All Disciplines
Kyrgyz Republic
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.
Depending on their specialization, scholars may conduct research in addition to teaching, teach up to three courses, consult on curriculum development, advise students, participate in faculty development, and give occasional lectures at other institutions or for the public.
Applicants are welcome to propose any appropriate institution, but they should remain flexible depending on need and local capacity. The U.S. Embassy's Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) will ultimately place scholars.
Applicants can apply to spend from five to ten months in the Kyrgyz Republic.
One-semester grants may begin in September 2027 or January 2028. Two-semester grants must begin in September 2027.
We seek applications in all disciplines, from the humanities to the hard sciences, from early- through late-career scholars and researchers. However, the Kyrgyz Republic's unique history, location, and landscape make it especially suited to projects in the following areas:
- High school and university educators are highly motivated and interested in improving English-language and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, as well as education for students with disabilities. We welcome teaching projects in these areas.
- We strongly encourage projects on IT; mineral resources extraction, processing, and transportation; water use; agriculture; engineering; disaster response; energy; and health.
- Home to Dungan, Uyghur, and other ethnic minority groups, the Kyrgyz Republic is an excellent place to study the languages, cultures, histories, and communities of this multi-ethnic country.
- The country's well-educated and growing middle class is pursuing careers in the knowledge economy - computer programming, IT, ecommerce, graphic design, filmmaking, fashion, engineering, architecture, urban planning, and tourism. We strongly encourage proposals that include a teaching component on one or more of these subjects, as well as projects generally focused on all aspects of economic development.
- We also appreciate proposals specific to the Kyrgyz Republic's history, international relations, government, literature, arts, and society.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
The U.S. Embassy's Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) will make institutional assignments based on the best and most appropriate match between the expertise of the grantees and the needs of prospective host institutions. An invitation letter may help facilitate placement at that institution, but is not a guarantee of final placement. PDS will decide on the final affiliation. Local institutions must have the capacity to support the work visa of the applicant, which can be administratively cumbersome.
All teaching will be in English; proficiency in a local language is preferred, but not required. Host universities will assist in supplying interpreters if needed.
Ph.D. or terminal degree preferred, but not required. Applications from early and mid-career academics with at least three years of university-level teaching experience, faculty from community colleges and four-year colleges as well as senior academics, scholars, and retired faculty are welcome. Candidates expecting to teach at the university level should bring an original or certified copy of their diploma.
You may be asked to participate in an interview as part of the in-country selection process.
Candidates should be flexible with either early or late timing for the interview due to 11-12 hours of time difference between USA and Kyrgyz Republic. Interviews will be conducted by video call, with cameras on.
List of universities in Kyrgyzstan
Potential candidates with country-specific questions are welcome to contact the U.S. Embassy's PAS team at phone number +996-312-597000:
Jeff Bunting (BuntingJS@state.gov), Cultural Affairs Officer: Ext. 7410
Gulzat Kochorova (KochorovaGT@state.gov), Cultural Affairs Assistant: Ext. 7398
For program information and application guidance, please view our schedule of webinars for the current competition.
Stipends are calculated within this range based on a number of factors including a participant’s grant activity, location in the host country, number of dependents, and home institution position.
Round-trip, Fly America Act compliant international travel for the grantee will be arranged by an agency designated by IIE.
Additional Travel and Relocation Allowances: $3,250
$1,500 Book and educational materials allowance for Teaching Awards. All materials purchased with the allowance are expected to be donated to the host institution (or other in-country entity) upon grantee's departure.
$1,000 research allowance for 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 $230/month to $530/month.
Travel allowances are provided for up to two dependents.
A dependent education reimbursement allowance is provided ranging from up to $6,000 to up to $24,000 depending on the number of dependents and length of the grant. Reimbursement is based on actual cost of tuition and fees only, and is dependent on funding availability.
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.
Apartments in Bishkek can be rented from $550 to $1000 per month depending on the city area, building type (old/new), renovation and furniture. In other regions rent cost is either the same or less. Utilities should not go over $50 in winter, when heating is added.
Lunch and/or dinner at café/restaurant can vary from $6 (500 som/local currency) to $20 depending on the place. In other regions cafes and restaurants cost is either the same or less.
Taxi cost from $2 to $7 depending on distance but should not cost more than $10 within Bishkek city. In other regions taxi costs are either the same or less.
Groceries would cost around $200-$300 per month per person. In other regions grocery cost is either the same or less but may have less variety of foods and products.
