U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar is pleased to announce the 2021–2022 Global Undergraduate Exchange (Global UGRAD) Program. The Global UGRAD is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and is a fully-funded scholarship for one semester of non-degree academic study at an assigned U.S. college or university.

The goal of the UGRAD Scholarship program is to provide a diverse group of emerging student leaders with a substantive exchange experience at an American college or university.  Participants are emerging leaders committed to their home countries and communities, and throughout the Global UGRAD program they will challenge themselves to explore U.S. society, culture, and academic learning.  

Per J-1 visa regulations, interested applicants in medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacology or other clinical fields of study should be made aware 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.

Individuals participating in the Global UGRAD program are required to: 

• Uphold the academic standards of the host institution and abide by all program terms and conditions.  Failure to maintain academic standards or meet the goals of the program may result in the participants’ dismissal from the program.
• Perform 20 hours of volunteer community service during their semester on the Global UGRAD program.
• Return to Mongolia immediately after completion of the program.  Participants may not stay for further degree study or for any other purpose in the U.S.

Eligibility Criteria

Global UGRAD is open to all academic fields of study and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or disability.  Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.   

The Global UGRAD Program is merit-based and is open to anyone who: 

• Is a Mongolian citizen residing in Mongolia;
• Is 18-24 years old at the time of application;
• Has completed secondary education in Mongolia and is currently enrolled as an undergraduate at an accredited university, public or private;
• Has completed the first year of undergraduate study prior to starting the Global UGRAD Program;
• Has at least one semester or an equivalent term remaining to complete at the home institution upon return after the Global UGRAD Program;
• Has a GPA of no less than 3.0;
• Has a solid command of both written and spoken English: English language test scores are not mandatory at the time of application.  However, if selected for the program the candidates will be requested to take TOEFL IBT.  The minimum target score is TOEFL IBT 61 or ITP/PBT 500.  Note: One semester of English training prior to the start of the academic studies may be provided for students who have lower English skills but are otherwise strongly qualified;
• Able to begin studies in the U.S. in January 2022 (selected participants may not defer to a later date);
• Eligible to receive and maintain a U.S. exchange visa for students (J-1) required for the program;
• Committed to returning to Mongolia after the completion of the program.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar.