Global Undergraduate Program 2025

About the program

The Global UGRAD Program (Global Undergraduate Exchange Program) is a prestigious U.S. government-sponsored initiative that offers undergraduate students from across the world the opportunity to study at U.S. colleges and universities for one academic year. This program is administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

Eligible applicants must

Be a Cambodian citizen with at least 18 years of age when beginning the UGRAD program in the United States.
Be currently enrolled in full-time undergraduate degree program in Cambodia and must have completed a minimum of their first semester of study by January 2025.
Have at least one full academic year of undergraduate study remaining after May of the relevant academic year that you participate in the Global UGRAD Program. For example, if you are applying to participate in the program for the 2025-2026 academic year, you must have at least one full year of undergraduate study remaining after May 2026.
Be highly motivated and demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities.
Demonstrate a command of written and spoken English. The TOEFL exam will be required of those selected as finalists or alternates. Applicants must achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 48iBT to be considered. Students who score between 48-60 will be considered for the virtual English Language Training prior to the exchange portion of the program. Students must achieve a minimum score of 61 to be eligible to participate in the exchange portion of the program in the United States.
Preference will be given to students from non-elite or less-privileged backgrounds, from both rural and urban areas, who have had little or NO prior experience in the U.S. or elsewhere outside of their home countries.
Applicants must be committed to return directly to their home country after the completion of the program.

How to apply

Interested students are invited to complete the Online Application and submit it no later than December 15, 2024

Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox work best when completing the UGRAD application. We do NOT recommend using Internet Explorer.

Please read all instructions 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 this application are to be completed in English.

Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be considered.

A complete application package includes:

Online application
Academic transcripts (with English translations), first-year students can submit their school certificate with grades.
Two letters of reference (with English translations). One recommendation should come from your university teacher, and the other should be written by a professor/teacher, OR an employer, coach, or any supervisor or authority familiar with your extra-curricular activities.
Copy of passport biographic information page.

Questions: For further information, please contact the Public Affairs Section via email: PASExchanges@state.gov or phone: 023-728-683. When emailing, use the subject line: “FY 2025 Global UGRAD.”

Application and Program Timeline

Participants will be placed at a U.S. university in either the Fall 2025 semester (August – December 2025) or Spring 2026 semester (January to May 2026).