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; conduct research; or teach and conduct research. Consult on curriculum, program, and faculty development. Conduct guest lectures, seminars, and workshops. For combined teaching/research grants, the scholar would be expected to teach 50% of their time - which translates into one course per semester, in addition to part-time research. For teaching-only grants, the host institution expects the scholar to teach two courses per semester.
Applicant may indicate a preferred host institution and refer in the project statement to the reasons for this preference, citing previous communication with, or knowledge of, the desired host institution in Egypt. If no host is identified by the applicant, the Fulbright Commission in Egypt will identify a suitable host institution for the scholar. Final affiliation will be confirmed by the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt.
Three to nine months. Grants must begin after September 1, 2026. For teaching grants, dates must comply with the host institution's academic calendar.
Teaching grants are for 4 or 9 months. Academic year-long teaching grants must start at the onset of the Fall semester in late September. Semester-long teaching grants must start at the onset of the Fall semester in late September or at the onset of the Spring semester in early February.
During their grant period, Fulbright U.S. Scholars in the Middle East and North Africa region may apply for a short-term regional travel grant (three to fourteen days) for participation in a variety of activities including faculty and student lectures, graduate or faculty seminars, curriculum development, public lectures, panel presentations, needs assessment, conferences, or some combination thereof. Scholars who apply for the Flex award are ineligible for the Regional Travel Program.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
The Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt seeks and confirms all affiliations for Fulbright U.S. Scholars at Egyptian institutions following receipt of host country project clearances for shortlisted candidates. A letter of invitation is not required during the application stage.
All teaching will be in English; additional language proficiency is not required for teaching grants.
For research grants, Arabic or other applicable language proficiency sufficient to complete the research project is required; applicants must complete the language proficiency evaluation. For applicants without Arabic or other applicable language proficiency, feasibility of conducting research in English must be demonstrated in the proposal.
Senior scholar (Associate Professor or higher) who currently holds a leadership position at their home institution and who has a proven research record evident in recent publications in the last three to five years.
You may be asked to participate in an interview as part of the in-country selection process.
Monthly base stipend of $6,000 with an additional living allowance of $500 per month.
Fulbright Scholars do not need to use their stipend to cover housing, as housing and a limited amount for utilities is covered separately as a special award benefit (See Special Award Benefits). Therefore, the allowance package offered by the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt is considered significantly higher than the cost of living in Egypt.
International travel and relocation allowance for grantee is provided.
The monthly maintenance allowance increases by $100 per dependent, for a maximum of two accompanying dependents. Supplemental dependent allowances are payable only for days spent in country and are meant to defray the costs of living in Egypt.
International travel allowance is provided for up to one accompanying dependent.
Dependent tuition allowance for accompanying dependents in grades K-12 is provided on a reimbursement basis upon submission of receipts. Reimbursement is based on actual cost of tuition and fees only and may be for a maximum of $10,000 per child or $20,000 per family for up to two children, or its equivalent in EGP, for a full academic year. Amount is prorated for shorter grant periods.
American grantees usually enroll their children at international American or British schools. There are several such schools in Cairo which have websites that include information about the school, how to apply, as well as contact information. Additional information on international schools in Egypt can be found here. Parents should feel free to contact the schools directly for information and arrangements.
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.
The Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt offers competitive packages, while the cost of living in Egypt is reasonable by both global and regional standards.
Housing: Accommodation (inclusive of a modest amount to partially cover utilities) is arranged by the Commission in Egypt and covered as a separate award benefit. Scholars do not need to use their stipends to defray the cost of renting accommodations, as housing is prearranged for them by the Fulbright Commission in Egypt.
Food, Drink, and Household Products: Both small and large chain supermarkets are available throughout Cairo. They sell groceries, meat and poultry, and household items of local and several international brands. Organic produce is also available. 1kg of imported bananas costs around $3.5; 1kg of fresh meat costs around $15; a loaf of bread costs around $1.1; and 1.5L of bottled water costs around $0.3. A cappuccino costs around $3.5. The cost of eating out is a little more expensive, with prices ranging from $15-$40 per person depending on the restaurant and choice of cuisine.
Transportation: On-demand taxi apps such as Uber are readily available in Egypt and an inexpensive mode of transportation. Payment options include credit card. The average cost for a 15km Uber trip in Cairo is around $5-$10 depending on traffic.
Housing is provided separately as a special award benefit.
