Academic Exchange Programs – Special Academic Exchange Programs

Special Academic Exchange Programs support participants in undergraduate, graduate, and/or non-degree professional development programs. Special Academic Exchange Programs support identified populations from the U.S., developing world or strategically important areas. These programs provide selected participants with the opportunity to participate in exchanges and develop international competencies and skills, which allow them to serve as leaders in their professions and communities. Funding is provided to non-profit organizations, colleges, and universities to support their work in designing and administering programs as well as coordinating program logistics. Funding supports publicity and recruitment, screening of applications, communication with participants, monitoring of participants, payment of participant costs, and the provision of enrichment activities for both participants and alumni. American Overseas Research Centers (ORCs) are located in Europe; North Africa; the Middle East; Central, East, South, & Southeast Asia; the Caucasus, Latin America; and West Africa- and provide services to scholars, including assistance with research and publication. The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) is the umbrella organization that administers and manages the ORCs. FY 2023 ECA funding to CAORC is $5,000,000. The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides merit-based scholarships of up to $5,000 for credit-bearing study or internships abroad to U.S. undergraduate students with significant financial need (Pell Grant recipients), broadening the U.S. student population that studies abroad as well as the destinations where they study. Since the program’s inception in 2001, more than 50,000 Gilman scholars from all U.S. states, and Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories have studied or interned abroad in over 170 countries. Developed under the framework of the State Department’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, the John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship) provides awards of $5,000 to eligible students enrolled at accredited U.S. colleges and universities who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid. The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) works to increase the number of persons with disabilities participating in international exchange, and to support their exchange experiences. Specifically, the Clearinghouse: 1) provides information to the disabilities community about exchange opportunities, and encourages persons with disabilities to participate; and 2) gives technical assistance, advice, information, and materials to international exchange organizations and institutions, colleges and universities, and other exchange program practitioners to assist them in increasing the number of persons with disabilities participating in their exchange programs and better serving these program participants. The United States South Pacific Scholarship Program provides scholarships for academically talented individuals from xx sovereign island nations of the South Pacific to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees at U.S. institutions in fields important to the region’s development. The Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP) provides the opportunity for talented young Tibetans who are living in the refugee communities of India and Nepal to pursue master’s degrees at U.S. Institutions in fields of importance to their home communities. The goal of the program is to educate future Tibetan leaders, build the participants’ leadership skills , and to foster mutual understanding. United States Timor-Leste Scholarship Program provides educational opportunities for academically talented future leaders from Timor-Leste to pursue undergraduate degrees at U.S. institutions in priority fields that are directly relevant to development needs in Timor-Leste. Special Academic Programs include several other academic programs.

Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions. Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please refer to the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) announcement for further eligibility criteria. OMB Guidance2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E Cost Principles under Special Considerations for States, Local Governments, and Indian Tribes applies to this program.