South and Central Asia Fulbright Regional Travel Grant
With additional funding provided by the United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, during their grant period, Fulbright Scholars in the South and Central Asia (SCA) region may apply for a regional travel grant to engage in a variety of activities at academic institutions or non-profit organizations in eligible SCA countries (Bangladesh, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). Activities that U.S Scholars may engage in include: faculty and student lectures, graduate or faculty seminars, conferences, curriculum development, public lectures, panel presentations, needs assessment, or some combination thereof. Scholars in the arts may be invited to give master classes or recitals, participate in exhibitions or workshops, or consult with cultural institutions. Activities may not include research. This grant will cover travel to and from the destination and lodging may be offered by the hosting institution. Scholars may only apply for this grant once they are in country on their Fulbright grant, and as funds are limited, may only participate in one Regional Travel Grant during their Fulbright grant.
Before traveling to another country on a Regional Travel Grant, it is important to confirm trip details with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section or Fulbright Commission in that country.
South and Central Asia Fulbright Conference
The South and Central Asia (SCA) Fulbright Conference brings together Fulbright U.S. Scholars and U.S. Student Researchers to discuss each other’s work, network, and share their experiences as international exchange participants. Funding for the conference is provided by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The conference is typically held within the SCA region in February or March, and financial assistance to attend is provided. To be eligible, participants must be on their Fulbright grants at the time of the conference. Please note that conference plans are subject to change depending on programmatic or regional considerations.
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.
Kyrgyz Republic
Natural, cultural, and culinary wonders await you in the Kyrgyz Republic!
The Kyrgyz Republic, sometimes called the "Switzerland of Asia," boasts unparalleled natural beauty, fresh produce and dairy, and a warm and welcoming culture. With highly motivated students and enthusiastic faculty, it is an ideal country to spend a year teaching and researching. The country hosts relatively few Americans, making our Fulbrighters instant family among their colleagues and students. Our U.S. participants regularly give lectures and trainings across the country at the American Spaces and other universities and collaborate with their Kyrgyzstani counterparts. They also receive invitations from students and faculty to attend local holiday celebrations and weddings - unforgettable experiences with festive food and dancing.
Kyrgyzstani citizens have worked to build an open and democratic society in the heart of Central Asia, although there has been some backsliding and shrinking civil space in recent years. Slightly smaller than South Dakota, the Kyrgyz Republic borders China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The country is known for its unique felt crafts, traditional oral legends, its postcard perfect mountains, the world’s largest natural-growth walnut forest, and endangered species, including the snow leopard and Marco Polo sheep.
In their free-time, our Fulbrighters take advantage of accessible hiking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, skiing, horseback riding, ice skating, camping, birdwatching, and swimming on the pristine Lake Issyk-Kul. Fulbrighters also enjoy attending nomadic sports matches, concerts featuring traditional Kyrgyz instruments, recitations of the epic "Manas" poem, traditional Turkish and Russian spas, and cooking and felting classes. Many take Kyrgyz or Russian lessons as well! From fresh baked naan bread and pastries at the bazaar, to excellent and inexpensive international and national restaurants (Kyrgyz, Georgian, Italian, American, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, etc.), the country's culinary offerings cater to every palate. You won't go hungry! Fulbrighters generally rent apartments (both new builds and Soviet-era units) within walking, bus, or biking distance of their host institutions. And, on winter break, our participants have traveled to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to see historic silk road sites.
Potential Fulbrighters should know that some dietary preferences or restrictions may be hard to accommodate. Furthermore, the Kyrgyz Republic is not as racially diverse as the United States, so Kyrgyzstanis may demonstrate curiosity beyond what is normal for an American. There have been instances of racial tension against people of South Asian heritage, but these are very rare, and the State Department rates the Kyrgyz Republic low for the threat of crime.
The U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic's Public Diplomacy Section supports scholars on every step of their Fulbright journey - from detailed pre-departure and in-country orientations to coordination with host institution counterparts on housing, teaching, and visa issues. We are committed to helping you take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Monica Edward Morgan, 2024-2025 Fulbright Scholar (monica.zhang@utexas.edu), English Language Professor, taught English at the International University of Central Asia in 2024-2025 as a Fulbright Scholar, and in Osh State University in 2025-2026 as an English Language Fellow.
Cynthia Wagner, 2025-2026 Fulbright Scholar (cwagner@umbc.edu), Microbiology Professor, taught Microbiology and conducted a research on "Searching for new antimicrobials in the soil of Kyrgyzstan" at Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University in 2025-2026 as a Fulbright Scholar.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
The host institution will provide assistance in finding housing. Additionally, there are a number of resources the U.S. Embassy's Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) can provide that advertise adequate housing for rent.