Academic Exchange Programs – Educational Advising and Student Services

As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange programs, including the exchange of scholars, researchers, professionals, students, and educators. ECA programs foster engagement and encourage dialogue with citizens around the world. Educational and cultural engagement is premised on the knowledge that mutual understanding, the development of future leaders, and the benefits of education programs influence societies and affect official decision-making almost everywhere in the world today. ECA programs inform, engage, and influence participants across strategic sectors of society increasing the number of foreign individuals who have first-hand experience with Americans and with the values of freedom, representative government, rule of law, economic choice, and individual dignity while building international knowledge and capacity among Americans. The EducationUSA network promotes U.S. higher education and facilitates student mobility by providing guidance and support to both prospective student audiences abroad and U.S. higher education institutions that seek to recruit and enroll these students. EducationUSA also supports both international and domestic student success by engaging U.S. higher education institutions to ensure that students' experiences on U.S. campuses are academically engaging, culturally enriching, and create lasting ties between individuals today that will support stronger relations between nations tomorrow. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) oversees the EducationUSA network, which consists of over 430 international student advising centers in over170 countries and territories worldwide. The EducationUSA network supports ECA’s mission by increasing international student mobility, providing students from across the globe with access to educational opportunities, and building a broader understanding of the U.S. higher education sector among overseas student, government and academic personnel. EducationUSA advising centers are housed within U.S. embassies and consulates and/or in partner institutions that include Fulbright Commissions, bi-national cultural centers, U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international NGOs, and/or universities and libraries abroad. EducationUSA advisers provide guidance and support to international students and their families as they explore opportunities to study at U.S. college and universities. EducationUSA advisers provide guidance on the U.S. higher education admissions process.

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.

Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the Bureau’s Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. Government. The FAA will be signed/validated by an authorized Grants Officer, and sent via the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) to the recipient’s responsible officer identified in the application.