Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD)

Brief description: 

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (also known as the Global UGRAD Program) provides one semester scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students from around the world for non-degree full-time study combined with community service, professional development, and cultural enrichment.

Global UGRAD is administered by World Learning on behalf of U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

Host Institution(s):

Over 70 diverse colleges and universities around the United States

Level/Field of study:

Non-degree full-time undergraduate programme in all academic fields of study

Number of Awards:

Approximately 250 students

Target group:

Participating countries/locales include: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, North Macedonia, Palestinian Territories (West Bank and Gaza), Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.

Scholarship inclusions/duration:

Host institutions are expected to demonstrate significant cost share commitments. Examples include in-state tuition instead of out-of-state, housing waivers, significant tuition discounts or scholarships, and housing and fee reductions. The scholarship will cover one academic semester.

Eligibility:

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program is open to anyone who is/has:

• • over 18 years of age;
• • a citizen of a UGRAD participating country, currently residing in that country;
• • enrolled as an undergraduate in good standing at any accredited university, public or private, and has at least one semester remaining at their home university at the conclusion of the UGRAD program;
• • completed secondary education in their home country;
• • a solid command of written and spoken English (English Language training for some finalists is possible);
• • able to begin studies in the United States in August 2024 or January 2025 (selected participants may not defer to a later date);
• • eligible to receive and maintain the US student exchange visa (J-1) required for the program;
• • cleared by a physician to participate in the program;
• • committed to returning to their home country after the completion of the program.

Application instructions:

Applications are currently closed.

Apply through the U.S. Embassy (Public Affairs Section) or Fulbright Commission in your home country. Deadline is 15 December 2023 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) to access the application form and for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website: https://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/global-undergraduate-exchange-program-global-ugrad

World Learning Website: https://www.worldlearning.org/program/global-undergraduate-exchange-program/