U.S. Department of State Exchanges for U.S. Citizens

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Exchange Programs

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State funds many international exchange programs for professionals, teachers, researchers, and college/university and high school students.  A variety of international exchange programs administer these programs. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Find Opportunties For:

U.S. Institutions

Graduate Students

Scholars and Professionals

Undergraduate Students

Youth (18 and under)

U.S. Institutions

THE WORLDWIDE FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE (SIR) PROGRAM
Council for International Exchange of Scholars
3007 Tilden Street NW Suite 5L
Washington, D.C. 20008-3009
Karen Watts, Senior Program Officer
Tel: 202.686.4004
E-mail: SIRapps@cies.iie.org

The Worldwide Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program brings visiting scholars and professionals from abroad to lecture at U.S. colleges and universities for one semester or one academic year. In addition to teaching courses, scholars give campus-wide and community lectures, help initiate international programs and contribute to curriculum development. Although preference is given to proposals in the humanities or social sciences, other fields focusing on international issues will be considered. The program is especially appropriate for small liberal arts colleges, minority-serving institutions, and community colleges, many of which do not often have the opportunity to host visiting scholars. Under the Scholar-in-Residence (SIR) Program, interested institutions submit proposals to invite scholars to teach one or more courses and to be in residence for a semester or an academic year. Proposals are welcome from individual institutions, as well as from consortia of two or more institutions. Institutions may suggest suitable candidates or have the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) recruit scholars from a particular world area.

OCCASIONAL LECTURER PROGRAM
The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES)
3007 Tilden St. NW Suite 52
Washington DC 20008-3009
Telephone: 202-686-4000
Email: apprequest@cies.iie.org  

The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) provides travel awards through the Occasional Lecturer Program (OLP), which enable Fulbright Visiting Scholars except for those on the Fulbright Visiting Specialists Program: Direct Access to the Muslim World, who are currently in the U.S. to accept guest lecturing invitations at colleges and universities.

THE WORLDWIDE FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE (SIR) PROGRAM

To apply for an award, the Visiting Scholar must submit to CIES at least one month before the visit is to take place a formal letter of invitation from an institution, in which the institution indicates the dates of the visit and the lecture topic. Within one week of receiving the application, CIES will inform the scholar whether or not the OLP Travel Award has been approved. The scholar is responsible for purchasing an airline ticket or arranging some other means of transportation, such as a train, bus or rental car.

Faculty and professional staff of U.S. colleges and universities can identify scholars to invite to their campuses for OLP visits by consulting the Directory of Fulbright Visiting Scholars  which lists all visiting scholars in the United States for the current academic year. Institutions may contact scholars directly via the faculty associates and departments provided or they can also contact CIES to obtain scholars' telephone numbers or e-mail addresses.

FULBRIGHT EUROPEAN UNION SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM
Council for International Exchange of Scholars
Karen Watts
Senior Program Officer
3007 Tilden Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: 202.686.4004
E-mail: kwatts@cies.iie.org

The purpose of the Fulbright European Union Scholar-in-Residence Program is to strengthen expertise in European Union affairs by bringing to U.S. campuses scholars from the European Union. Proposals are welcome from research and graduate institutions that have established programs in international affairs, business, political science, or other related fields in which the presence of a EU expert would be beneficial.

The scholars give guest lectures and conduct seminars as appropriate, consult with faculty and students on research, engage in collaborative study, and provide outreach to neighboring institutions and the local community. The resident fellows are not expected to teach regular courses.

All accredited institutions of higher education with appropriate programs and activities relating to EU affairs that are able to productively utilize a resident fellow are encouraged to submit proposals under this special program.

Scholars and Professionals

TRADITIONAL FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR PROGRAM
Council for International Exchange of Scholars
3007 Tilden Street, NW, Suite 5L
Washington, DC 20008-3009
Telephone: 202.686.4000

Eligibility: U.S. citizenship, Ph.D. or equivalent professional degree or recognized professional standing, college or university teaching experience, foreign language proficiency except in areas where English is utilized for teaching. Grantees lecture and conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.

