Funded Year in America for High School Students from Europe and Asia

The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program is a United States Department of State-sponsored program for secondary school students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine. The program provides merit-based scholarships for students to travel to the United States, live with a host family, and attend a U.S. high school for a full academic year. The deadline to apply is on 31st of October.

The primary goal of the FLEX program is to improve mutual understanding and develop and strengthen long-term relationships between citizens of the United States and other peoples and countries. The State Department supports exchanges for secondary school students from over 50 countries through FLEX and other academic year programs. Since the program’s inception in 1993, over 26,300 students have participated in the FLEX program.

Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia:Interested candidates who meet the eligibility requirements are invited to complete a preliminary online application.  A selection committee will evaluate online applications, and select semifinalists in November.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine: Representatives of American Councils will visit cities across all participating countries to conduct testing during fall 2018. Applicants should come to the designated testing center (see schedules, below) at the time of initial registration and bring proof of eligibility (birth certificate), one recent 3×4 cm photo, and a pen. Applicants will take a short English test (round 1). Those who pass this first test will be invited to write a set of proctored essays in English (round 2, which is usually the day after round 1). Applicants may only participate in round 1 testing at ONE test center.

Main criteria

Participants from Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia need to register for the round 1 test on this website.

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