Fulbright Foreign Student Program in USA

Overview

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program (FFSP) is the United States government's flagship international educational and cultural exchange initiative, administered globally by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and in Nepal by the U.S. Educational Foundation in Nepal (USEF-Nepal), also known as the Fulbright Commission.

Nepal has been a Fulbright-eligible country for decades with a dedicated Fulbright Commission in Kathmandu. The programme funds a full Master's degree of up to two years at US universities across all fields except Medicine and Nursing. All costs are covered — tuition, travel, living expenses, and program-related fees.

Approximately 4,000 students from 160 countries receive Fulbright scholarships globally each year. For Nepal specifically, the Fulbright Committee selects approximately four nominees annually — making it one of the most competitive scholarships available to Nepali students, but also one of the most prestigious and comprehensive.

USEF-Nepal actively encourages applications from women, minorities, people with disabilities, disadvantaged candidates, and individuals with limited prior international exposure. STEM fields and Business Management are particularly encouraged for the current cycle.

Eligibility

• Must be a Nepali citizen and current resident of Nepal at the time of application
• Hold a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with strong academic standing
• Applying for Master's level study in the US — the programme does not fund Medicine or Nursing degrees
• Have not resided in the United States for six months or more during the five years prior to the application deadline
• Demonstrate English language proficiency — GRE and TOEFL/IELTS are required but may be taken after selection if not already held (offered free of charge by USEF-Nepal for selected candidates)
• Commit to returning to Nepal after completing the programme — all grantees receive a J-1 exchange visitor visa with a two-year home residency requirement

Encouraged Applicants

USEF-Nepal particularly encourages applications from:

• Women and candidates from underrepresented communities
• People with disabilities
• Candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Individuals with limited prior international exposure
• Applicants in STEM fields and Business Management (specifically encouraged for the current cycle)

Who is Not Eligible

• Non-Nepali citizens
• Nepali citizens residing outside Nepal
• Applicants seeking degrees in Medicine or Nursing
• Employees of USEF-Nepal and local employees of the US Mission in Nepal (and their spouses and dependants) during employment and for one year after
• Those who have resided in the US for six or more months in the five years preceding the deadline

How to Apply

The Fulbright Nepal process is administered entirely by USEF-Nepal and runs over approximately 18 months from application to programme start.

1. Apply online via the IIE portal — the application opens on 1 February each year through USEF-Nepal's website. The application deadline for the 2027-28 cycle is 31 May 2026 at 23:59 NPT. All materials — including referee letters — must be submitted by this deadline. No late or partial submissions are accepted.
2. Document attestation — submit original academic documents (transcripts, certificates, mark sheets including backside information) to the USEF-Nepal office in Kathmandu for attestation. Documents can be dropped off from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on working days.
3. Shortlisting and interviews — shortlisted candidates are notified and invited for panel interviews conducted by the Fulbright Committee in Nepal, typically in June.
4. GRE and TOEFL/IELTS testing — selected candidates who do not already hold valid scores take GRE and/or TOEFL tests in July–September, offered free of charge by USEF-Nepal. Prior valid test scores may be accepted.
5. University placement — final nominees are forwarded to the Institute of International Education (IIE) in Washington DC for university placement. Approximately four candidates from Nepal are selected each cycle.
6. Programme start — successful grantees commence their Master's programme in Fall of the following year (Fall 2027 for the current 2027-28 cycle).

Contact USEF-Nepal directly for application guidance: 01-5907008 / 9851123258 / 9863026750 or email fulbcomm@fulbrightnepal.org.np.