Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD)

The application for the 2016 Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) in the United States (NON-DEGREE) is now open!

APPLY ONLINE HERE DEADLINE: January 1, 2016

The Embassy of the United States in Kosovo is pleased to announce the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) competition for 2016-2017.  This program offers one-semester scholarships for non-degree, full-time study at accredited four-year institutions of higher education in the United States, combined with community service, professional development workshops, and cultural enrichment activities.

Successful candidates should be highly motivated and demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. They  also should have little or no prior experience in the United States.

The scholarship will cover international travel, tuition, room and board, accident/sickness insurance, a small monthly stipend, and funding for books. Host institutions will offer instruction on topics including academic research and writing, critical thinking, time management, note-taking, and studying for and taking tests. Participants will live on-campus with U.S. peers or in homestays with American families.  It is the students’ responsibility to check with their home institutions whether any credits accumulated during the Global UGRAD program will be transferred.  

Eligibility/Requirements:

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. Competition for the program is highly competitive and merit based. Finalists will be selected on the basis of academic excellence, leadership potential, and their preparedness for study in the United States.

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

• At least 18 years of age at the beginning of the Global UGRAD in the United States
• A Kosovo citizen qualified to hold a valid passport
• Enrolled in good standing in a undergraduate degree program at any accredited university, public or private, in Kosovo
• Has at least one semester or equivalent term to complete at their home university at the conclusion of the Global UGRAD
• Must have completed their first year of undergraduate study prior to starting the Global UGRAD in the United States
• A solid command of written and spoken English (finalists must take the TOEFL exam; English Language training for some finalists may be possible)
• Able to begin studies in the United States in August 2016 or January 2017 (selected participants may not defer to a later date)
• Eligible to receive and maintain the US student exchange visa (J-1) required for the program
• Cleared by a physician to participate in the program
• Committed to returning to their home country after the completion of the program for a minimum of two years.

Application Process:

Interested applicants must apply by January 1st to the U.S. Embassy Pristina using the official Global UGRAD online application form.  Finalists will be notified and interviewed in February 2016. Final nominations are pending approval by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in Washington, D.C. Successful candidates will be notified of their awards by May 2016.

Application Guidelines:

The application process should be completed online (browsers Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are recommended) and must include the following supporting documents:

• Essay
• Academic transcripts for years of university study (finalists must provide official academic transcripts and certified English translations)
• Two letters of recommendation (signed and/or stamped by the recommender; if not in English, an accurate translation must be attached)
• Portfolio (optional; examples: art, architecture, etc.)
• Copy of passport biographical page.

For more information regarding the application process, requirements, and general guidelines, please visit the Global UGRAD website.

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Only complete applications (with all supporting documents listed above) will be considered for the program.

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For additional information about the Global UGRAD, please contact the Cultural Affairs Assistant – Education via email:  [email protected] Phone: 381 38 5959 3749