The Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027 is a fully funded high-school exchange opportunity supported by the U.S. Department of State. Selected students from participating countries will live with American host families and attend high school in the United States during the Spring 2027 semester.
- Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027 Details
- About the Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027
- Participating Countries
- Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027 Country Deadlines
- Financial Benefits of the Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027
- General Eligibility Criteria
- Country-Specific Eligibility Requirements
- Required Documents
- Selection Process
- Life in the United States
- How to Apply for the Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027
- Important Application Tips
- Final Thoughts
The current exchange will run from January to June 2027. Participants will experience American education and culture while sharing the traditions and values of their home countries with their host families, schools, and local communities.
Applications are currently available in nine participating countries. However, each country manages its own recruitment process, eligibility conditions, and application deadline. Several countries have a deadline of 15 September 2026, while Bangladesh will accept applications until 23 September 2026.
Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027 Details
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Host country | United States |
| Funding organization | U.S. Department of State |
| Program name | Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program |
| Program level | High-school exchange |
| Funding type | Fully funded |
| Exchange period | January–June 2027 |
| Duration | Approximately five months |
| Eligible applicants | High-school students from participating countries |
| Application deadline | Varies by country |
| Selection method | Competitive and merit-based |
About the Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program was established by the U.S. Congress in October 2002. The program gives secondary-school students from participating countries an opportunity to study in the United States and build relationships with American communities.
Participants serve as youth ambassadors for their home countries. They attend classes at American high schools, live with carefully selected host families, participate in community activities, and develop leadership and intercultural communication skills.
More than 15,000 students have participated in the YES Program since 2003. After completing the exchange, participants must return to their home countries and share the knowledge and experience gained in the United States.
Students searching for longer undergraduate funding opportunities in America may also explore the Wesleyan African Scholars Program 2027.
Participating Countries
The official YES Program website currently lists the following countries for the Spring Semester 2027 intake:
- Bangladesh
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Egypt
- India
- Indonesia
- Kosovo
- Malaysia
- North Macedonia
- Pakistan
Applicants must be citizens and residents of the country through which they apply. Country-specific requirements can include age limits, school grades, academic performance, previous travel to the United States, nationality, and J-1 visa eligibility.
Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027 Country Deadlines
The following table contains the application deadlines available through official U.S. Embassy, American Councils, and local YES implementing-organization sources.
| Participating country | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | 15 September 2026 |
| Indonesia | 15 September 2026 |
| Kosovo | 15 September 2026 |
| Egypt | 15 September 2026 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 15 September 2026 |
| North Macedonia | 15 September 2026 |
| Bangladesh | 23 September 2026 at 4:00 pm BST |
| India | Not displayed on the official country page |
| Malaysia | Not displayed on the official country page |
Applicants from India and Malaysia should contact their official YES country office immediately because the closing date is not currently displayed on their YES country pages.
Deadlines and recruitment information may change. Every candidate should select their country on the official YES Program website and verify the current information before submitting an application.
Financial Benefits of the Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027
The program covers the main expenses associated with participating in the high-school exchange.
Selected students generally receive:
- Round-trip airfare between their home country and the United States
- Domestic travel connected to the program
- Pre-departure orientation
- Placement with a carefully selected American host family
- Enrollment at an American high school
- A modest monthly allowance
- Accident and sickness medical coverage
- Program activities and educational materials
- Support from local coordinators
- Orientation before returning home
Participants normally live with volunteer host families and attend school alongside American students. The monthly allowance helps students participate in social activities and purchase necessary personal supplies.
The scholarship does not normally cover:
- Passport application costs
- Required medical examinations
- Required vaccinations or immunizations
- Additional personal spending money
- Some excess baggage, telephone, or internet costs
Applicants and their parents should read the official program terms carefully to understand which expenses remain their responsibility.
Another useful funded opportunity for graduate students is the East West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship 2027.
General Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility requirements differ by country. However, applicants for the Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027 generally must:
- Be enrolled in an eligible secondary school
- Fall within the age range specified for their country
- Be a citizen and resident of a participating country
- Have a strong academic record
- Have no failing grades
- Demonstrate sufficient English-language ability
- Meet the requirements for a U.S. J-1 exchange visa
- Be prepared to live with an American host family
- Demonstrate maturity and adaptability
- Be willing to participate in school and community activities
- Return to their home country after completing the exchange
Students who will have completed secondary school before the exchange begins are not eligible. This rule applies across the YES Program countries.
