USDA FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE (FAS)
USDA Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship
full · phd, masters
- Funded fellowshipType
- Train in the USAWhere
- Non-degree (~6–12 wks)Format
- Agricultural scienceFocus
- Developing/middle-incomeEligibility
- USDA FASAdministered by
At a glance
full
Funding
€15k
Max amount
Rolling
Deadline
Eligible developing and middle-income countries (per current calls)
Country
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
Provider
The Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program, run by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), promotes food security and economic growth by providing short-term scientific training and collaborative research opportunities to agricultural researchers and policymakers from developing and middle-income countries. It is named for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Norman Borlaug. The fellowship is non-degree: fellows spend a period (commonly 6–12 weeks) working with a mentor at a US university, research centre, or government agency on a specific agricultural research topic, sometimes followed by a visit from the US mentor to the fellow's home institution. It covers travel, a stipend/living costs, health insurance, and programme costs for the training period. Because the programme operates through specific country and thematic calls administered by USDA and partner institutions, there is no single global application form or fixed deadline. Eligible candidates — typically early- to mid-career agricultural scientists — apply or are nominated through the relevant call for their country or topic.
What's covered
- Travel — International and domestic travel for the training period in the US.
- Stipend / living costs — A stipend or living-cost coverage for the duration of the fellowship.
- Health insurance — Health insurance for the training period.
- Programme & mentorship — Programme costs and a US mentor; sometimes a follow-up mentor visit to the home institution.
How to apply
Identify a current Borlaug Fellowship call for your country or topic, then apply or be nominated through that call, proposing a research-training plan and (where relevant) a US host/mentor.
- Find a current call — Check USDA FAS / partner announcements for a Borlaug Fellowship call covering your country or topic.
- Confirm eligibility — Verify your field, country, and career stage match the call.
- Develop a research plan — Prepare a short research-training proposal and identify a relevant US host/mentor area.
- Apply / be nominated — Apply or be nominated through the call's process (often via a home institution or partner).
- Selection & matching — USDA and partners select fellows and match them with US mentors/institutions.
- Training & follow-up — Undertake the US training; some fellowships include a follow-up mentor visit home.
Eligibility
FieldWorking in agricultural science, technology, or policy.
OriginFrom an eligible developing or middle-income country covered by a current call.
Career stageTypically early- to mid-career researchers, scientists, educators, or policymakers.
Home institutionAffiliated with a research/academic/government institution in the home country.
EnglishSufficient English to undertake the research training and collaborate with a US mentor.
It is a non-degree research-training fellowship with no single global deadline — it runs through specific USDA/partner country and thematic calls. Check current Borlaug Fellowship calls for eligibility and timing.
Eligible countries
Eligible developing and middle-income countries (per current calls)
Deadlines
Varies by USDA Borlaug call
Selection
USDA FAS and partner institutions select Borlaug Fellows on the relevance and quality of the proposed research training, the candidate's background and potential impact at home, and the fit with a US mentor and host. Selection runs through the specific call rather than a single global competition.
Verified sources
- Borlaug Fellowship Program — USDA FASfas.usda.govofficial
About the provider
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) administers the Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program to strengthen agricultural research and policy capacity in developing and middle-income countries. Named for Norman Borlaug, it connects fellows with US mentors to advance food security and economic growth.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What is the Borlaug Fellowship?
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A USDA Foreign Agricultural Service programme providing short-term scientific training and collaborative research to agricultural researchers and policymakers from developing and middle-income countries, named for Dr Norman Borlaug.
Is it a degree programme?
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No — it is a non-degree research-training fellowship. Fellows work with a US mentor for a period (commonly 6–12 weeks) rather than earning a degree.
Who is eligible?
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Early- to mid-career agricultural researchers, scientists, educators, and policymakers from eligible developing/middle-income countries, affiliated with a home institution and able to work in English.
What does it cover?
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Travel, a stipend or living-cost coverage, health insurance, and programme costs for the US training period, plus a US mentor — sometimes with a follow-up mentor visit to the home institution.
How do I apply?
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Through a current Borlaug Fellowship call for your country or topic — apply or be nominated via that call, with a research-training proposal. There is no single global application form.
When is the deadline?
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There is no single fixed deadline — the programme runs through periodic country and thematic calls. Check current USDA FAS Borlaug Fellowship announcements.
How long is the fellowship?
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Commonly around 6–12 weeks of training in the US, sometimes followed by a visit from the US mentor to the fellow's home institution.
What fields are covered?
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Agricultural science and technology — including crop and animal sciences, agricultural economics and policy, food safety, and natural resources.
Where do fellows train?
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At US universities, research centres, or government agencies, working with a mentor on a specific agricultural research topic.
How competitive is it?
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Competitive within each call — selection weighs the research plan's relevance and quality, the candidate's potential impact at home, and fit with a US mentor.
Does it lead to long-term US study?
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No — it is a short-term training and collaboration fellowship aimed at building capacity that the fellow applies in their home country, not a pathway to a US degree.
Who funds it?
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The US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), often with partner institutions, as part of US efforts to support global food security and agricultural development.