Multiple Disciplines
Uzbekistan
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.
For teaching awards, the grantee will teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses. The number of courses will be agreed upon by the scholar and the host institution. The grantee may also be asked to assist in professional development activities for faculty, or with curriculum development for the department. For teaching/research awards, the grantee will spend 70 percent of their grant period teaching and 30 percent conducting research independently. This is subject to further discussion with the host institution. There may be opportunities for several guest lectures at other universities, including institutions in other regions of the country.
Additional important information for types of awards:
Teaching Grants:
Fulbright U.S. Scholars to Uzbekistan will be expected to teach within the framework of the country’s higher education system. This means teaching 9 classes (of 80 minutes each) per week during a semester. Each class consists of lecturing, student-faculty interaction, lab work, or other activities, for a total weekly teaching load of 12 hours in the classroom. This time does not include additional hours per week required, such as for office hours, lesson planning, attending regular faculty/staff meetings, or holding faculty workshops.
Applicants must include a breakdown of their proposed courses in their application. An example is outlined below:
· Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: eight (80 minute) classes
· Friday: one (80 minute) class
Teaching/Research Grants:
Scholars will be expected to teach 70 percent of the time, and work on personal research or projects 30 percent of the time. This means teaching 6 classes per week during a semester. Each class lasts 80 minutes and consists of lecturing, student-faculty interaction, lab work, or other activities, for a total weekly teaching load of 8 hours in the classroom. Scholars should be aware that approval for research, and access to certain facilities, libraries and archives may need additional governmental approval. Applicants should obtain as much information regarding research institutions in advance and be prepared to facilitate these permissions independently.
Applicants are welcome to propose any institution in any city of Uzbekistan. The U.S. Embassy gives preference to placing scholars in public Uzbek universities over foreign branch campuses. Please note that most placements may need to be cleared by the government of Uzbekistan.
The U.S. Embassy in Tashkent maintains good relationships with universities across the country and is willing to advise applicants about specific institutions and locations.
4 months to 10 months
An award can commence in September 2026 or February 2027. The academic year consists of two semesters. The start and end dates of each semester may vary slightly depending on the university but fall courses typically begin in early September and end by late December. The spring semester typically starts by mid-February and ends by the end of June.
While all of the disciplines above will be considered, host institutions are especially in need of geology, mining, business, and STEM fields. University faculty and higher education administrators with expertise in research and publication, curriculum development, and transition to a credit based system are highly encouraged to apply.
Higher Education Reform in Uzbekistan:
Uzbekistan has been undergoing significant reforms in its higher education system, including transitioning to a credit-based system and modernizing curricula to align with international standards. Fulbright Scholars play a key role in supporting these reforms by sharing expertise in curriculum development, research methodologies, and academic administration.
Expanding Academic Opportunities:
Uzbekistan has been actively increasing the number of public universities and expanding access to higher education. Local public universities are particularly eager to establish partnerships and collaborate with U.S. institutions. This creates opportunities for Fulbright Scholars to work with newly established institutions and contribute to shaping their academic programs and policies.
Strategic Location and Regional Influence:
Uzbekistan is a central hub in Central Asia, with a rich history as part of the Silk Road. Scholars have the opportunity to engage with a diverse cultural and academic environment while contributing to regional development and fostering cross-cultural understanding.
Focus on STEM and Applied Sciences:
Uzbekistan has prioritized STEM fields, including geology, mining, and business, to support its growing economy and natural resource management. Scholars with expertise in these areas can make a significant impact by collaborating with local institutions and training the next generation of professionals.
Cultural and Historical Richness:
Uzbekistan offers a unique cultural experience, with historic cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Scholars often have opportunities to explore these cultural treasures and incorporate them into their teaching or research.
Growing U.S.-Uzbek Relations:
The U.S. and Uzbekistan have been strengthening their bilateral relationship, particularly in education and cultural exchange. Fulbright Scholars contribute to this partnership by fostering academic collaboration and mutual understanding between the two countries.
Supportive Academic Environment:
The U.S. Embassy in Tashkent and local universities are highly supportive of Fulbright Scholars, offering guidance on placements, research opportunities, and community engagement. This ensures a smooth and productive experience for grantees.
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy will work with universities and applicants to find the best and most appropriate match between the expertise of scholars and the needs of prospective hosts.
The ability to teach in Russian or Uzbek is useful but not required. Due to a governmental and country-wide focus on improving skills in the English language, native English-speaking teachers are in high demand. More universities are beginning to offer courses in various disciplines taught in English. Graduate students and/or faculty may help interpret at some institutions, but the quality and availability of the interpreting staff may vary. Most universities have an English language faculty as well as some administrators who are proficient in English.
For teaching/research projects, language proficiency sufficient to complete the research is required. For applicants without local language proficiency, the feasibility of conducting the research must be demonstrated in the project statement.
U.S. Embassy in Tashkent - Facebook
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Applicants with country-related questions may email the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Section at TashkentFulbright@state.gov, or contact by telephone: +998-78-140-2432.
For more information on applying, including alumni perspectives, please view our webinars on Fulbright Opportunities in Central Asia.
Email the South and Central Asia Team with questions about applying.
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 are estimated at $2,500.
$1,500 books and educational materials allowance. Materials should be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon the grantee's departure.
