Global Undergraduate Exchange Program

2023-2024 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) 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. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and aims to recruit undergraduate students from underrepresented 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.

Finalists will be enrolled in full-time, non-degree, undergraduate coursework 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 20 hours of community service. There will also be an arrival orientation and an in-person end-of-program workshop.

The Global UGRAD Program does not assist with credit transfers between participants’ host and home institutions. Any credit transfers are the sole responsibility of the participants.

All academic fields of study are eligible. Per J-1 visa regulations, applicants interested in medicine, nursing, veterinary medicine, pharmacology or other clinical fields of study should note that direct patient care, including animal care, is not permitted, and therefore academic coursework and/or program activities at participating U.S. institutions may be limited.

Students cannot choose their host institution and will be placed at the most appropriate host institution based on students’ academic interests.

Program Goals

To promote mutual understanding between people of the United States and other countries.

Provide a fulfilling exchange experience to drive academic, cross-cultural, and leadership competencies for students from Global UGRAD countries;
Enhance students’ academic knowledge and professional skills needed to pursue long-term academic and career goals;
Cultivate students’ comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the U.S.;
Facilitate opportunities for students to establish social networks with U.S. host institutions and local communities;
Empower students to engage constructively in the civic life of their local and global communities.

Financial support

Global UGRAD is a fully funded exchange program that covers students’ travel to/from the U.S., university tuition, room and board, health insurance, required books, and monthly stipend for incidental expenses. Participants will live in campus housing facilities with American peers and will be required to participate in twenty hours of community service.

Eligibility Requirements

Competition for the Global UGRAD Exchange Program is merit-based and open to students who:

Are at least 18 years old at the start of the program;
Are citizens of Uzbekistan, currently residing and studying in Uzbekistan;
Are currently enrolled in full-time undergraduate programs in good standing at any accredited university in Uzbekistan;
Have completed at least one semester of study prior to starting their Global UGRAD Program;
Have at least one semester or an equivalent term to complete at their home institutions at the conclusion of the Global UGRAD Program. The Global UGRAD program cannot be the final academic term of a student’s undergraduate study;
Can demonstrate leadership potential through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities;
Applicants must achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 48iBT to be considered. Students who score between 48-60 will be considered for the virtual English Language Training prior to the exchange portion of the program. Students must achieve a minimum score of 61 to be eligible to participate in the exchange portion of the program in the United States. The cost of TOEFL will be covered by the program.
Are able to begin studies in the United States in August 2023 (fall semester) or January 2024 (spring semester);
Are committed to returning directly to their home country after the completion of the program.

Please note that preference will be given to those who have had little or NO experience in the U.S. or outside of their home countries. Individuals who have participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. government for a period of more than six weeks and who have not fulfilled their two-year home residency requirement by the time of application are not eligible.

Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the Global UGRAD Program:

U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States;
Individuals currently studying, residing, or working outside of Uzbekistan;
Alumni of the Global UGRAD Exchange Program;
Local employees of the U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); employees are also ineligible for one year following the termination of employment;
Immediate family members (i.e., spouses and children) of U.S. Department of State and USAID employees; family members are also ineligible for one year following the employee’s termination of employment;

How to Apply

To submit an application for the program, please follow this link: https://webportalapp.com/sp/closed/ugrad_student_application_2023

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted online no later than December 15, 2022. Applications must be completed in English. Please note that you will not be able to edit your application after the deadline!

Application Materials (Recommendation Forms)

Contact Us

If you have questions related to the program, please send us an email at Tashkent-Program@state.gov with “Global UGRAD” in the subject line.