Apply for the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship From Pakistan: Eligibility, Rounds and the Next Call
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship sends mid-career Pakistanis to the US for ten months. See eligibility, who cannot apply and the four selection rounds.
Short answer: The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship brings mid-career Pakistani professionals to the U.S. for about ten months of non-degree study and work placement. You need 8 to 18 years of work experience and 16 years of education. The 2027 call closed on 20 May 2026. USEFP lists the next call as "tentative, April", so prepare now.
This is not a degree. It is a year of study, leadership training and an internship, paid for by the U.S. government and run in Pakistan by the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP).
We read USEFP's Humphrey page on 12 October 2026. Everything below about eligibility, the process and dates is from that page, and we mark the one date that is only tentative.
The fellowship is ten months of study, leadership training and an internship
USEFP describes the Humphrey Fellowship as a programme for accomplished mid-career professionals with leadership potential. Fellows take graduate-level courses without earning a degree and do professional development activities. They also work in a related organisation as an intern.
The grant pays for tuition, airfare, textbooks, a living stipend and health insurance. The duration is shown as 10 to 12 months, and fellows start in the fall of the next year after selection.
The selection is competitive. It is based on leadership potential and a commitment to public service, in the public or private sector.
You need 8 to 18 years of experience and a guarantee of re-employment
USEFP's eligibility is strict and specific. Check each line before you start the form.
| Requirement | What USEFP says |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Pakistani citizen, committed to serving Pakistan |
| Work experience | 8 to 18 years of progressively responsible work |
| Education | 16 years: a four-year bachelor's, or a two-year bachelor's plus a master's |
| English | High fluency in spoken and written English |
| Job | A guarantee of re-employment after you return |
A proof of English is needed for every applicant. USEFP's note says to submit a Duolingo test report with the application, or an iBT TOEFL or IELTS score report if you already have a valid one. The cost and booking of IELTS are in the note on the IELTS fee in Pakistan.
Several groups cannot apply
USEFP lists who is ineligible. Read this part twice, because an application that falls in one of these groups is rejected.
- University teachers or researchers who have no management experience or similar duties.
- People who went to graduate school in the U.S. in the last seven years, or who had long-term U.S. experience in the last five years.
- Dual U.S. and Pakistani nationals.
- Anyone with a spouse, parent or child over 18 who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Employees of the Fulbright organisation or the U.S. Department of State.
The 2027 call is closed and the next one is expected in April
USEFP's page shows the status as closed, with a last date of 20 May 2026. The cycle is listed as "tentative announcement, April". Fellows then start studies in the fall of the next year.
That gives a likely pattern for the next call: an announcement around April 2027, a May deadline, and a start in the fall of 2028. USEFP calls the April date tentative, so do not plan your leave around it. Watch usefp.org.
The selection steps on USEFP's page are in four rounds.
- Staff screen all applications for completeness and minimum qualifications.
- Complete applications are scored against set criteria and shortlisted.
- Shortlisted applicants are interviewed in Islamabad between July and September, by a panel of U.S. and Pakistani citizens.
- Finalists and alternates are selected in October and told by phone.
That means applicants from this year's cycle may hear their result this month.
What to prepare before the next call opens
Start with the parts that take time and cost nothing. A good file is built over months.
First, count your years. Work experience must be progressive, meaning with growing responsibility, so a clear story of promotions or wider duties helps. Second, ask your employer now whether they will guarantee your job on return. USEFP asks for this, and a late request can fail.
Third, sort out English proof. If you already have an IELTS or TOEFL report, check that it is still valid on the closing date. Fourth, line up referees. USEFP has a letter-of-reference form on its page.
A fellow cannot defer the award to the next year, and can only bring family with prior approval, and not at the start. Plan your family and job around that before you accept.
If you are a graduate student rather than a mid-career worker, the Fulbright Master's and PhD route is the better fit. The end of the undergraduate exchange is covered in the note on Global UGRAD ending.
Common questions
Is the Humphrey Fellowship a degree?
No. USEFP describes it as graduate-level non-degree coursework plus professional development and an internship.
Is the application open now?
No. USEFP's page shows it closed, with a last date of 20 May 2026. The next call is listed as tentative, in April.
Can a university lecturer apply?
Not if they are a teacher or researcher with no management experience or similar responsibilities. USEFP lists that as ineligible.
Do I need a test like IELTS?
You need proof of English. USEFP asks for a Duolingo report, or an iBT TOEFL or IELTS report if you already hold a valid one.
Can I bring my family?
Only with prior approval after a technical review, with proof of funds and health insurance. Dependents cannot come at the start.
Can I postpone the fellowship?
No. USEFP says the award cannot be deferred to the following year.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read USEFP's Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship page on 12 October 2026, including its status, deadline, eligibility and selection rounds. The USEFP home page also lists the 2027 Humphrey programme as closed. The April date for the next call is USEFP's tentative estimate and is not a confirmed date.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
