U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan has announced a call for proposals for the 2021-2022 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 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States 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.

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.

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 twenty hours of community service. There will also be a virtual arrival orientation and an in-person end-of-program workshop.

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 Criteria

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 enrolled in full-time undergraduate programs in good standing at any accredited university in Uzbekistan;
• Have completed a minimum of their first 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;
• Have a solid command of written and spoken English. Finalists and alternates will be required to take the TOEFL iBT test and achieve a minimum score of 48. The cost of TOEFL will be covered by the program.
• Are able to begin studies in the United States in August 2021 (fall semester) or January 2022 (spring semester);
• Are eligible to receive and maintain the U.S. student exchange visa (J-1) required for the program; and
• Are committed to returning directly to their home country after the completion of the program.

For more information, visit US Embassy.