The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) brings outstanding undergraduate students from more than 60 countries and areas to the United States for one semester of non-degree study. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by World Learning. Participants take full-time coursework — including a U.S. Studies course — alongside American peers at a host college or university, complete 20 hours of community service, and join professional-development activities. The goal is to build academic knowledge, leadership, and cross-cultural understanding, not to earn a U.S. degree. After one fall or spring semester, students return home. The program runs every year, with applications handled by the local U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission. The current cycle is closed: the online application phase runs each November–December and the exact deadline is set by the local post, so the next window is expected to open in November 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Fully funded: covers tuition and required fees.
- Round-trip, economy-class international airfare, plus a pre-departure travel allowance.
- On-campus housing and meals.
- A monthly maintenance stipend.
- Required textbooks.
- A limited health benefits program.
- Costs of the End-of-Program Workshop in Washington, D.C.
- Finalists who fall short of the English score minimum may receive a virtual English Language Training course and a voucher to retake the TOEFL iBT / Duolingo exam.
Eligibility
- Citizen of, and residing in, one of the participating countries or areas.
- At least 18 years old by the August of the program year.
- Enrolled full-time as an undergraduate in good standing, with at least one full academic year of study remaining after the exchange.
- Able to communicate in English.
- Committed to service in your community.
- Open to all fields of study; the program sets no specific GPA or major requirement.
- Not eligible: U.S. citizens and permanent residents; anyone currently in a U.S. study or training program; those who recently held long U.S. government exchange grants without completing the two-year home-residency requirement; recent applicants for U.S. permanent residency; and staff (and their families) of the administering organizations or the U.S. mission.
Can you apply?
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Eligible nationalities
Kenya · Malawi · Mozambique · Niger · Zimbabwe · Brunei · Cambodia · China · Indonesia · Laos · Malaysia · Mongolia
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Philippines · Singapore · South Korea · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Vietnam · Fiji · Kiribati · Nauru · Papua New Guinea · Samoa · Solomon Islands · Tonga · Tuvalu · Vanuatu · Albania · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Georgia · Kosovo · Moldova · Montenegro · North Macedonia · Serbia · Ukraine · Algeria · Bahrain · Egypt · Israel · Jordan · Kuwait · Lebanon · Morocco · Palestine · Saudi Arabia · Tunisia · Bangladesh · India · Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · Nepal · Sri Lanka · Tajikistan · Turkmenistan · Uzbekistan · Costa Rica · Dominican Republic · El Salvador · Guatemala · Honduras · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Venezuela
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Education required
Bachelor Enrolled
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Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Confirm your country participates and find your local administering post — the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section, or the Fulbright Commission in Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, and the Philippines.
- 2Apply online during the November–December application window (next expected November 2026); the exact deadline is set locally.
- 3Shortlisted candidates interview with U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission representatives (January–February).
- 4Complete English language testing; selection results follow (March–April).
- 5Finalists learn their U.S. host institution and semester (May–June), receive DS-2019 forms, and schedule J-1 visa appointments (June).
- 6Attend pre-departure orientation (July) and begin the fall or spring semester.
Program timeline
Next application window opens and closes (exact deadline set by the local post)
November–December 2026
Candidate interviews
January–February
Selection results and English testing
March–April
Host-institution placement and semester assignment
May–June
June
DS-2019 issued, visa appointments
Pre-departure orientation
July
Semester begins (fall or spring)
August/September or January
Program ends; participants return home
December or May/June