• Civil Society and Governance
  • Civil Society and Governance Overview
  • Institutional Capacity Building
  • Civic Education
  • Citizen Participation
  • Advocacy
  • Democratic Governance
  • Grants Solicitation and Management Capacity
  • Women's and Minority Rights
  • Disenfranchised Groups
• Education
  • Education Overview
  • Basic Education
  • Higher Education
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
  • Education for Vulnerable Groups
• HIV/AIDS
  • HIV/AIDS Overview
  • HIV/AIDS Prevention
  • Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
  • Grants Solicitation and Management Capacity
  • Institutional Capacity Building
• International Visitors Exchanges
  • International Professional, Academic, and Cultural Exchanges Overview
  • Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Exchanges
  • Professional Exchanges
  • Youth Exchanges
• Capacity Development and Training
  • Capacity Development and Training Overview
  • Participant Training
  • Institutional Capacity Building
  • Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Exchanges
  • Grant Solicitation and Management Capacity
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Global Undergraduate Exchange Program
East Asia and the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere

Supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Global UGRAD Program for East Asia and the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere provides emerging student leaders with scholarships to attend U.S. colleges and universities for up to one year of undergraduate, non-degree study.

Global UGRAD is a substantive exchange program designed to expose students to U.S. education, society, and culture. Finalists represent diverse disciplines, from architecture to engineering, biochemistry to literature and education. Students participate in community service projects and internships. They live in university residence halls and are actively involved in campus organizations and activities.

All participants are issued U.S. student exchange (J-1) visas. Upon conclusion of their scholarship, students must return to their home countries to complete their undergraduate degree.

World Learning has placed and monitored hundreds of Global UGRAD students at diverse two- and four-year host institutions across the country. Global UGRAD alumni go on to advanced degrees, prestigious internships, and interesting positions in the private and public sectors.

Information for Interested Students

In order to be eligible for the Global UGRAD program, students must :

• Be citizens of participating countries. For 2011-2012, participating countries are: Burma, Cambodia, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Laos, Malysia, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam. 
• Apply through the U.S. Embassy (Public Affairs Section) or Fulbright Commission in their home country. Students are selected on the basis of academic excellence, leadership potential, and preparedness for study in the U.S.
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate in good standing and not be entering the final year of their studies at the time of application.
  

Information for Interested Host Institutions

World Learning will place approximately 170 Global UGRAD students at two- and four-year host institutions for the 2011-2012 academic year.

There are many benefits to hosting a Global UGRAD student.

• The U.S. Department of State selects Global UGRAD students after a rigorous application and interview process.
• Global UGRAD students add diversity to your international student population.
• World Learning manages and monitors all aspects of the students' J-1 immigration status, including issuing DS-2019s
• Global UGRAD students are excellent cultural ambassadors and actively involved in campus life.

Selection criteria for host institutions include:

• Appropriate accreditation.
• High-quality academic programs that match students' needs.
• Superior international student support and personalized attention.
• Ability to provide significant cost-share and good educational value for overall cost.
• Availability of on-campus housing, with U.S. student roommates, and options for single-gender living and substance-free living spaces.
• Access to comprehensive meal plans with provisions for special diets.
• Campus connection to the larger community.
• Geographic diversity.

We also seek institutions with on-campus intesive English language training (ELT) programs; however, not all applicants are required to offer ELT.

Learn more by visiting the full World Learning Global UGRAD website.