Some countries also disqualify applicants who have repeated an academic year, taken a gap year, spent significant time in the United States, hold dual citizenship, or have close family connections to YES Program staff or previous participants.
Candidates must read the conditions for their own country rather than relying only on general eligibility information.
Country-Specific Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility conditions are different in every participating country. Age limits, eligible school grades, academic requirements, nationality rules, and previous U.S. travel restrictions may vary. Applicants from Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kosovo, Malaysia, North Macedonia, and Pakistan must select their country on the official YES Program website and follow the requirements provided by their national YES office.
Applicants looking for other American university opportunities can read about the University of Idaho Scholarships 2027.
Required Documents
Required documents can vary by country and selection stage. Applicants may need to prepare:
- Completed YES Program application
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Birth certificate or national identity document
- School enrollment confirmation
- Academic transcripts or mark sheets
- School-attested academic records
- Parent or guardian information
- Signed parent-student agreement
- Medical information at the finalist stage
- Additional forms requested by the local YES office
Pakistan applicants may be asked to provide school-attested academic records for the 2023–24, 2024–25, and 2025–26 academic years, along with an accepted identity or birth document.
Candidates should follow only the instructions provided by the official YES office in their country. Incomplete, inaccurate, or late applications may not be considered.
Selection Process
Selection for the Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027 is merit-based and highly competitive. The process may include several stages:
- Initial eligibility screening
- Preliminary application review
- English-language examination
- Proctored written essay
- Complete program application
- Individual interview
- Parent information meeting
- Medical evaluation for finalists
- Final selection and placement process
English proficiency is important, but it is not the only selection factor. Evaluators may also consider academic ability, maturity, adaptability, leadership potential, communication skills, motivation, and readiness to participate in a semester-long cultural exchange.
Applicants should answer every question honestly and in their own words. Providing false information or hiding important medical, academic, or personal details can result in disqualification.
Students considering future research opportunities in the United States can also explore the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program 2027.
Life in the United States
Selected participants will live with screened American host families and attend local secondary schools. Students will be expected to follow the rules of their host family, school, placement organization, and the YES Program.
During the exchange, participants may:
- Attend regular high-school classes
- Join school clubs and extracurricular activities
- Participate in community service
- Attend cultural and leadership activities
- Share their home-country culture
- Build relationships with American students and families
- Develop confidence and independence
- Improve their English communication skills
Students should understand that the American curriculum may differ significantly from the curriculum in their home country. Participation could affect their graduation schedule, examinations, university admission, or school-year progression after returning home.
Applicants and parents should discuss these academic considerations with the student’s current school before accepting a place.
How to Apply for the Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027
Applications are managed through participating-country YES offices. Students should follow these steps:
- Visit the official YES Program website.
- Open the participating-countries section.
- Select the applicant’s country.
- Read the country-specific eligibility requirements.
- Confirm the correct application deadline.
- Follow the application instructions provided by the local YES office.
- Complete the preliminary application accurately.
- Prepare academic and identity documents.
- Obtain the required school attestations or signatures.
- Submit the application through the required online, postal, or local process.
- Monitor email and telephone messages for selection updates.
- Attend all required tests, interviews, and information sessions.
Application methods are not necessarily identical in every country. Applicants should not use unofficial forms or send documents to an address listed for another country.
Important Application Tips
- Check your country’s eligibility requirements carefully.
- Apply before the deadline listed for your country.
- Prepare school records and identity documents early.
- Ask your school to attest documents where required.
- Provide accurate academic and personal information.
- Write application answers in your own words.
- Prepare seriously for the English examination and interview.
- Discuss the exchange with your parents and current school.
- Use only official YES Program and U.S. Embassy sources.
- Never pay anyone who promises guaranteed selection.
Final Thoughts
The Kennedy-Lugar YES Program 2027 is an outstanding opportunity for eligible high-school students to live and study in the United States from January to June 2027. The program covers major exchange expenses, provides host-family accommodation, and gives participants access to American education, cultural activities, community service, and leadership development.
Several participating countries have an application deadline of 15 September 2026, while the confirmed Bangladesh deadline is 23 September 2026 at 4:00 pm BST. Students from India and Malaysia should contact their official country offices immediately for the current deadline.
Because applications are closing soon, eligible students should verify their country requirements and submit complete applications without delay.
