*OPPORTUNITY FOR CAMEROONIANS TO TRAVEL AND STUDY IN THE US, FULLY FUNDED BUT MUST ACCEPT TO RETURN AFTER STUDIES*

Fulbright Foreign Student Program Notice of Study Opportunity, Closes 4/21/2025

 

The U.S. Embassy in Cameroon is pleased to announce the open competition for the Fulbright Foreign Student Program (FFSP) for academic year 2026-2027.

Established in 1946 and funded by the U.S. government, the Fulbright Program aims to achieve mutual understanding through academic and cultural exchange.  The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is a competitive, merit-based scholarship program which recruits and nominates young Cameroonian professionals for graduate level studies at U.S. universities.  Each year approximately 3-5 Cameroonians are granted fully funded scholarships.

Awards are contingent upon approval by the J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board, availability of funds, and successful academic placement.

WHAT does the FFSP Scholarship provide?

• • The FFSP is for candidates interested in graduate study in the United States. Priority is given to candidates pursuing a master’s degree over Ph.D. degree.  Grantees receive funding for a maximum of two years of degree study.
  • Successful candidates will receive a full scholarship which covers fees related to tuition, round-trip airfare to the United States, a monthly stipend, and health insurance to pursue a graduate degree program that begins in the academic year 2026-2027.
  • Students accepted to degree programs less than two years are only eligible to receive funding through the designated period of degree completion – as stipulated by the host institution. Candidates in non-degree research (i.e., visiting student researchers) will participate in an academic year (9-10 months) non-degree research program.

WHO can apply?

The competition is open to people who meet the following criteria:

1. 1. Be a Cameroonian citizen, or a permanent resident holding a valid Cameroonian passport.
   2. Have at least the equivalent of four (4) years of university study and the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Applicants that have three (3) years of tertiary study should have the equivalent of thirteen (13) years of primary and secondary school and their undergraduate degree should allow them to be eligible to pursue higher education in Cameroon.  Please note that final equivalency decisions will be determined by each U.S. university and not all institutions will accept a three (3) year undergraduate degree.
   3. Have a level of English proficiency that is sufficient to engage in full-time graduate level study in the United States. However, there is an option to do long-term English (LTE) language study for Master’s degree seeking candidates with moderate English language skills for a period of up to eight months. Participation in LTE will be determined by the Embassy and program organizers based on English language ability as displayed during interviews and TOEFL test scores.
   4. Special accommodations are available for students with disabilities. The Department of State has provided previous grantees with a screen reader and note taking software, laptops, cell phones, canes, and/or wheelchairs to assist them while on their grant in the United States.

Ineligibility factors:

The following persons are ineligible to apply for the FFSP:

1. Candidates who already received a Fulbright Foreign Student Program grant.
2. Candidates who already received a Humphrey Scholarship.
3. Candidates who are currently living or studying in the United States.
4. Candidates who have resided in the United States for five or more consecutive years in the six-year period preceding the date of application
5. Candidates who have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a U.S. college or university within the last three years.
6. Employees of the U.S. Mission in Cameroon employed by the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment. Immediate families (spouses and dependent children) of these individuals are likewise ineligible for the same period.

WHICH fields of study are supported?

The program supports study in all disciplines, with one exception—proposals for medical study involving patient contact cannot be approved under the Fulbright Program.

HOW to apply?

Deadline for application submission: 11:59 PM (Cameroon time), Monday, April 21, 2025.

1. Read the applications guidelines carefully.
2. Apply online at https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2026 
3. Candidates MUST attach a copy of bachelor’s degree diploma, certificate, license or equivalent.
4. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program has a zero-tolerance plagiarism policy. Application materials will be processed using software to help identify any instance of plagiarism.  If plagiarism appears in any part of the application, it may result in the nominee’s disqualification from participation in the program.  The Fulbright program will follow the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of plagiarism: Plagiarism is the wrongful appropriation or purloining and publication as one’s own, of the ideas, or the expression of the ideas of another.

Selection Criteria:

This competition is based on academic and professional merits, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.  Preference is given to those without extensive or recent experience in the United States.  A successful applicant is someone who can:

• Demonstrate a serious commitment to completing the program as scheduled and to returning to Cameroon.
• Demonstrate a clear and detailed description of the study objectives and show a clear connection between their study objectives and future goals through a compelling set of essays.
• Have a depth and breadth of work experience in their intended field of study, and a full understanding of the field.
• Demonstrate leadership potential based on participation in academic, extra-curricular, community and professional development activities, and personal attributes.
• Show dedication to Cameroon and potential to make a positive impact upon return.
• Contribute to promoting mutual understanding between the people of the United States and Cameroon through educational and cultural exchange activities.
• Be willing to be a cultural ambassador of Cameroon.
• Have demonstrated academic excellence and strong English proficiency.

Additional selection criteria for applicants in the Long-Term English (LTE) training component

• Applicants accepted for long term English training must be candidates for a master’s degree in their current field. Individuals seeking D., MBA, Law, or non-degree programs are not eligible for the long-term English component.
• Applicants in this category must be available to begin their LTE training either in January or March 2026.

Application components

Your online application MUST include

• A Personal statement (essay)
• Study objectives (essay)
• A Resume/CV
• University Transcripts
• Diploma(s)
• 3 Letters of recommendation
• Writing Sample* (highly recommended though not required)

Deadline: Monday, April 21, 2025. 11:59 PM (Cameroon time zone)

Candidates must apply online at https://apply.iie.org/ffsp2026 

No paper or email applications will be accepted.

Applications must be submitted exclusively in English.

Point of contact: Exchange Programs Coordinator
Phone: (237) 22222-1500 x 4565
Email: YaoundePDCulturalDL@state.gov