Deadline: 6-Jan-22
The U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan has announced Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) to recruit undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds who have not had other opportunities to study in the United States.
This program 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. 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.
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 an arrival orientation and an in-person end-of-program workshop.
All academic fields of study are eligible. Per J-1 visa regulations, applicants interested in medicine, nursing, veterinary medicine, pharmacology or other clinical fields of study should note 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.
The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) provides scholarships for talented students from around the world to attend U.S. universities and colleges for one semester of undergraduate, non-degree study. The Global UGRAD program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is supported by the people of the United States. The program is administered through the joint efforts of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the U.S. Embassies, and World Learning.
Goals
To promote mutual understanding between people of the United States and other countries.
- Provide a fulfilling exchange experience to drive academic, cross-cultural, and leadership competencies for students from Global UGRAD countries;
- Enhance students’ academic knowledge and professional skills needed to pursue long-term academic and career goals;
- Cultivate students’ comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the U.S.;
- Facilitate opportunities for students to establish social networks with U.S. host institutions and local communities;
- Empower students to engage constructively in the civic life of their local and global communities.
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 currently enrolled in full-time undergraduate programs in good standing at any accredited university in Uzbekistan;
- Have completed at least one 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 2022 (fall semester) or January 2023 (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.
Note: Preference will be given to those who have had little or NO experience in the U.S. or outside of their home countries. Individuals who have participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. government for a period of more than six weeks and who have not fulfilled their two-year home residency requirement by the time of application are not eligible.
For more information, visit https://uz.usembassy.gov/education-culture/exchange-programs/global-undergraduate-exchange-program/