A one-time professional allowance of $1,400 is provided for grants of four months or more. For grants of fewer than four months, scholars receive a one-time professional allowance of $820.
Limited funds are available for scholars whose research will require supplemental Arabic language study while in country. Justification statement and plan of study must be submitted, pending availability of funds and approval of proposal. Payment will be in EGP against original receipts.
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 and the Fulbright Commission in the host country reserve the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
To learn more about Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards in Egypt for 2026-2027, please view our archived webinar and slides to hear directly from the Fulbright Commission, IIE staff, and U.S. Scholar alums regarding award details, the scholar experience, and application guidance.
The goal of the Fulbright Program in Egypt is to ensure that scholars have a deeply enriching and productive experience, academically and culturally, and to promote mutual understanding between Egypt and the United States.
Egypt is a country with a rich history, a beautiful and diverse topography, and a robust and nuanced cultural context. Egypt is known for its bustling capital, its rapidly growing population, and its unique role in the region. The cultural scene continues to develop with new additions, such as the Museum of Egyptian Civilization, which opened in 2021, and the Grand Egyptian Museum that is currently under construction. As a destination, Egypt offers a chance for Americans to participate in diverse cultural opportunities while experiencing day-to-day life in present-day Cairo. American Fulbright grantees are also able to impact higher education by teaching and researching at private and public universities, creating opportunities for young students, building networks with faculty, and presenting new methods and resources to host universities.
The Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt provides substantive support through the affiliation and pre-arrival process. The Fulbright Commission will liaise with Egyptian universities on the U.S. Scholars' behalf to confirm affiliation and provide guidance regarding travel and arrival logistics. Fulbright scholars are placed at Egyptian public or private universities and research institutions. Clearance from the Government of Egypt is required for all Fulbright U.S. Scholar grants and must be obtained in order for award issuance. The Fulbright Commission will initiate the process on the scholar’s behalf, and the timeline is at the discretion of the Government of Egypt.
Fulbright U.S. Scholars to Egypt are placed in a dynamic context that is driven by Egypt’s 2030 strategic development plan that places primary importance on high quality education and training. In line with this strategy, the Ministry of Higher Education has undergone several initiatives to promote science, technology, and innovation, attract international students to Egypt, establish branch campuses of international universities in Egypt’s new capital city, and advance scientific research. Fulbright U.S. Scholars to Egypt will therefore experience an active and engaging higher education scene in Egypt and the Fulbright Commission wishes to expand scholarly exchange in all disciplines. In addition, the Commission has special awards in the sciences and information technology, business administration, performing arts, and multiple disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. We encourage all interested candidates to fully review the awards for opportunities specific to their fields.
Applications will be considered from qualified candidates who hold the credentials designated in each specific award description. Research and/or higher education teaching experience are required for all awards. Please review all award requirements when applying. Please note that knowledge of Arabic is not required for any award unless specifically stated. American Fulbright grantees may wish to consider taking some basic Arabic before arriving in country as it is beneficial for day-to-day social interactions. The academic year generally runs from September or early October to June. Teaching is not possible during the summer months due to the academic calendar.
A required in-country orientation is held for Fulbright grantees upon arrival in Egypt. The orientation includes information on health and safety in Egypt, day-to-day living, dependent support, and host institutions and the higher education context.
The Commission in Egypt offers a very competitive financial package against a relatively reasonable cost of living. More information is available under “Estimated Cost of Living” in the “Stipend and Benefits” section. Fulbright grantees are welcome to bring spouses and children and dependent allowances are available as part of the grant package. English-language schooling is available in-country, and the Fulbright Commission provides partial tuition assistance for qualifying dependent children. There are several international schools available in Cairo that follow the American curriculum, as well as schools that offer British, German, or French curricula. More details regarding dependent support are listed under the relevant awards. Additional information on international schools in Egypt can be found here.
Research opportunities are also available via the Middle East and North Africa Regional Research Program.
Final awards for 2026-2027 are contingent upon medical clearance, clearance by the Government of Egypt, availability of funds, availability of international travel, public health advisories, and the security situation in country.
The Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt looks forward to receiving questions from candidates for academic year 2026-2027. Please contact usteam@bfce.eun.eg.
Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt: https://fulbright-egypt.org/
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Final awards for 2026-2027 are contingent upon medical clearance, clearance by the Government of Egypt, availability of funds, availability of international travel, public health advisories, and the security situation in country.