02/07/2012

Global Undergraduate Exchange Program

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) in Eurasia and Central Asia is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State. The Global UGRAD program provides opportunities for full-time undergraduate students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan to spend one academic year of non-degree study in a US university or community college.  Participants are selected through an open, merit-based competition.

All fellows will:

• Attend classes full-time for one academic year;
• Perform a minimum of 20 hours of community service in their host city during the first semester; and
• Complete a part-time internship during their second semester.

Students in their first-year at the time of application will live with host families or in dormitories and will be enrolled in two-year community colleges. Students in their second or third year at the time of application will live in dormitories at four-year colleges and universities.

The fellowship is fully funded and provides:

• J-1 Visa Support;
• Round-trip travel from fellow’s home city to host institution in the United States;
• Accident and sickness insurance;
• Tuition and mandatory university fees;
• Room and board (housing and meals);
• Small incidentals allowance;
• Limited allowance for books;
• Pre-academic English language training in the home country (if necessary);
• A wide variety of alumni networking and training opportunities.

Program Fields:

• Accounting
• Agriculture
• Anthropology
• Biology
• Business
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Economics
• Education
• Engineering
• Environmental Management
• Geology
• Hospitality Management
• International Relations
• Journalism and Mass Communication
• Law
• Physics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Urban Planning
• U.S. Studies
• Other fields will be considered

Prepare for Your Global UGRAD Application

ADVICE ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Candidates preparing an application for the Global UGRAD program should carefully read these important tips on Academic Integrity.

ADVICE ON TEST PREPARATION
Candidates who are selected as semi-finalists will sit for the TOEFL standardized exam. This test can play an important role in determining admissions to a university. Studying for this exam early and often can help improve your performance. Please review important Advice for Test Takers.

Applications for the Global UGRAD Program Are No Longer Available

For more information about the Global UGRAD program, please e-mail ugrad@irex.tj or contact the IREX Office.