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YES Abroad (U.S. Department of State)
Summer program · U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, administered by American CouncilsYES Abroad places American high schoolers with a host family and in a local school in one of a handful of partner countries, fully funded by the U.S. State Department. The current cycle runs the spring semester abroad; there is no cost to selected students, and the program is merit-based rather than need-based. Applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled in grades 9-12 or on a gap year, should not have lived abroad for six months or longer in the last five years, and must meet the program's age window at time of application.
Who can apply
GradesGrades 9–12
Min GPA—
ScopeNational
StatesAll states
FieldsWorld Language · International Affairs · Cultural Studies
Logistics
Cost to youFree, fully funded
Financial aidAvailable
StipendNot listed
FormatResidential
LengthSpring semester abroad (Jan-June 2027 cycle)
WhereBosnia and Herzegovina, India, Indonesia, or North Macedonia (2027)
Applying
DueNot posted on the program's own pages; historically due in fall
You submitOnline application with essays, transcript, and recommendations; U.S. citizens only, born within the program's specified age window