THE FULBRIGHT SENIOR SPECIALISTS PROGRAM
Council for International Exchange of Scholars
3007 Tilden Street, NW, Suite 5L
Washington, DC 20008-3009
Elizabeth Cochran
Senior Program Coordinator
E-mail: fulspec@cies.iie.org
Telephone: 202.686.7871

The Fulbright Senior Specialists Program is designed to provide short-term academic opportunities (two to six weeks) for U.S. faculty and professionals. Shorter grant lengths give specialists greater flexibility to pursue a grant that works best with their current academic or professional commitments. Candidates are limited to one Specialists grant per calendar year. Applications for the Fulbright Senior Specialists Program are accepted on a rolling basis, and peer review of applications is conducted eight times per year.

Eligibility: U.S. citizen, professional degree or standing, must be residing in the United States at the time they are approved for a grant and intend to return to their U.S. institution after the grant's completion.

FULBRIGHT DISTINGUISHED CHAIRS PROGRAM
Council for International Exchange of Scholars
3007 Tilden St., NW, Suite 5L
Washington, DC 20008
Maria Bettua
Telephone: 202.686.6245
E-mail: mbettua@cies.iie.org

Candidates for the Fulbright Distinguished Chairs Program should be senior scholars and have a significant publication and teaching record.

FULBRIGHT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS PROGRAM (IEA)
Council for International Exchange of Scholars
3007 Tilden St., NW, Suite 5L
Washington, DC 20008-3009

Japan & Korea
David Adams
Senior Program Officer
E-mail: dadams@cies.iie.org
Telephone: 202.686.4021

Germany
Maria Bettua
Senior Program Officer 
E-mail: mbettua@cies.iie.org
Telephone: 202.686.6245

The seminars are designed to introduce participants to the society, culture and higher education systems of these countries through campus visits, meetings with foreign colleagues and government officials, attendance at cultural events and briefings on education.

Eligibility: U.S. citizen, international education professional or senior university administrator, affiliation with an accredited college or university or nonprofit international exchange organization administering postsecondary student or faculty exchange. Applicants should have a minimum of three years of work experience in international education.

OFFICE OF CITIZEN EXCHANGES

Western Hemisphere and East Asia and the Pacific Division
Office of Citizen Exchanges (ECA/PE/C)
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
U.S. Department of State
SA-44, 301 Fourth Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20547
Tel: 202.453.8181

Near East/South Asia and Africa Division (ECA/PE/C/NEA-AF)
Office of Citizen Exchanges
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
U.S. Department of State
SA-44, 301 4th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20547
Tel: 202.453.8159

Office of Citizen Exchanges supports professional programs that take place in the United States and overseas. These exchanges demonstrate how Americans deal with the issues of professional interest to the foreign participants. In addition, programs are designed to give Americans international and cross-cultural perspectives. Programs may extend over more than one fiscal year and include travel by American specialists overseas and visits of foreign specialists to the U.S. as part of the same, coordinated program.

Subject areas for Office of Citizen Exchanges include conflict resolution, environmental protection, trade unions, education administration and curriculum reform, media development, judicial training, local government, intellectual property rights, rule of law, public administration, small business development and management training, citizen networking, and other academic and professional disciplines. Emerging leaders and young professionals in a range of fields are preferred for participation in these programs.

Following a thorough review and independent paneling of all technically eligible proposals, and based on recommendations by various Department of State offices, funding decisions are made by the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

FULBRIGHT GERMAN STUDIES SEMINAR
Council for International Exchange of Scholars
3007 Tilden Street NW Suite 5L
Washington DC 20008-3009
Senior Program Officer Richard Pettit
Telephone: 202.686.6240
Alisha Scott
Telephone: 202.686.6244
E-mail: ascott@cies.iie.org

Scholars from U.S. universities, colleges, and community colleges who hold full-time teaching appointments and meet other academic requirements (Ph.D., Ph.D. candidacy or other equivalent degree or qualifications) are eligible. The program is in English and the grant is for two weeks. 

