ABSTRACTA generalized hybrid scheme combining finite element method (FEM) and the method of moments (MOM) is first presented to investigate scattering from a 3-D dielectric object above a 2-D dielectric rough surface. The hybrid FEM/MOM scheme is divided into the FEM region for the object based on Helmholtz’s equation and the MOM region for the rough surface based on coupled integral function, which can greatly reduce the computed region. With the rough surface getting larger, the unknowns of the rough surface get more. So MLFMA is employed to reduce computation complexity of MOM region itself and coupling interaction matrices between MOM region and FEM region. Consequently, the iterative process can be greatly accelerated. This generalized hybrid FEM/MOM is very suitable for investigating scattering from composite model of a complex material object and electrically large dielectric rough surface. Some examples verify this generalized hybrid FEM/MOM in high efficiency, low storage requirement, high precision and generality.