To be eligible to apply for the Humphrey program, you must:

•  Be a Malaysian citizen. 
• Physically present in Malaysia at the time of the interview.
• Working in either the public or private sector with demonstrated leadership ability and a commitment to public service.
• Have completed a university degree program (equivalent of a 4-year bachelor’s or undergraduate degree)
• Have a minimum of five years of professional experience (prior to August 2026) in the relevant field, after completing a university degree, and should be interested in the policy aspect of your field of specialization
• Have management or policy responsibilities, including for those who are university teachers and/or teachers of English as a foreign language. Exceptions are made for scientists/researchers applying in the field of substance abuse education and policy.
• Guaranteed re-employment upon return home after program completion.
• Be at a point in your career to fully benefit from this professional development program.
• Demonstrate the required experience, skills, and commitment while also indicating how you can benefit from this program in ways that you have not experienced previously and are not likely to experience without the Humphrey Program.
• Have not attended a graduate school in the United States for one academic year or more.
• Have not participated in U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs within the last three years prior to the submission of the application
• Candidates should have limited or no prior experience in the United States, or if they have previously been in the U.S., their stay should not have been substantial (more than three years), and they must have returned to their home country and been employed in a position of professional responsibility for at least four years.
• Proficient in both written and spoken English and should have a minimum TOEFL test score of 72 or 4.0 for the iBT. All shortlisted candidates are required to take the TOEFL iBT, with MACEE providing vouchers to cover the test fee. All nominees should take their language test between May and September 2026. 
• Exhibit a commitment to return home after your Fellowship for at least two years to use the skills and knowledge you have acquired to assist your community and Malaysia.
• Be willing to share your knowledge of Malaysia with social, civic, and other groups while in the United States.

The following individuals are not eligible:

• Recent university graduates (even with significant positions).
• University teachers or academic researchers with no management responsibilities 
• Have attended a graduate school in the United States for one academic or more prior to August 2026.
• Individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent resident status as they are ineligible for a J-visa.
• Local employees of U.S. Missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State, or the former U.S. Agency for International Development, including temporary employees and contractors, and members of their families, as well as individuals who work for or are otherwise associated with an organization that is responsible for nominating or selecting individuals for participation in any ECA exchange program.

• Roundtip airfare
• Tuition, fees, and books
• Monthly stipend for one full academic year (stipend does not include an additional allowance for dependents).
• A limited amount of funds is allocated for professional development activities, including conference attendance, field trips, and a subsidy toward purchasing a laptop computer.
• Accident and sickness health benefit coverage

Humphrey Fellows pursue tailored study programs at participating host institutions, where the program’s freedom from the requirements of a degree program gives each Fellow the flexibility to pursue a self-directed, individualized program. There is no provision for Fellows to request placement at any particular university. Approximately 11 campuses have been selected through a competitive process to host Fellows in groups with thematic and subject affinities.

 Each institution is chosen based on institutional resources and the level of support and guidance it offers to the participants. Each campus has a designated faculty coordinator for academic and administrative support. In addition, faculty advisors also assist Fellows in pursuing balanced academic and professional programs. Some of the professional enrichment activities Humphrey Fellows will embark on include professional visits, conferences, training programs, and a professional affiliation (work attachment).

The professional affiliation provides first-hand exposure to an American work environment on a full-time-hand exposure to an American work environment on a full-time basis for a minimum period of 6 weeks. Early in the academic year, each Fellow develops, with assistance from the local campus coordinator and faculty advisors, a detailed plan for practical professional activities carefully geared to the Fellow’s Humphrey program objectives.

You will need to submit:

1. A complete online application.
2. Transcripts and diplomas (including course listings and grades received) for undergraduate (first university or Bachelor’s) degrees. Transcripts not in English should include an English translation. A diploma is required for all other higher education degrees (Masters, Doctoral), no transcripts needed. Certificates of completion for certificate-based programs are not required.
3. TOEFL iBT test if you are shortlisted. MACEE will issue vouchers to cover the cost of the test.
4. Two (2) letters of reference in English; one must be from your current employer.
5. Tentative interview date: August 2026 and candidates are expected to begin their fellowships in the U.S. in August 2027.

