Applications open for Community College Initiative Program (South Africa)

The CCI Program encourages a holistic learning and exchange experience and focuses on five program pillars: academics, cultural exchange, service learning, internships, and leadership and community impact. All five pillars of the CCI Program are of equal importance.

The Program provides participants with a non-degree, academic program at a U.S. community college designed to build participants’ technical skills in applied fields, enhance their leadership capabilities, and strengthen their English language proficiency. It also provides opportunities for professional internships, service learning, and community engagement. After completing the program, participants return home with enhanced skills to help them contribute to the economic development of their countries.

The CCI Program demonstrates U.S. commitment to increasing access to higher education for international students from underrepresented and underserved communities in selected countries and highlights the learning environment offered at U.S. community colleges. The program also builds U.S. community colleges’ efforts to deepen international education partnerships and programming.

Focus Areas

• The CCI Program offers study in the following fields:
  • Agriculture
  • Applied Engineering
  • Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Information Technology (IT)
  • Creative Economy and Media

Eligibility Criteria

• Competition for the CCI Program is merit-based and open to anyone who:
  • Is a citizen, national or permanent resident qualified to hold a valid passport issued by a country participating in the CCI Program.
  • Is currently residing in the eligible country.
  • Is 18 years or older by July 1, 2025.
  • Has successfully earned a secondary school diploma.
  • Has not completed the equivalent of three years toward a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher in the field of study the applicant is nominated to pursue. Nominees without substantive post-secondary education will be given placement priority.
  • Has demonstrated commitment to the selected field of study through some academic or professional experience. The program aims to identify participants with proven skills or interest and limited professional experience in the fields of study offered.
  • Has basic working knowledge of English language as demonstrated by a minimum English Language Proficiency exam score on one of the accepted exams, such as TOEFL and Duolingo. For example, a candidate must submit with their application a minimum TOEFL IBT score of 420 to be eligible. To enroll in credit-bearing courses in an academic field of study, the applicant must meet the minimum language requirements of the host college—usually 500 on the TOEFL test or equivalent scores on other accepted exams. Participant language skills will be evaluated upon arrival at the host institution. A host campus testing result will be the score used to determine course placements. English language training will be necessary and is available for those who score below the host college’s unique requirements and must have an interest in taking English language classes as an initial primary academic focus; they will have limited access to courses in their field of study until the requisite level is met. A list of accepted exams and minimum scores is provided to the relevant staff at the Embassy of the United States or Fulbright Commission conducting the recruitment in the applicant’s home country.
  • Has limited or no overseas study experience. Nominees with no prior overseas study or travel to the United States will be given placement priority.
  • Meets any customized requirements of the home country Embassy/Consulate or Commission.
  • Submits a complete original application.
  • Is able to receive a U.S. J-1 visa and meet the program conditions to maintain that status.
  • Is willing and mentally and physically able (with accommodations as required) to complete the program in its entirety, including activities or travel that may be programmed on any day of the week, possibly including early morning or evening hours.
  • Is committed to returning to their home country after completion of the program and satisfying the J-visa two-year residency requirement.
  • Is able to begin the academic exchange program in the United States in July 2025.

Ineligibility Criteria

• A candidate may be removed from consideration if they do not meet all technical eligibility requirements.
• Individuals in the following circumstances are not eligible for the Community College Initiative Program:
  • U.S. citizens.
  • Non-U.S. citizens living in the United States.
  • Individuals currently participating in academic, training, or research programs in the United States.
  • Individuals currently studying, residing, or working outside of the eligible 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 their CCI application.
  • Individuals who have applied for U.S. permanent residency.
  • Local employees of the U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Employees are also ineligible for one year following the termination of employment.
  • Immediate family members (i.e., spouses and children) of U.S. Embassy and Fulbright Commission employees. Family members are also ineligible for one year following the termination of employment.
  • Persons arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a crime (excluding minor traffic violations).

Review Criteria

• The CCI Program is conducted as a merit-based open competition. After the application deadline, all applications will be reviewed in country for eligibility and assessed by a panel of exchange program specialists. Competitive applicants will be interviewed in their home countries by a nomination committee.
• The nomination committee will use the following criteria to evaluate applications (not in order of importance):
  • Demonstrated interest and professional goals in the field of study applicant wishes to pursue.
  • Full commitment and emotional readiness to participate in all components of an intensive program.
  • Cross-cultural interest.
  • Leadership potential.
  • Flexibility and suitability as an exchange student.
  • Proficiency in written and spoken English.
  • Commitment to returning to home country after the program to fulfill a two-year home residency requirement.
  • Preference will be given to applicants who have no prior experience outside their home countries.
  • Preference will be given to applicants who represent underserved and underrepresented communities, including women.
  • Preference will be given to those applicants who have not yet completed more than three years of towards a bachelor’s degree.
  • Preference will be given to those applicants who can express how the CCI Program connects directly to their personal and professional short-term and long-term goals.

Application Requirements

• Submit a completed original application with signature on the last page.
• Each applicant must complete their own application form. Applicants may consult with others for advice on how to complete the form, but each applicant must write their own responses.
• Please answer all questions on the application in English. Do not leave a space blank. If a question does not apply to you, enter N/A (not applicable).
• Include your full legal name with family name (surname) in capital letters first as spelled on your international passport (if available).
• Include complete contact information, including postal codes for addresses and city/country codes for phone numbers.
• Handwritten applications must be neatly printed.
• Submit the application by the deadline established by the U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission located in your country.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in South Africa.