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.
This award is for a pre-arranged affiliation with the University of Guyana. The type of activity will depend on the field, as outlined below:
Teach courses at the undergraduate or graduate level under the teaching only option or teach and conduct collaborative or independent research.
For teaching/research projects, candidates should plan a 50/50 ratio of teaching to research. Thesis advising or assistance with curriculum development may also be requested, depending upon the scholar's area of expertise.
For the teaching only award, the expected hours of commitment is 15 hours per week.
Scholars may affiliate with the University of Guyana, Turkeyen, or Berbice Campus.
Four months.
Grants may begin in August 2026 or January 2027. In Guyana, the academic calendar year is broken into two semesters: September to December and January to May.
All Scholars to Guyana are required to attend a pre-departure orientation, which typically takes place in early to mid-July, prior to beginning their Fulbright grant.
Disciplines
Agriculture
Computer Science/Information Science
Engineering
Environmental Sciences
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Strategic Security and Human Resiliency
Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry: soil science, biometrics, forest protection, forest management, geographic information systems, geoinformatics.
Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences: environmental management, conservation biology, sustainable utilization of biodiversity, and environmental technology.
Faculty of Engineering and Technology: geographic information systems, petroleum geology.
Faculty of Natural Sciences: biology, forest biology, computer science/information
Institute of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IRIE): establishing, accelerating, and scaling up businesses; works on protection, patents and intellectual property for UG-centered inventions.
The University of Guyana will integrate the scholar into the university and faculty and will provide an office space for the scholar.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
Requests for a letter of invitation should be directed to:
Dr. Mellissa Ifill - Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Institutional Advancements, copied to: Professor Paloma Mohamed Vice-Chancellor - University of Guyana and Dr. Emanuel Cummings, Deputy Vice Chancellor - Academic Engagement
Applicants with a Ph.D. and/or three years of teaching experience are preferred.
Website: University of Guyana
Applicants are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Mellissa Ifill - Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Institutional Advancements, University of Guyana to discuss their project idea.
$4,150
$1,000 books and educational materials allowance; these materials should be donated to the host institution or other entity upon scholar'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 $500/month to $800/month.
In addition, travel allowances are provided for up to two dependents, ranging from $2,800 for one dependent to $5,600 for two or more dependents.
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.
Housing and living allowances provided are based on the prevailing cost of living in Guyana. You may choose to use a cost-of-living calculator to further investigate the potential costs of goods and services.
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.
Situated on the northern coast of South America, Guyana is the only country in South America where English is the official language.
It is bordered by Venezuela to the west, Suriname to the east, Brazil to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. Guyana is home to one of the world's most beautiful and untouched landscapes and ecosystems. Guyana boasts an irresistible combination of fascinating and breathtaking natural beauty: pristine Amazonian rainforests, immense waterfalls and amazing wildlife. It is also home to a vibrant and diverse culture, rich heritage and the most hospitable and friendly people you will ever meet. Despite its geographic location in South America, Guyana is considered a Caribbean country due to its political and cultural history. Guyana is roughly the size of Idaho but with a small population of nearly 800,000, 70 percent of whom live on the narrow coastal plain.
Guyana boasts many natural resources including oil and gold. The country is rich in arable land and seeks to diversify its economy with growing agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Guyana registered a GDP growth rate of 33 percent in 2023, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the world and poised for strong economic growth over the next decade as the country is set to become the Western Hemisphere's second or third largest oil producer over the next 20-40 years.
Applicants to Guyana will have the opportunity to participate and contribute toward Guyana’s educational advancement as part of its transformational change.
As you prepare your Fulbright application, we encourage you to read the information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Established in 1963, the University of Guyana is the major university that operates on two campuses, Turkeyen (Demerara) and Tain (Berbice). The University offers certificate, diploma, associate degree, undergraduate degree, graduate (post-graduate) degree, and professional degree programs. As of 2022, the Turkeyen Campus had an enrollment of approximately 8,600 students who are pursuing more than 120 undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The university is eager to benefit from curriculum development, knowledge exchange and research collaboration.
The university’s role and place as a major development partner and its achievements are highly recognized and honored locally, regionally and internationally. The University of Guyana has produced upwards of 50,000 graduates in its 60-year existence, many of whom have gone on to serve at the highest levels in both the private and public sectors nationally and internationally.
The academic year at the University of Guyana is broken into two semesters that run from August to December and mid-January to July. Applicants for teaching and teaching/research awards should be available for one academic semester.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Applicants seeking contacts in Guyana may contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy. Please direct inquiries to Aretha Majeed, Public Affairs Assistant.