DUSHANBE, November 18, 2008, Asia-Plus — The Government of the United States of America (USG) is pleased to announce the 2009-2010 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) in Eurasia and Central Asia, press release issued by the US Embassy in Dushanbe said.
Formerly known as the Eurasian Undergraduate Exchange Program, the Global UGRAD Program provides opportunities for outstanding students to study at U.S. universities and colleges. Over the past twelve years, more than 2,000 students from Eurasia and Central Asia have taken part in this program. At least 130 students from Eurasia and Central Asia will take part in the 2009-2010 program.
The Global UGRAD Program is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, and administered by the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX). The Global UGRAD program in Eurasia and Central Asia is open to first-, second- and third-year undergraduate students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan for non-degree study in the United States for one academic year. In Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, both full-time and correspondence students are eligible to apply.
All fellows will attend classes full-time for one year and perform a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer service in their host community their first semester and will complete a part-time internship their second semester. Students in their first year at the time of application will be enrolled in two-year community colleges and will live with host families or in dormitories. Students in their second or third year at the time of application will attend four-year colleges and universities and live in dormitories.
The fellowship provides J-1 visa support, round-trip travel from fellow”s home cities to the host institution in the United States, accident and sickness insurance, tuition and mandatory university fees, room and board (housing and meals), a small incidentals allowance, a limited allowance for books, and a variety of alumni networking and training opportunities.
Fields of study for the Global UGRAD Program include accounting, agriculture, anthropology, biology, business, chemistry, computer science, criminal justice, economics, education, engineering, environmental management, geology, hospitality management, international relations, journalism and mass communication, law, physics, political science, psychology, sociology, urban planning, and U.S. studies. Other fields will also be considered.
The deadline for this application is December 10, 2008.
