PROGRAM TIMELINE
Global UGRAD Students
Below is a timeline of the Global UGRAD student experience starting with the application process through becoming a program alumnus.
Apply
November – December
Prospective Global UGRAD students apply to participate in the program for the following academic year. For example, students applying in November/December 2024 would complete their exchange during the fall 2025 or spring 2026 term. For more information on the next application cycle, including upcoming deadlines, please visit our Apply page.Interviews
January – February
Select candidates are invited to interview with the relevant U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission for their country/area.
Selection Notification
March – April
All applicants are notified of their status: finalist, alternate, or not selected. Finalist and alternate candidates register and take the TOEFL or Duolingo exam with a voucher provided by the relevant U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission. Finalist candidates confirm their acceptance of the scholarship offer.
Host Placement Notification
May – June
U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions notify all Global UGRAD finalists of their U.S. host institution placement and which academic term (fall or spring) they will complete their UGRAD exchange.
J1 Visa Preparations
June
Finalists receive their DS-2019 forms, complete a J-1 visa application, and schedule a visa appointment with the U.S. Embassy in their home country/area.
Pre-Departure Orientation
July
U.S. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions host a comprehensive pre-departure orientation for the new Global UGRAD students. World Learning hosts an online question & answer session for fall semester participants. Fall semester students also begin the first module of World Learning’s Online Professional and Academic Learning (OPAL) course designed to prepare students for their upcoming exchange experience. Spring semester students will begin OPAL in September.
Virtual English Language Training
August – December
Students who qualify for the Global UGRAD Virtual English Language Training Program will complete the course during the fall semester and then retake the TOEFL or Duolingo exam. Students who successfully meet the minimum TOEFL/Duolingo requirement following the retest will then complete their in-person Global UGRAD exchange at a U.S. institution of higher education in the spring semester.
Arrive to the United States
August/September
Fall semester students arrive to their U.S. host institution campus.
January
Spring semester students arrive to their U.S. host institution campus.
Exchange Experience
August/September – December
For fall semester students.
January – May/June
For spring semester students.
Students actively participate in all facets of student life on-campus including attending academic classes, completing community service, taking part in local and regional cultural events, and enhancing their professional development through supplemental campus activities.
End of Program Workshop
November
For fall semester students.
April
For spring semester students.
Students attend a three-day, in-person leadership and professional development workshop in Washington, DC, hosted by World Learning.
Depart the United States
December
For fall semester students.
May/June
For spring semester students.
Students complete their semester exchange and return to their home countries.
Alumni Engagement
Ongoing
Once a UGRAD, always a UGRAD! Students join a global network of over 3,000 Global UGRAD alumni who stay connected through a monthly newsletter, private LinkedIn page, and special events. They also become part of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ global alumni network and can access tools and resources only available to alumni of U.S. government sponsored programs including opportunities for funding and professional development. In addition, Global UGRAD alumni are encouraged to stay connected to their local U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission to share about their experience and mentor future cohorts of Global UGRAD participants.