Open Call: Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Georgia)

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) is a fully funded academic and cultural exchange program designed to increase participants’ knowledge and foster global connections. Global UGRAD participants come from 60+ countries and study for a semester at universities across the United States.

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

• Applicants must be a citizen of the country in which they apply for the Global UGRAD Program.
• Be at least 18 years old by August of the relevant academic year. For example, if you are applying to participate in the program for the 2025-2026 academic year, you must 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.
• Have at least one full academic year of undergraduate study remaining after May of the relevant academic year that you participate in the Global UGRAD Program. For example, if you are applying to participate in the program for the 2025-2026 academic year, you must have at least one full year of undergraduate study remaining after May 2026.
• Be able to communicate in English. Applicants must achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 48iBT to be considered. Students who score between 48-60 will be considered for the virtual English Language Training prior to the exchange portion of the program. Students must achieve a minimum score of 61 to be eligible to participate in the exchange portion of the program in the United States.
• Be committed to service in your community.
• Preference will be given to those with little or no experience in the United States or outside their home countries.
• Applicants are required to return directly to their home country after completing the program.

Ineligibility criteria

• 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 participating countries.
• 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 in Georgia.