Program Eligibility

Global UGRAD is open to all academic fields of study and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or disability.

The eligibility criteria for the Global UGRAD Program are:  

• All academic fields of study are eligible. However, per J-1 visa regulations, direct patient care, including animal care, is not permitted for applicants in medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacology, or other clinical fields of study. Therefore, academic coursework and/or program activities may be limited.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the program’s start. 
• Applicants must be citizens of Nepal. 
• Applicants must be studying in Nepal. 
• Scholarships will be granted to students who are currently enrolled in full-time undergraduate programs only, having completed a minimum of one semester of study by January 2024.  
• Participants must have at least one year remaining in their undergraduate studies at their home institutions upon completion of the Global UGRAD Program. 
• Applicants should demonstrate leadership potential through academic work, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. 
• Must have a solid command of written and spoken English (English Language training for some finalists is possible)
• A TOEFL score is not required at the time of application; however, a TOEFL score is required for participation in the program
• Preference will be given to those who have had little or no experience in the United States or outside of their home countries. 
•  Eligible to receive and maintain the U.S. student exchange visa (J-1) required for the program. Applicants are required to return directly to their home country after the completion of the program.

Individuals in the following circumstances are not eligible for the Global UGRAD Program:

• Individuals currently studying, residing or working outside of Nepal
• Anyone who has already graduated from university
• Individuals who are younger than 18 years’ old
• Individuals who have participated in an exchange visitor program sponsored or funded by the U.S. government for a period of more than six weeks and who have not fulfilled their two-year home residency requirement by the time of application
• Individuals who have applied for U.S. permanent residency in the past three years
• Local employees of the U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); employees are also ineligible for one year following the termination of employment
• Immediate family members (i.e., spouses and children) of U.S. Department of State and USAID employees; family members are also ineligible for one year following the termination of employment