FULBRIGHT NEW CENTURY SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Council for International Exchange of Scholars
Suite 5L, 3007 Tilden St., NW
Washington, DC 20008
E-mail: NCS@cies.iie.org
Telephone: (202) 686-4000

Successful candidates may be established senior scholars or promising younger ones; they will be active in the academic, public or private sector and will demonstrate outstanding qualifications and a distinguished record of experience, research and accomplishment in an area clearly related to the NCS theme. Applicants must be conducting current research relevant to the program's theme and objectives, be open to exploring and incorporating comparative, interdisciplinary approaches in their investigations, and be interested in developing collaborative activities with other NCS Scholars.

Eligibility:

• For Academic applicants, a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant field.
• For applicants in the professional fields, the appropriate terminal degree in a relevant field.
• U.S. applicants must have U.S. citizenship and be residing permanently in the United States
• Fluency in English

Young Professionals

CONGRESS – BUNDESTAG YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS EXCHANGE (CBYX)
CDS International
440 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212.497.3535
E-mail: info@cdsintl.org

This exchange is dedicated to young professionals between the ages of 18 and 24 who study for one semester in language schools and institutions of higher education and participate in practical training with a German company for one semester. The program is designed primarily for career-oriented young adults in business, technical, agricultural and vocational fields. Prior German language skills are not required. Applicants to the CBYX Young Professionals exchange should be:

• A high school graduate with a good record of academic achievement
• No younger than 18 and no older than 24 at the time of application
• Have a well-defined career goal and practical work experience

CONGRESS – BUNDESTAG YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM  
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL EXCHANGE
Nacel Open Door
380 Jackson St. Suite 200
St. Paul, MN 55101
Toll Free: 800-622-3553
Phone: (651) 686-0080
Fax: (651) 686-9601

This program sends graduating high school seniors aged 18 with a vocational specialization to Germany for two months of intensive language training followed by ten months of practical training and schooling in their field of interest. Prior German language skills are not required. Nacel Open Door recruits and selects participants for the exchange and administers the program.

Undergraduate Students

 
GILMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Institute of International Education
1800 West Loop South Suite 250
Houston, TX 77027
Email: gilman@iie.org
Tel: 713.621.6300, ext 25
Fax: 713.621.0876

Eligible U.S. undergraduates can apply to receive financial support for study abroad programs worldwide through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Established under the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000, the Gilman Scholarships provide up to $5,000 for American students to pursue overseas study for college credit. Students studying critical need languages are eligible for up to $3,000 in additional funding as part of the new Critical Need Language Supplement program.

Critical Need Languages include: Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Turkic (Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish, Turkmen, Uzbek), Persian (Farsi, Dari, Kurdish, Pashto, Tajiki), Indic (Hindi, Urdu, Nepali, Sinhala, Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujurati, Sindhi).

The Gilman Scholarship Program aims to broaden and increase the study abroad population by aiding undergraduate students who are under financial constraints. The Institute of International Education, a New York-based non-profit organization, currently administers the program.

Graduate Students

THE FULBRIGHT PROGRAMS:
IIE/Headquarters
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017-3580
Tel: 212-984-5330
General Inquiries
Walter Jackson, Program Manager
Tel: 212-984-5327
E-mail: wjackson@iie.org

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year. In academic year 2006-2007, more than 1,200 Americans studied abroad in over 140 countries with either full or partial support from the Fulbright Program.

