Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0017975
Apply for DFOP0017975
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.009.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2026 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) funding opportunity is an open, competitive solicitation from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically through its Office of Academic Exchange Programs. The award is intended to support one organization that will administer the Global UGRAD Program for FY 2026 under a cooperative agreement, meaning the Department of State is likely to remain actively involved in key aspects of implementation, oversight, and program direction rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back.
The program itself is designed to place international undergraduate participants into small cohorts across a wide variety of U.S. colleges and universities. A notable emphasis is on campuses that can provide what the announcement calls a "real American" experience, particularly in smaller towns and rural communities. To do that, the placements may include community colleges, land-grant universities, rural campuses, and Senior Military Institutions, broadening the types of host institutions beyond the large, urban universities that international exchange participants often gravitate toward. The intent is clearly experiential as well as academic: participants are expected to gain direct exposure to U.S. community life and a range of institutional settings.
Academically and professionally, the opportunity highlights workforce-oriented learning in areas the U.S. views as strategic priorities. The announcement lists fields such as business, entrepreneurship, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, engineering, critical minerals, manufacturing, and supply chain resilience. In practice, this signals that the implementing organization will need to recruit and support participants whose academic interests align with these sectors and ensure host placements and campus programming reinforce skill-building and practical learning in those domains. At the same time, the program has a required civic and cultural curriculum component: all participants must study U.S. history, civic engagement, and American culture. This requirement is framed as deepening participants' understanding of American excellence, innovation, and culture, so the implementing organization should expect to integrate structured academic enrollment and/or programming that addresses these themes consistently across host sites.
Financially, the total funding available for this single award is up to $4,800,000, contingent on the availability of FY 2026 appropriations. The funding target is to support approximately 160 participants, again dependent on available funds. The announcement explicitly encourages applicants to maximize the number of scholarships awarded, which implies a focus on cost efficiency and careful budget design so that the largest feasible share of funding directly supports participant scholarships and program delivery. At the same time, it stresses that staffing must be sufficient to prioritize participant health and safety, which points to an expectation for robust risk management, participant support structures, monitoring, and emergency response capacity across multiple campuses and locations.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), as well as other eligible entities as described in the official notice. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary, uses a cooperative agreement instrument, and is listed under CFDA 19.009. The agency expects to make one award. The funding opportunity number is DFOP0017975, it was posted on March 26, 2026, and the application deadline is June 2, 2026. For implementation details, required components, and submission instructions, applicants are directed to consult the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) referenced in the announcement.
FY 2026 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) - FAQs
1) What is the FY 2026 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) funding opportunity?
This is an open, competitive funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Academic Exchange Programs. The award supports one organization to administer the Global UGRAD Program for FY 2026.
2) Which U.S. government office is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State through ECA, specifically the Office of Academic Exchange Programs.
3) What type of award is being made?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. This typically indicates the Department of State expects to stay actively involved in key aspects of implementation, oversight, and program direction rather than providing funds with minimal involvement.
4) How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency expects to make one award.
5) How much funding is available?
Total funding available is up to $4,800,000, contingent on the availability of FY 2026 appropriations.
6) How many participants is the program expected to support?
The funding target is to support approximately 160 participants, dependent on available funds.
7) Is the program encouraging a particular budgeting approach?
Yes. The announcement explicitly encourages applicants to maximize the number of scholarships awarded, which implies an emphasis on cost efficiency and budgeting that prioritizes participant scholarships and program delivery where feasible.
8) What does the program administrator (award recipient) need to do?
The selected organization will administer the Global UGRAD Program for FY 2026. Based on the announcement, this includes placing international undergraduate participants into small cohorts across a variety of U.S. colleges and universities and ensuring academic, civic, cultural, and workforce-oriented elements are implemented consistently.
9) What is the overall program model described in the announcement?
The program places international undergraduate participants into small cohorts across a wide range of U.S. colleges and universities. A key emphasis is on providing a "real American" experience, including placements in smaller towns and rural communities.
10) What types of host institutions are emphasized for participant placements?
The announcement highlights placements that may include community colleges, land-grant universities, rural campuses, and Senior Military Institutions. This expands host options beyond large, urban universities.
11) Why does the program emphasize smaller towns and rural communities?
The stated purpose is to provide participants with a "real American" experience through direct exposure to U.S. community life and a range of institutional settings, including smaller towns and rural areas.
12) What academic or professional subject areas are emphasized?
The opportunity highlights workforce-oriented learning in areas described as strategic priorities, including business, entrepreneurship, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, engineering, critical minerals, manufacturing, and supply chain resilience.
13) Does the program include required civic and cultural learning components?
Yes. All participants must study U.S. history, civic engagement, and American culture. The announcement frames this as deepening participants' understanding of American excellence, innovation, and culture.
14) Is health and safety an explicit program expectation?
Yes. While the opportunity encourages cost efficiency and maximizing scholarships, it also stresses that staffing must be sufficient to prioritize participant health and safety. This implies expectations for participant support structures, monitoring, risk management, and emergency response capacity across multiple campuses and locations.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), as well as other eligible entities as described in the official notice.
16) Is this opportunity competitive?
Yes. It is described as an open, competitive solicitation.
17) How is the opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a cooperative agreement instrument.
18) What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The listing is under CFDA 19.009.
19) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DFOP0017975.
20) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 26, 2026.
21) What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is June 2, 2026.
22) Where should applicants look for detailed requirements and submission instructions?
Applicants are directed to consult the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) referenced in the announcement for implementation details, required components, and submission instructions.
23) Does the funding depend on federal appropriations?
Yes. The total funding level is contingent on the availability of FY 2026 appropriations.
24) What does it mean that the Department of State will be actively involved?
Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, the Department of State is likely to remain involved in major program elements such as implementation oversight and program direction, rather than operating as a hands-off funder.
25) Does the announcement specify the use of cohorts?
Yes. Participants are expected to be placed into small cohorts across participating U.S. colleges and universities.
26) Is the program strictly academic, or does it include experiential/community components?
The program is described as both experiential and academic. It emphasizes exposure to U.S. community life and varied institutional environments, alongside academic study and required civic/cultural curriculum elements.
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