Application Tips:

• Provide specific examples of your leadership skills and clearly lay out your ability to effect change upon returning home.
• Clearly articulate your plan for the future and for your Humphrey Fellowship.
• Be specific on the projects that you plan to work on and people that you want to work with at host institutions, etc.
• Show your preparedness for the program.

Humphrey Fellows design and implement individualized programs to acquire career-related knowledge, interact with colleagues and gain professional experience, including arrangements for a six-week professional internship.

Important note: The Humphrey program is classified as a non-degree program by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Applicants must be aware that they cannot transfer to degree status in any program, and therefore will not be able to become degree candidates after arriving in the United States. Applicants cannot transfer from non-degree status to degree status under any circumstances.

NOTE: Incomplete applications will result in the applicant being technically ineligible for the program.

Fellowships are granted in the following Humphrey Policy Focus Descriptions:

Communications and Journalism: 

Humphrey Fellows strengthen information integrity and U.S. influence in the global media space by their work in media and communications, including investigative and responsible journalism, national broadcasting, digital media, and public relations. They uphold individual freedoms in the digital age, manage strategic communications, promote free expression, and advance transparent media to strengthen information integrity and support open public debate.

Law and Governance:

Humphrey Fellows advance rules-based systems that support U.S. security interests by working as attorneys, judges, law enforcement officials, policymakers, and civil society leaders, advancing the rule of law, strengthening security frameworks, and supporting fair and accountable justice systems. They work to combat transnational crime and trafficking, fight corruption, ensure accountability for violations on personal freedoms, and promote transparent and effective governance.

Natural Resources Policy:

Humphrey Fellows drive policies that support energy independence, resource security, and economic resilience. Their work spans critical minerals, energy systems, water, and agriculture—ensuring reliable supply chains, strengthening food security, and reducing vulnerabilities that can be exploited by strategic competitors. This work directly supports U.S. economic strength and global stability.

Public and Economic Policy:

Humphrey Fellows address critical public and economic policy challenges in multiple disciplines across local, regional, and national levels that drive economic growth, workforce development, and market expansion aligned with U.S. interests. They work in fields such as trade and investment, workforce development, education policy and administration, fiscal and monetary policy, public-private partnerships, and public sector management. Fellows design and implement evidence-informed policies that promote economic growth and security, strengthen institutions, and support effective domestic and foreign policy decision-making.

Public Health Policy and Management:

Humphrey Fellows develop self-reliant and resilient local health systems in global health by addressing public health challenges, including preventing infectious disease outbreaks, through policy development, service delivery, surveillance, and institutional preparedness. Fellows serve as health policymakers, physicians, clinical managers, health educators, and practitioners, shaping policies that manage public health risks in ways that protect American lives and economic stability.

Technology Policy and Management:

Humphrey Fellows develop and implement strategies and policies to manage the societal, economic, and security impacts of emerging and established technologies to ensure the United States and its partners lead in this area while against misuse by adversaries. They work on issues such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data governance, digital infrastructure, telecommunications, biotechnology and health technologies, and technology’s role in urban planning, transportation, and workforce transformation.

This program seeks applicants whose writing achieves the highest academic standards of original research, writing, and citation. Application materials will be processed using software to help identify any instances of plagiarism. Plagiarism in any part of your application will result in your disqualification from participating in the program.

Plagiarism will be understood to include any of the following:

Presenting wording, statistics, or concepts as your own which should be attributed to someone else or to publications (online or offline). This includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying the exact wording of a written source.
• Presenting material with alterations in wording.
• Paraphrasing the content of a source without citation.

It is expected that your application will be your own work and writing, with a clear citation of secondary sources if describing the academic work and writing of others (including one’s own previously published work). Any sources used in the construction of your responses must be clearly cited.

Click here to explore the program FAQ