Програма обміну для студентів вищих навчальних закладів (Global UGRAD) – це  програма культурного обміну, яка здійснюється Бюро у справах освіти та культури Державного департаменту США та підтримується народом Сполучених Штатів Америки. Ця міжнародна освітня та культурна програма обміну підтримує талановитих іноземних студентів, надає можливість майбутнім лідерам навчатися у США з метою поглиблення знань та вивчення культури і традицій Сполучених Штатів Америки. Дедлайн - 31 грудня 2019 р.  (далі - англ.).

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is supported by the people of the United States. This international educational and cultural exchange program brings future leaders to the United States to experience the U.S. educational system, enhance their knowledge and skills, and explore U.S. culture and values. It also affords students the opportunity to educate Americans about other cultures and traditions. The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program is administered through the joint efforts of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Embassies abroad and World Learning.

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.

Program Description

The U.S. Department of State and World Learning are pleased to announce the open competition for the Global UGRAD Program for undergraduate students for the 2020-2021 academic year. Participants will be selected for academic excellence, leadership potential, community involvement, fluency in written and spoken English, motivation and flexibility to be an exchange student.

The Global UGRAD scholarship provides one academic semester of undergraduate, non-degree study in the United States in all fields. Students majoring in business administration, entrepreneurship, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are strongly encouraged to apply. Interested applicants in medicine, nursing, veterinary medicine, pharmacology or other clinical fields of study, should be aware 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. Participants will study at accredited four-year U.S. institutions of higher education, receive intensive English instruction if needed, and engage in community service, professional development workshops, and cultural enrichment activities. Global UGRAD participants cannot choose their host institution and will live on-campus with U.S. peers.

Candidates should be highly motivated and demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities.

In addition to coursework in their fields of study, U.S. studies, and electives, Global UGRAD finalists will engage in several non-academic activities including:

• Pre-Departure Orientation: all Global UGRAD finalists must attend a pre-departure orientation (PDO) prior departure to the United States.
• Community Service: Global UGRAD finalists engage with their U.S. communities through the completion of required community service.
• Program Symposium: During the program, Global UGRAD finalists will attend a leadership and career development symposium in Washington, DC.

Financial Support

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

Eligibility Requirements

Global UGRAD applicants will be considered irrespective to their race, color, religion, ethnicity, or gender.  Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Global UGRAD Program is a merit-based competition opened to anyone WHO IS:

• a citizen of Ukraine currently residing and studying in Ukraine as a full time University student at the undergraduate level;
• over 18 years of age by the start date of their Global UGRAD Program in the United States;
• enrolled as an undergraduate student in good academic standing at any university in Ukraine, public or private;
• not enrolled in his/her final year of studies at the time of application; the Global UGRAD Program cannot be the final academic term of a student’s undergraduate study;
• have at least one academic semester or an equivalent term remaining for completion at home university in Ukraine upon return from Global UGRAD Program;
• has a solid command of written and spoken English (English language skills should be strong enough to study in the U.S. university);
• able to begin studies in the United States in August 2020 or January 2021 (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;
• committed to return to the 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 United States;
• Individuals currently studying, residing, or working outside Ukraine;
• Graduate students;
• Undergraduate students on their final academic year at the 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.

Student Responsibility

Individuals participating in the Global UGRAD Program are required to uphold the academic standards of the host institution and abide by all program terms and conditions. Failure to maintain academic standards or meet the goals of the program may result in the participants’ dismissal from the program.

Students will be placed at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Students will not be able to select their own placement. Students will take courses in their fields of study and are expected to take one academic course related to the U.S. studies. The number of credits earned during these courses is included in the obligatory 12 credits per semester. Additional credits are contingent upon U.S. host institution and are subject to World Learning’s approval. Students will live in university housing/dormitories. Students are required to perform 20 hours of volunteer community service during their semester on Global UGRAD program. Students will not be eligible to transfer into degree programs in the U.S. All participants must return to their home country immediately after completing their program.

Application Instructions

Only electronic applications are accepted for the 2020-2021 Global UGRAD Program. Applicants should log on to the site: www.worldlearning.org/ugrad to gain access to the online application system. Applicants will be able to complete their entire application online, as well as upload letters of recommendation and all required documents.

Please read all instructions and information carefully before completing the application, and review all fields before making any submission online. The application can be saved and submitted at a later time. All forms in the application must be completed in English.

To be considered for evaluation, applicants MUST:

• Answer every question completely and carefully.
• Respond to essay questions as instructed, adhering to indicated word limits.
• Upload two letters of recommendation with certified translations, if necessary. One letter of recommendation must be completed by instructor, professor or advisor from the student’s university. The second recommendation can be from another instructor, an employer, coach, former exchange program coordinator or community/volunteer activities supervisor. Each letter of recommendation must have a contact information (telephone, email address) of a person who provided it. Family members and personal friends may not provide letters of recommendation.
• Upload complete and certified official undergraduate transcripts (starting from the first year of studying at the university) with certified English translations. First year students are required to upload atestat of complete secondary education and ‘dodatok do atestatu’, both documents with certified translation. Grades must be printed on official school/ university stationery, signed by a dean or equivalent official, and certified with official university seal or by translation agency.
• Upload official confirmation of the current academic year enrollment – ‘dovidka’ (if not included in transcript). This document does not need official translation to English.
• Upload a copy of international passport bio (first) page or government-issued ID (if the applicant does not have international passport.)
• Upload English language test score report (if taken previously). This document is not required.
• All additional documents including certificates of achievements, Olympiads, conferences etc. are not required but can be uploaded under the ‘Portfolio’ part of application.

The contents of academic transcripts and recommendations will be verified with the appropriate institutions and instructors.

IMPORTANT: Applications are expected to represent the original thought and individual work of the applicant.  Plagiarism, representing another author’s language thoughts ideas or expressions as your original work without proper acknowledgment, is unacceptable. Any instance of plagiarism in a student application or essay is grounds for immediate disqualification from consideration for the Global UGRAD program.

Once the application is completed and ALL supporting documents are uploaded, hit “Submit” to officially apply. Once submitted, you will not be able to change the information on the forms.

Selection Process

Competition for the Global UGRAD Program is open and merit-based. Selection committee will review all eligible applications and invite semi-finalists for interviews.

Upon receipt, evaluation of applications and interview reports, final selection will be made by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Global UGRAD Program finalists and alternate candidates will be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  A limited number of finalists will be eligible for intensive English language training before beginning their academic programs in the U.S. All finalists and alternate candidates must also complete a medical exam and receive required immunizations prior to beginning of the Program.

Application Checklist

Please check that you have included all of the following (where applicable) with your application:

• Complete online application (all applicable questions must be answered);
• Electronic signature on application;
• Required essays;
• Two letters of recommendation;
• Official translation of any recommendations not written in English originally;
• Official academic transcripts with university/department seal;
• Official verified translations of the official transcripts if not issued in English;
• Official confirmation of the current academic year enrollment (dovidka). This document does not need official translation into English;
• ‘Atestat’ of complete secondary education and ‘dodatok do atestatu’ with certified English translation in place of the official academic transcript (for first-year students only);
• Photocopy of the first page of your international passport or ID card.

Application Deadline

The student application for the 2020-2021 Global UGRAD Program opens on November 4, 2019 and closes at 5:00pm EST on December 31, 2019 via a central application system managed by World Learning. Applicants should log on to the site: worldlearning.org/ugrad to gain access to the online application system.

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.  It is a candidate responsibility to request all transcripts and academic recommendations in sufficient time to receive them before the application deadline.

For more information, please, contact us at: [email protected] and by phone: (+38 044) 521 5043.

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