Global Undergraduate Exchange Program 2025-26 (Vietnam)

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) 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.  Global UGRAD is a program sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, which aims to recruit participants from underrepresented backgrounds who have not had other opportunities to study in the United States. 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.

All participants will be enrolled in full-time, non-degree, undergraduate coursework chosen from their host institutions’ existing curricula. 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 20 hours of community service. There will also be a virtual arrival orientation and an in-person end-of-program workshop.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates who fulfill the following qualifications are invited to apply:
  • Be at least 18 years old by August 2025;
  • Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing at an accredited academic institution in Vietnam;
  • Have at least one full academic year of undergraduate study remaining after May 2026.
  • Achieved at least a 7.5 GPA in the previous semester;
  • Demonstrate a strong command of written and spoken English;
  • Demonstrate strong leadership qualities through academic performance, community involvement, and extracurricular activities;
  • Preference will be given to those who have had little or no experience in the United States; and
  • Committed to return directly to Vietnam after completion of the program.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible for the Global UGRAD Program:
  • U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States.
  • Individuals currently participating in academic, training, or research programs in the United States.
  • Individuals currently residing or working outside of Vietnam.
  • Individuals who have participated in an Exchange Visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. government (e.g., U.S. Department of State including U.S. Embassies, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), or other U.S. government agency) for a period of more than six weeks and who have not fulfilled their two-year home residency requirement by the application deadline.
  • Individuals who have applied for U.S. permanent residency in the past three years.
  • Employees, and their families, of non-profit organizations who administer the Global UGRAD Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. This provision does not disqualify self-supporting members of families who live apart from their parents.
  • Local employees of U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State or USAID are ineligible during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment.
  • Immediate family members (i.e., spouses and dependent children) of U.S. Department of State employees and/or USAID are ineligible for a period of one year following the termination of such employment. This provision does not disqualify self-supporting members of families who live apart from their parents.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam.