Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD)

Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) 2019 - The new call for applications are now open for Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD).

Global UGRAD is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by World Learning. The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program provides a diverse group of emerging student leaders with a scholarship for one semester of non-degree academic study at a U.S. college or university.

Since 2008, World Learning has provided this opportunity to over 2,200 Global UGRAD students. Participants leave the U.S. with the tools to become leaders in their professions and communities. Global UGRAD alumni go on to receive Fulbright grants, obtain prestigious international internships, and work in business and government in their home countries and regions.

Name: Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD)
Duration: 11/18/2015 - 04/30/2019
Funder: U.S. Department of State
Eligible Countries: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Bank and Gaza, Zimbabwe
Deadline: Application is open November 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 at 5:00pm Eastern Time

This program aims to recruit participants from underrepresented, non-elite backgrounds, who have not had other opportunities to study in the United States. Successful applicants can expect an in-depth exposure to U.S. society, culture, and academic institutions, as well as opportunities to enhance their professional skills.

All participants will be enrolled in full-time, non-degree, undergraduate course work chosen from their host institution's existing curriculum. Participants will be required to take one, 3-credit U.S. studies course to enhance their understanding of the United States. Participants will live in campus housing facilities with American peers, and will be required to participate in twenty hours of community service. There will also be a virtual arrival orientation and an in-person end-of-program workshop.

Eligibility

The Global UGRAD Program is open to anyone who meet all the following qualifications:

Over 18 years of age;

A citizen in one of the eligible countries, currently residing in the country;

Completed their first year of undergraduate study prior to applying for the Global UGRAD Program;

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;

Not tagged as a "graduating student" of his/her university. The Global UGRAD program cannot be the final academic term of a student's undergraduate study;

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 2019 or January 2020 (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;

Committed to returning to their home country after the completion of the program.

Individuals holding dual citizenship, are permanent residents of the U.S., and/or are presently studying in the US are not eligible.

Required Documents

A complete application contains of the following:

Completed application form available online

Personal statement and responses to essay questions (part of the online application)

Copy of biographic & signature pages of your passport, if available

Official transcripts for years of university study (with English translations); please provide grade equivalences used by your university

Two (2) letters of recommendation from teachers/professors: first, second

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score report, if available

Applications must be submitted through World Learning's online application portal from link below. A step-by-step student guide for the online application can be download here. The deadline for submission of applications is on December 31, 2018, 5:00pm EST.

Global UGRAD Application Link