Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD)

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2022-2023 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD)

DEADLINE TO APPLY: December 15, 2022  

The U.S. Embassy in Mozambique is pleased to announce an exchange program opportunity for one semester (approximately five months) of undergraduate study at a U.S. college or university. Participants will be placed at a U.S. university in either the fall 2023 semester (August – December 2023) or spring 2024 semester (January to May 2024).

Program Design

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) provides a diverse group of emerging student leaders with a scholarship for one semester of non-degree academic study at a U.S. college or university. Global UGRAD is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State and aims to recruit participants from underrepresented backgrounds who have not had other opportunities to study in the United States. Successful applicants can expect an in-depth exposure to U.S. society, culture, and academic institutions, as well as opportunities to enhance their professional skills. All participants will be enrolled for one semester in full-time, non-degree, undergraduate coursework chosen from their host institution’s existing curriculum. Participants will be required to take one, 3-credit U.S. studies course to enhance their understanding of the United States. Participants will live in campus housing facilities with American peers and will be required to participate in 20 hours of community service. The program will include a pre-departure orientation presented by the U.S. Embassy, a virtual arrival orientation and an in-person end-of-program Workshop.

All academic fields of study are eligible. Per J-1 visa regulations, interested applicants in medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacology or other clinical fields of study should be made aware that direct patient care, including animal care, is not permitted, and therefore academic coursework and/or program activities at participating U.S. institutions may be limited.

Students cannot choose their host campus and will be placed at the most appropriate host campus based on their academic interests. The Global UGRAD Program includes a diverse roster of host campuses throughout the United States, including colleges and universities in rural and urban areas and Minority Serving Institutions. This is a non-degree program, so it is the students’ responsibility to check with their home institutions whether any credits accumulated during the Global UGRAD program will be transferred.

Global UGRAD provides one semester of pre-academic English language training to a limited number of students who need it. Students needing pre-academic English will receive virtual English language training during the fall semester of 2023 (August-December) and will be required to receive a minimum 61 TOEFL score before beginning the in-person component of their program. The academic portion will commence for all students in the spring semester of 2024 (January-May) in their fields of study.

Participant Eligibility

Global UGRAD is a merit-based competition.  Students from diverse backgrounds and/or under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants should have a desire to participate in community service and leadership activities. Students must return to their home country after completion of the program. All fields of study are eligible, including social sciences, humanities, education, natural sciences, applied sciences, and mathematics.

Applicants must be:

  • Mozambican citizens, nationals or permanent residents qualified to hold a valid passport
  • Between the ages of 18-25
  • Proficient in written and spoken English. Only applicants selected as nominees are required to take the TOEFL and testing will be provided to them free of charge. The recommended minimum TOEFL score is 61 IBT. The recommended minimum score for the IELTS is 48iBT. Students who score between 48-60 will be considered for the virtual English Language Training prior to the portion of the program in the U.S. Applicants who have taken the TOEFL in the past should submit a copy of their score report with their application.
  •  Enrolled in their first, second, or third year in a full-time university bachelor’s degree (Licenciatura) program in Mozambique at the time of application, and in good academic standing
  • Able to begin the academic exchange program in the United States in January 2024 or August 2023 if intensive English training is required
  • Committed to returning to Mozambique after completion of the program

Reminder: Global UGRAD is NOT a degree-granting program. Participants must check with their home universities regarding whether credits accumulated during the program can be transferred.

Selection Process

The Global UGRAD Program is highly competitive and only a limited number of applicants from Mozambique will be selected. Applicants must fulfill the eligibility criteria above to be considered. Qualified applicants will be interviewed in English by the U.S. Embassy Selection Committee in January. Semi-finalists selected from this group will be required to take the TOEFL exam in Maputo or online afterwards. The U.S. Embassy will select nominees for the Global UGRAD Program based on leadership potential, commitment to civic engagement and community service, academic achievement, flexibility and adaptability, and interest in mutual understanding between Mozambique and the United States. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will review global nominations and make the final selection of UGRAD participants. Results will be announced in/around April 2023.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: December 15, 2022

To Submit an Application:

All applications must be submitted online. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

A complete application package will include the following materials:

  1. Global Application Form
  2. Essay 1 and choice of Essay 2 or Essay 3
  3. Letters of Recommendation (one must be from a professor familiar with your work in your field of study)*:
    1. Letter of Recommendation 1 (PDF 391 KB)
    2. Letter of Recommendation 2 (PDF 392 KB)
  4. Official Academic Transcripts  for each year of university completed*
  5. TOEFL or IELTS score report (if previously taken)
  6. Copy of International Passport biographical page or National Identification (ID card)

*Unofficial English translations may be provided if available, but are not required until the selection. 

To apply online, visit: https://webportalapp.com/sp/closed/ugrad_student_application_2023. Read all instructions and information carefully before completing the application and review all fields before submitting. All forms in the application must be completed in English.

Please review Global UGRAD Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 415 KB) before applying.

For more information on the GLOBAL UGRAD Program, visit http://www.worldlearning.org/ugrad or e-mail: MaputoExchangePrograms@state.gov .

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