Additional living and housing allowance is provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependents. These amounts range from $150/month to $600/month.
In addition, travel is provided for up to two dependents, arranged by an agency designated by IIE.
Up to $6,000 per child (up to two) or $12,000 per family for accompanying dependent children in grades K-12 is reimbursed for one semester, upon submission of receipts. Up to $12,000 per child (up to two) or $24,000 per family for accompanying dependent children in grades K-12 is reimbursed for two semesters, upon submission of receipts. Amount may be adjusted for shorter grant periods. Reimbursement is based on actual cost of tuition and fees only or homeschooling materials.
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.
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.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan, home to the ancient Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Tashkent, offers scholars a unique opportunity to engage with a rapidly evolving region of Central Asia. In recent years, Uzbekistan has embarked on an ambitious reform agenda aimed at fostering economic growth, social development, and international engagement. With increasing foreign investment and a rapidly expanding economy, the country is undergoing significant transformation. To support these reforms, the government actively seeks collaboration and expertise from international partners, including the United States.
In 2025, Uzbekistan and U.S. relations reached new heights, marked by strengthened trade, business ties, academic exchanges, and political cooperation. This deepening partnership has created high hopes for new development initiatives between the two nations, further enhancing opportunities for collaboration and mutual growth.
As the most populous nation in Central Asia, Uzbekistan provides a dynamic and enriching environment for Fulbright Scholars. Education has become a key focus of the reform agenda, with substantial investments in curriculum development, research, and internationalization. Local educational institutions are eager to collaborate with visiting American scholars, creating opportunities for meaningful partnerships. In its effort to enhance its global presence, Uzbekistan has launched the “English Speaking Nation” initiative, aiming to ensure that recent graduates are proficient in both Uzbek and English. This initiative reflects the aspirations of a new generation of students who are innovative, ambitious, and ready to contribute to their country’s progress.
Fulbright Scholars in Uzbekistan will play a vital role in supporting these efforts, offering expertise to their host institutions while gaining firsthand experience in a country at the crossroads of tradition and transformation. This engagement not only strengthens educational and cultural ties but also contributes to Uzbekistan’s continued development on the international stage.
Additional information about Uzbekistan and the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent can be found on the Embassy's Facebook, Twitter and website.
Professor Mohammad Ghaziuddin, M.D., recently completed a successful six-week Fulbright Specialist program at the Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute (TPMI). He will return to TPMI as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar from March 2025 to June 2025 to train faculty and students in the latest child psychiatry treatments and support the institute's research development initiatives.
Dr. Alexander Khmaladze has begun his tenure as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar at the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Mechanization, serving from September 2024 to June 2025. He is currently teaching biophysics and biochemistry to both graduate and undergraduate students.
Dr. Randall Filer is a Professor of Economics at Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). He served as President of the CERGE-EI Foundation from 1997 to 2021 and now directs the Foundation’s Teaching Fellows Program. From October 6 to December 7, 2023, Dr. Filer conducted a Fulbright U.S. Scholar project at Westminster International University in Tashkent, where he led workshops on the economic development of post-Soviet countries.
Dr. Robert Schwartz, a researcher at the Conservation and Production Research Laboratory within the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, will teach and conduct research at Urgench State University during the Spring 2026 semester. His academic and research efforts will center on advanced topics in soil science, with a particular focus on soil management in the Khorazm region. Additionally, he will address key aspects of environmental physics and the water relations of plants and soils, providing critical insights into sustainable irrigation management practices.
Dr. Murthy Rallapalli, Professor of Cybersecurity and Quantum Computing at the University of North Georgia, will join Cyber University in Tashkent in Spring 2026. During his tenure, he will teach both graduate and undergraduate students, focusing on cutting-edge topics such as generative AI, cybersecurity, and quantum computing.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Uzbek universities have previously been regulated by the Ministry of Higher Education, but the government is now giving more autonomy to universities. Frequently, universities seek help from U.S. faculty on improving curriculum to make their universities more competitive and modern, and to create courses that make their students more employable. Scholars with curriculum design experience are welcome. Uzbek universities are also very interested in American teaching methodologies, and faculty training workshops are often requested.
Because a top-down system of education had previously been in place for over sixty years, the universities are not used to receiving foreign scholars and creating comprehensive programs for them. Fulbright Scholars will need to take initiative and offer programming to their hosts. Please note that information about curricula, class schedules, and other specifics related to teaching at local educational institutions may not be available prior to the program start, therefore it is important for scholars to be willing to work with last-minute schedule changes, and possibly have a nonstandard work schedule (for example, local institutions work six days a week).
Due to low internet speeds and intermittent connection at educational institutions, especially outside Tashkent, scholars should not rely only on internet-dependent tools for teaching, such as online platforms or assignments; rather, they should be prepared to use “pen-and-paper” methods.
Adequate housing in Uzbekistan, in general, is not a problem. Scholars will be able to select from a variety of options (an apartment or a house with a yard or garden) by using the services of a housing agency. The host institution may also provide assistance in locating suitable housing.
Dual nationals of the U.S. and Uzbekistan are not eligible to apply as Uzbekistan does not recognize dual citizenship and considers any dual national to be solely a citizen of Uzbekistan.