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. The program is sponsored by the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and aims to recruit participants from underrepresented, non-elite 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 course work 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 a virtual arrival orientation and an in-person end-of-program workshop.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs strives to ensure that its efforts reflect the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. The Bureau seeks and encourages the involvement of people from traditionally underrepresented audiences in all its grants, programs, and other activities and in its workforce and workplace. Opportunities are open to people regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Bureau is committed to fairness, equity and inclusion.

The Global UGRAD Program provides for students’ travel to/from the U.S., university tuition, room and board, health insurance, required books, and monthly stipend for incidental expenses.

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.

• over 18 years of age by the start of their program;
• a citizen of a Global UGRAD participating country*, currently residing in that country;
• enrolled as an undergraduate in good standing at any accredited university, public or private, and has at least one semester remaining at their home university at the conclusion of the Global UGRAD program;
• has a solid command of written and spoken English (English Language training for some finalists is possible);
• able to begin studies in the U.S. in August 2019 or January 2020 (selected participants may not defer to a later date);
• eligible to receive and maintain the U.S. 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. Individuals in the following circumstances are not eligible for the Global UGRAD Program:
• U. S. citizens and permanent residents of the U.S.;
• Individuals currently studying, residing, or working outside of their home country;
• Anyone who has already graduated from university;
• 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. Department of State and USAID employees; family members are also ineligible for one year following the termination of employment;
• Current World Learning employees and their immediate family members.

IRO pursues the following priorities to reach the main goal of internationalization strategy.