THE FULBRIGHT ENGLISH TEACHING ASSISTANSHIPS PROGRAM
IIE/Headquarters
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017-3580
Tel: 212-984-5327
General Inquiries
Walter Jackson, Program Manager
E-mail: wjackson@iie.org

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships Program, an element of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, is designed to improve foreign students' English language abilities and knowledge of the United States. Participants are placed in outside of capital cities in over 20 countries and are fully integrated into the host community, increasing their own language skills and knowledge of the host country. English Teaching Assistants (ETA) may also pursue individual study/research plans in addition to ETA responsibilities.

THE FULBRIGHT ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION INITIATIVE 
The Fulbright Islamic Civilization Initiative, an element of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, funds research and study in any country where there is a significant Muslim population. Projects receiving funding under this initiative are specifically selected for their potential to enhance Americans' knowledge of Islam and Islamic cultures. 

THE FULBRIGHT CRITICAL LANGUAGE ENHANCEMENT AWARD
The Fulbright Critical Language Enhancement Award, sponsored by the Department of State through the Fulbright Program is open to students who have been awarded a Fulbright U.S. student grant and intend to use one of the eligible languages in their Fulbright project. Application is made in conjunction with the Fulbright Program application.

The Critical Language Enhancement Award is part of the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI) designed to dramatically increase the number of Americans learning critical need foreign languages.  The languages available for the Critical Language Enhancement Award: Arabic, Azeri, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin only), Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Korean, Marathi, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Tajik, Turkish, Urdu, and Uzbek.
 

Youth (18 and under)

CONGRESS – BUNDESTAG YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Youth Programs Division
U.S. Department of State, SA-44
301 4th Street, SW - Room 568
Washington, DC 20547
Email: YouthPrograms@state.gov

The Congress – Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) is administered in the U.S. by the U.S. Department of State, designed to strengthen ties between the younger generations of both countries. In addition to improving their career skills through formal study and work experience, participants expand their perspectives and awareness of each other's culture, society, history and politics. CBYX provides American young people a full scholarship for an academic year experience in the host country.

High School Exchange
This component involves secondary school students between the ages of 15 and 18, who spend a year in Germany living with host families, attending a German school, and participating in community life. Prior German language skills are not required. Students must meet the following minimum requirements to be eligible to apply for the scholarship:

• Academic grade point average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale
• Sophomore, junior, or senior upon application
• Age 15 through 18 (Limited space available for graduating seniors interested in a 13th year of study abroad)

The following organizations are responsible for recruitment and selection of American high school students in the following regions:

• Central: AIFSF at 1-800-322-4678;
• Northeast: AFS-USA  at 1-800-237-4636;
• Pacific/Northwest: ASSE International  at 1-800-333-3802, ext. 207;
• Southeast: Council on International Educational Exchange  at 1-800-448-9944;
• Southwest: AYUSA International  at 1-800-727-4540, ext. 543.

These organizations oversee the exchange experience and work with German partners to place students in German families and schools. For more information, contact the organization responsible for your region.

DIALOGUE IN UNDERSTANDING THROUGH YOUTH (DUTY) PROGRAM
Jewish Agency For Israel North America
North America
USA 633 3rd Ave, 21st Floor
New York NY 10017
Tel: 212-339-6000
Fax: 212-318-6121

Participating Countries: United States, Poland, and Israel

The Dialogue in Understanding Through Youth (DUTY) program was developed to bring together youth, ages 15-17, from the U.S., Poland and Israel. Students in Poland with be selected from Lodz, the sister city of the Baltimore Polish community. Students in Israel will be selected from Ashkelon, the Baltimore Jewish community’s sister-city in Israel. The goal of the program is to provide opportunities for high school students to share their respective historical and cultural heritages through dialogue, educational travel and training. This program is implemented by the Jewish Agency for Israel, in conjunction with the Baltimore Jewish Council and the Polish Heritage Association.

