The Eurasian Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD)

IREX is pleased to announce the 2005-2006 Eurasian Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD). Established by the US Congress in 1992 to encourage economic and democratic growth in Eurasia, the Eurasian Undergraduate Exchange Program is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State, and administered by IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board). The program provides opportunities for first-, second- and third-year undergraduate students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan for non-degree study in the United States for one academic year.

All fellows will attend classes full-time for one year and perform a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer service in their host community their first semester and will complete a part-time internship their second semester. Students in their first year at the time of application will be enrolled in two-year community colleges and will live with host families or in dormitories. Students in their second or third year at the time of application will attend four-year colleges and universities and live in dormitories.

The fellowship provides J-1 visa support, round-trip airfare from fellow’s home cities to host institution in the United States, accident and sickness insurance, tuition and mandatory university fees, room and board (housing and meals), small incidentals allowance, limited allowance for books, pre-academic English language training (if necessary), and a variety of alumni networking and training opportunities.

Fields of study for the UGRAD Program are accounting, agriculture, American studies, business, computer science, criminal justice, economics, education, environmental management, hospitality management, international relations, journalism and mass communication, law, political science, psychology, and sociology. Please refer to the application for specific field eligibility requirements.

Applications for the Eurasian Undergraduate Exchange Program can be obtained and submitted by contacting IREX field offices and representatives in Eurasia. Applications are also available at Educational Information Centers (EIC), IREX administered Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) Public Access Sites throughout the NIS and can be downloaded from www.irex.org or www.irex.ge. UGRAD applications can be also completed online. See application for eligibility requirements.

Applications for the 2006-2007 program year will be available from IREX beginning in October, 2005.



For more information, contact IREX/Georgia Office:
8, Nugzar Sajaia St. 0162 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel/Fax: (995 32) 29 19 05
E-mail: programs@irexonline.ge

For more information go to: http://www.irex.ge/index.php?sec_id=110