GLOBAL UNDERGRADUATE EXCHANGE PROGRAM (GLOBAL UGRAD)
Scholarship Region
International Region : USA
Scholarship For
Last Date
15/12/2026
Scholarship Amount
Not Available
Scholarship Type
Government
Scholarship Fields
Other
Scholarship General Information
A program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) is an opportunity for exceptional young leaders from over 60 countries/areas to attend diverse colleges and universities across the United States for a semester of non-degree study and cultural exchange. The program is designed to increase participants’ understanding of the United States and enhance their leadership skills through academic coursework, community service, and professional development activities.
Each year, over 300 students are selected by U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions to participate in the Global UGRAD Program through a competitive application process that considers leadership potential, academic promise, and community involvement. World Learning then partners with over 80 diverse institutions of higher education across the United States to host Global UGRAD students on their campuses and provide high-quality academic programs, superior international student support, and impactful professional development activities.
Program Goals
1. To promote mutual understanding between people of the United States and other countries.
2. Provide a fulfilling exchange experience to drive academic, cross-cultural, and leadership competencies for students from Global UGRAD countries.
3. Enhance students' academic knowledge and professional skills needed to pursue long-term academic and career goals.
4. Cultivate students' comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the U.S.
5. Facilitate opportunities for students to establish social networks with U.S. host institutions and local communities.
6. Empower students to engage constructively in the civic life of their local and global communities.
Item | Description |
Name | GLOBAL UNDERGRADUATE EXCHANGE PROGRAM (GLOBAL UGRAD) |
Provided By | U.S. Department of State |
Purpose | Promote Mutual Understanding Between People Of The United States And Other Countries |
Scholarship Amount | Tution Fees, International Airfair, Meals, On Campus Housing and Others |
No. Scholarship | 300 |
Required Qualification | School and Undergraduate |
Official Website |
Eligibility Criteria
Prospective applicants to the Global UGRAD Program must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Have citizenship in at least one of the participating countries/areas.
2. Be at least 18 years old by the August of the relevant academic year.
3. Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing at an accredited academic institution.
4. Have at least one full academic year of undergraduate study remaining after May of the relevant academic year that you participate in the Global UGRAD Program.
5. Be able to communicate in English.
6. Be committed to service in your community.
Please note that individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the Global UGRAD Program:
1. U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States.
2. Individuals currently participating in academic, training, or research programs in the United States.
3. Individuals currently residing or working outside of participating countries.
4. Individuals who have participated in an Exchange Visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. government (e.g., U.S. Department of State including U.S. Embassies, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), or other U.S. government agency) for a period of more than six weeks and who have not fulfilled their two-year home residency requirement by the application deadline.
5. Individuals who have applied for U.S. permanent residency in the past three years.
6. Employees, and their families, of non-profit organizations who administer the Global UGRAD Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. This provision does not disqualify self-supporting members of families who live apart from their parents.
7. Local employees of U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State or USAID are ineligible during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment.
8. Immediate family members (i.e., spouses and dependent children) of U.S. Department of State employees and/or USAID are ineligible for a period of one year following the termination of such employment. This provision does not disqualify self-supporting members of families who live apart from their parents.
Award Amount
The Global UGRAD Program covers the following costs:
1. Pre-departure travel allowance,
2. Roundtrip, economy-class international airfare,
3. Tuition fee,
4. Required fees,
5. On-campus housing,
6. Meals,
7. Required textbooks,
8. A monthly maintenance stipend, and
9. A limited health benefits program.
In addition, the program covers costs related to participating in the End of Program Workshop in Washington, DC.
No. of Scholarships Available
No. of scholarships is subject to availability, please visit official website.
Important Dates
The last date to apply for this scholarship is December 15, 2026.
Application Fee
No Information Available.
Application Procedure
1. Prospective students must apply to participate in the Global UGRAD Program during the annual application cycle for the following academic year.
2. The application generally opens in November and closes December 15.
3. Students applying in November/December would complete their exchange during the fall 2025 or spring 2026 term.
4. For more information on the next application cycle, including upcoming deadlines, please visit our Apply page.
Selection Process
Interviews
January – February
Select candidates are invited to interview with the relevant U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission for their country/area.
Selection Notification
March – April
All applicants are notified of their status finalist, alternate, or not selected. Finalist and alternate candidates register and take the TOEFL or Duolingo exam with a voucher provided by the relevant U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission. Finalist candidates confirm their acceptance of the scholarship offer
Host Placement Notification
May – June
U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions notify all Global UGRAD finalists of their U.S. host institution placement and which academic term (fall or spring) they will complete their UGRAD exchange.
J1 Visa Preparations
June
Finalists receive their forms, complete a J-1 visa application, and schedule a visa appointment with the U.S. Embassy in their home country/area.
Pre-Departure Orientation
July
U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions host a comprehensive pre-departure orientation for the new Global UGRAD students. World Learning hosts an online question & answer session for fall semester participants. Fall semester students also begin the first module of World Learning’s Online Professional and Academic Learning (OPAL) course designed to prepare students for their upcoming exchange experience. Spring semester students will begin OPAL in September.
Virtual English Language Training
August – December
Students who qualify for the Global UGRAD Virtual English Language Training Program will complete the course during the fall semester and then retake the TOEFL or Duolingo exam. Students who successfully meet the minimum TOEFL/Duolingo requirement following the retest will then complete their in-person Global UGRAD exchange at a U.S. institution of higher education in the spring semester.
Arrive to the United States
August/September
Fall semester students arrive to their U.S. host institution campus.
January
Spring semester students arrive to their U.S. host institution campus.
Exchange Experience
August/September – December
For fall semester students.
January – May/June
For spring semester students.
Students actively participate in all facets of student life on-campus including attending academic classes, completing community service, taking part in local and regional cultural events, and enhancing their professional development through supplemental campus activities.
End of Program Workshop - November
Other Info
UGRAD PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) is directed and funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Through the design and implementation of educational, professional, and cultural exchanges such as Global UGRAD, ECA increases mutual understanding and builds sustained networks among individuals, institutions, and communities across the United States and the world.
U.S. Embassies & Fulbright Commissions
The Global UGRAD Program brings together participants from over 60 countries/areas. U.S. Embassies and select Fulbright Commissions support the program by conducting outreach to prospective applicants in eligible countries/areas, reviewing submitted applications and recommending finalists and alternate candidates, coordinating the J-1 visa process for accepted students, and establishing enduring connections with program alumni.
Contact Details
Global Undergraduate Exchange Program
1015 15th Street NW,
7th Floor Washington DC 20015
Phone: 202-408-5420
Email: exchangeprograms@worldlearning.org
For more information: Click here