FLEX Global is a merit-based exchange funded and administered by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and run by American Councils with AFS-USA, Amideast and iEARN. It builds on the FLEX and YES programmes.
Secondary students from 31 countries spend the 2027–28 academic year in the US, living with a host family, attending a local high school and joining leadership and community activities. Placements are mostly in suburban and rural towns; students cannot choose where.
Benefits & funding
- No fee; round-trip travel from home to the US and back
- A screened host family and enrolment in a US high school for one academic year (about 10 months)
- Monthly allowance, orientations and local programme activities
- Medical insurance, excluding pre-existing conditions and dental care
- Not covered: passport costs, excess baggage, internet, extra personal spending; participants must go home at the end, as the J-1 visa requires
Eligibility
- Citizens of Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine or Uzbekistan, able to get a passport from the country where they apply
- Enrolled in and attending a secondary school in the country where they apply, in good academic standing
- Eligible grades and birth-date window are set per country (overall, births from 15 Mar 2009 to 15 Aug 2012); in most countries graduates cannot apply
- Prior English study and English ability shown at application; must meet US visa rules
- Barred if family members have applied, or plan, to emigrate to the US; one application per cycle
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Be enrolled in and attending a secondary school in the country in which they apply to the program, at the time of application;” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
Argentina · Armenia · Bahrain · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Brazil · Egypt · Georgia · Greece · India · Indonesia · Jordan · Kazakhstan
+ 19 more
Kenya · Kosovo · Kyrgyzstan · Moldova · Mongolia · Montenegro · Morocco · North Macedonia · Pakistan · Poland · Romania · Serbia · Tajikistan · Thailand · Tunisia · Türkiye · Turkmenistan · Ukraine · Uzbekistan
Residence required
Argentina · Armenia · Bahrain · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Brazil · Egypt · Georgia · Greece · India · Indonesia · Jordan · Kazakhstan
+ 19 more
Kenya · Kosovo · Kyrgyzstan · Moldova · Mongolia · Montenegro · Morocco · North Macedonia · Pakistan · Poland · Romania · Serbia · Tajikistan · Thailand · Tunisia · Türkiye · Turkmenistan · Ukraine · Uzbekistan
Education required
High School
Age requirement
14–18 yrs
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Applicants in Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan apply online by 22 Oct 2026; Brazil, Greece and Montenegro by 12 Nov 2026 (application portal).
- 2Other countries contact their national FLEX Global office for instructions (the Apply page also lists Brazil here).
- 3Selection: English test, proctored essays and an interview with FLEX Global staff.
- 4Finalists pass a medical review.
Program timeline
Online deadline (16 countries)
22 Oct 2026
Deadline for Brazil, Greece, Montenegro
12 Nov 2026
Finalists notified
Spring 2027
Pre-departure orientation at home
June–July 2027
August 2027
Arrival in the US; return May–June 2028