GERMAN AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (GAPP)
Youth Programs Division
U.S. Department of State, SA-44
1014 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10028, USA
Telephone: 1-212-439-8700
Email: YouthPrograms@state.gov

The German American Partnership Program is a high school linkage program between American high schools with German departments and secondary schools in Germany. Each year approximately 5,000 American high school students and teachers visit their partners in Germany, and 8,000 German high school students and teachers are hosted by American families and high schools. The German government, through the Padagodischer Austausch Dienst (PAD), and the participants themselves, sponsor approximately 90% of the program.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS (THEMATIC PROJECTS)
The Youth Leadership Programs (Thematic Projects) Initiative focuses on cultural, civic, and educational exchanges and business internships as vehicles through which the successor generation can re-engage in a dialogue for greater understanding.  Current projects are:

ACCESS
The ACCESS (Access to Community and Civic Enrichment for Students) Program enables teenagers (ages 15-17) and adult educators to participate in intensive, thematic, month-long projects in the United States focused on civic education, leadership, conflict resolution, tolerance and respect for diversity, and community activism.

Center for Excellence in Education
The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) supports the participation of approximately twelve high school students from various countries with significant Muslim populations in RSI, a six-week intensive program in math and science offered at Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the summer. The program includes classroom work, individual research projects, internships and cultural enhancement activities in the Boston area. In previous years, students have been recruited from Morocco, Kuwait, Jordan, India, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, UAE, and Bahrain, and have joined approximately 60 other students from across the United States and other countries at RSI.

LINC Program
The Partnerships for Learning Thematic Youth Projects Initiative: Linking Individuals, Knowledge, and Culture (LINC) fosters mutual understanding between the United States and countries with significant Muslim populations through intensive, usually reciprocal, short-term exchanges of high school students.

INTERNET PARTNERSHIPS & EXCHANGES

THE GLOBAL CONNECTIONS & EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Youth Programs Division
U.S. Department of State, SA-44
301 4th Street, SW - Room 568
Washington, DC 20547
E-mail: YouthPrograms@state.gov

The Youth Programs Division has initiated the Global Connections and Exchange Program for secondary school Internet connectivity and curriculum development. Both teachers and students are offered opportunities to travel to their partner schools as a way to strengthen mutual understanding and solidify virtual relationships through face-to-face meetings. Global Connections programs EMPOWER youth to use technology to tackle universal issues such as gender equity, health, environment, diversity and human rights. Current projects include partnerships with the countries of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the West Bank.

BUILDING RESPECT THROUGH INTERNET DIALOGUE AND GLOBAL EDUCATION (BRIDGE)
475 Riverside Drive Suite 450
New York, NY 10115
Phone 212-870-2693

Building Respect through Internet Dialogue and Global Education (BRIDGE) project seeks to build the capacity of secondary schools in selected countries in the Arab and Southeast Asian Islamic world to work with other schools around the world in online thematic project activities. Project work explores themes such as Culture, Civil Society, Globalization, and Language Learning. The Bridge Project promotes academic, cultural, and community exchange through on-line professional development courses, student/teacher exchanges to the US and abroad, individualized national workshops, and a regional conference.

U.S. – CHINA YOUTH EXCHANGE INITIATIVE
AFS
17th Floor
71 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
United States
(800) 237-4636
E-mail: info.center@afs.org

The program is being administered by AFS-USA and its partner, the Chinese Education Association for International Exchange. Twenty-four schools, twelve in each county, have been selected from geographically diverse regions of both countries and matched with a partner school. Students and educators at all of these schools are connected so that they can work together on Internet-based projects. The partnerships are supported in three or four-week reciprocal exchanges of students and teachers during the school year.

ARMENIA SCHOOL CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM (ASCP)

The Armenia School Connectivity Program provides high-quality computers, Internet access, equipment, and training for a growing network of schools across all 11 regions of Armenia. ASCP provides students, educators, and community members with opportunities to access and share information, to engage in innovative online collaborative projects, and to develop technical skills marketable in a digital world. The program increases school-community interaction, US-Armenian partnerships at the school and community levels, and civic engagement on the local, national, and international levels.