Deadline:
December 04, 2024
Location(s)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Ghana India Indonesia Jordan North Macedonia Malaysia Morocco Senegal Thailand Turkey
Worldwide
Overview
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is offering American high school students and recent graduates full scholarships to study for one academic year in countries of strategic importance.
Details
U.S. citizen high school students and recent graduates (age 15-18.5) live and study for an academic year in select countries with significant Muslim populations through full scholarships from the U.S. Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad program.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, YES Abroad students may live in the following countries:
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Ghana | India | Indonesia | Jordan | Malaysia | Morocco | North Macedonia l Senegal | Thailand | Türkiye
The YES Abroad program was initiated as a reciprocal extension of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program for international students in countries with a significant Muslim population. The first group of Americans participated in YES Abroad in the 2009-2010 academic year, living and studying in 10 select YES countries. The program now offers 65 full scholarships to American students nationwide.
Living with a host family and attending a local school, YES Abroad students promote mutual understanding between the United States and their host country by forming lasting relationships with the local community.
Participants live with a host family, attend a local high school, acquire leadership skills, and engage in activities to learn about the host country’s society and values; they also help educate others about American society and values. For specific details, click on any of the participating countries in the list above.
The YES Abroad scholarship covers costs related to round-trip airfare and room and board for the pre-departure orientation; round-trip airfare between the participant’s home region and community abroad; in-country support; cultural activities; school tuition (where applicable); room and board with a host family; secondary medical benefits; visa fees; and a modest stipend.
The YES Abroad program is administered in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs by a consortium of organizations led by American Councils for International Education in partnership with AFS-USA, Inc., the American-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (Amideast), and the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN).
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Basic Eligibility Requirements
The below eligibility details are for the 2025-2026 program. To be eligible for YES Abroad you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be enrolled in grades 9-12 (high school, including home school) at the time of application
- Be born between December 30, 2006 - June 30, 2010.
- Applicants of all grade-point averages and academic performance are encouraged to apply.
Additional Eligibility Information
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) offers many opportunities for American youth to participate in international exchanges. ECA seeks to represent the diversity of America in these youth exchange programs and to make sure the selection process is fair and transparent.
Strong selection preference is given to those who have not previously participated in an in-person exchange program or lived abroad for six months or more during the past five years.
This eligibility policy applies to the following programs, which take place outside the United States:
- Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Outbound
- Future Leaders Exchange Abroad Program (FLEX Abroad)
- Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad)
- National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
- Youth Ambassadors and Youth Leadership Programs
To be eligible, an individual must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be enrolled in grades 9-12 (high school, including home school) at the time of application
- Meet age and GPA requirements specific to the program
- Not be in either of the two ineligibility categories described below
Dates
Deadline: December 04, 2024
Cost/funding for participants
The YES Abroad scholarship covers costs related to: round-trip airfare, room and board for the Pre-Departure Orientation; round-trip airfare between the participant’s home region and community abroad; in-country support; cultural activities; school tuition (where applicable); room and board with a host family; secondary medical benefits; visa fees; and a modest stipend.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
