FY 2026 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program
No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1
Limiting Language
Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.
Executive Summary
The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the administration of the FY 2026 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD). The total amount of funding for this award will be up to $4,800,000, pending the availability of FY 2026 funds.
The Global UGRAD Program places small cohorts of participants at a broad range of colleges and universities, including community colleges, land-grant institutions, rural campuses, and Senior Military Institutions, giving participants a “real American” experience in small towns and rural communities. Participants build skills in strategic U.S. priority fields such as business, entrepreneurship, semiconductors, AI, engineering, critical minerals, manufacturing, and supply chain resilience. All participants are required to study U.S. history, civic engagement, and American culture, deepening their understanding of American excellence, innovation, and culture. Funding should support approximately 160 participants, pending the availability of FY 2026 funds. Every effort should be made to maximize the number of scholarships awarded; staffing levels should be adequate to ensure that participant health and safety are prioritized.