution with which they previously engaged. Returning scholars are strongly encouraged to reapply for new placements where appropriate, as repeat engagement supports continuity of programming, deepens institutional linkages, strengthens local capacity over time, and helps translate individual exchanges into durable partnerships between U.S. and Botswana institutions.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.