The U.S. Embassy in Albania is pleased to announce the 2020-2021 Global UGRAD Student Application to provide 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.

Global UGRAD is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, and aims to recruit participants from underrepresented backgrounds who have not had other opportunities to study in 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. Global UGRAD alumni often go on to receive Fulbright grants, obtain prestigious international internships, and work in business and government in their home countries.

Fields of Study

Global UGRAD is open to all academic fields of study and does not discriminate based on race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or disability.

Eligibility Criteria

The Global UGRAD Program is open to anyone who is/has:

1. Applicants are over 18 years of age.
2. Applicants must be a citizen of Albania.
3. Applicants must be studying in Albania.
4. Scholarships will be granted to students who currently are enrolled in full-time undergraduate programs only, having completed a minimum of their first semester of study. Participants must have at least one semester or an equivalent term to complete at their home institutions upon completion of the Global UGRAD Program.
5. Applicants should demonstrate leadership potential through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities.
6. A solid command of written and spoken English (English Language training for some finalists is possible);
7. Preference will be given to those who have had little or no experience in the United States or outside of their home countries.
8. Eligible to receive and maintain a U.S. student exchange visa (J-1) required for the program.
9. Applicants are required to return directly to their home country after the completion of the program.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Albania.