Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program 

Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program is from the U.S. State Department. The program accepts applications from students from developing countries and the least developing countries. The scholarship is for high school students from different countries. The students will spend one academic year in the United States. Yes, participants are the youth ambassadors of their home countries. They live with host families in the U.S. and attend a high school in America. The program will help to gain leadership skills and learn about U.S. society. 

The countries include Albania, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Egypt, Gaza, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Israel (Arab Communities), Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Türkiye, and the West Bank.

If you are a parent or sibling from any of the countries above, you can share it with your children and younger siblings. You can help them apply for the Yes program and participate in the exchange program in the USA. The information in this article is general. For more relevant information, you can check your country pages given at the end. The eligibility requirements for each country are slightly different. 

For example, the age requirement for Indian students is 15-17.7 years whereas for Pakistani students 15-17 years. Pakistani students must be enrolled in 9th or 10th grade or ‘O’ Levels at the time of application. Meanwhile, Indian students must be studying in 8th, 9th, 10th or 11th grade at the time of application. Therefore, you must go through the details of your own country. 

For general information, check out the details below.

Benefits of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program

Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program is a fully funded scholarship program. The benefits includes:

• Full scholarship that covers round-trip airfare, visa fees, school tuition,room and board with a host family, and monthly stipend for personal expenses.
• Students live with American host families, attend U.S. high schools, and participate in community service,  and share their own cultures with American peers.
• The program includes opportunities to develop leadership skills through community engagement, workshops, and participation in various extracurricular activities.
• Students are provided with orientations, ongoing support throughout their exchange year, and secondary medical insurance. They also have access to cultural enrichment activities that enhance their understanding of U.S. society.
• After completing the program, students join the YES alumni community. The community offers them continued opportunities for leadership and community service projects in their home countries.

Eligibility Criteria for Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program

We can not cover country-specific requirements, as there are almost 35 countries on the list. We recommend you check with your country using the links at the end of this article. The overall eligibility criteria for the U.S. Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program are as follows:

1. Applicants must generally be between 15 and 17 years old at the time of application.(slightly vary from country to country)
2. The applicant must be a citizen of a participating YES program country and meet any residency requirements.
3. Students should be currently enrolled in secondary school (high school) in their home country at the time of application.
4. While fluency in English is not required, applicants should have a basic understanding of the English language and a willingness to improve their language skills.
5. Applicants should have a strong academic record with good grades in school.
6. Students must demonstrate an ability to adapt to a new culture and environment. Also be mature, responsible, and show a commitment to international understanding.
7. Applicants must meet the necessary health standards as required by the program.
8. Participants are expected to return to their home country after the program is completed to share their experiences and contribute to their communities.

Document requirements 

For the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, applicants must submit the following documents:

1. A recent, lab-printed passport-sized photo.
2. A copy of the birth certificate, which must be attested or verified.
3. Academic transcripts from the current school year and the previous two years. This typically includes:Latest transcript for the current grade (mandatory).
4. Whether applying online or via a paper-based submission, all required fields must be completed accurately.
5. Additional forms, if required by your country.

Remember, the documents may also vary depending on which country you are applying to; however, the general requirements are the above documents. 

Also check out :

Gates Cambridge Scholarship for Masters and PhD programs 

Fully Funded Scholarship at Tsinghua University China 

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2025 | Fully Funded

How to Apply for Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program?

To apply for the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, follow these steps:

1. Before applying, ensure that you meet the overall eligibility criteria, including age, academic standing, and citizenship of a participating country.
2. You can apply online by visiting the YES program’s official website for your country and creating an account. The online application allows you to fill in your details, save your progress, and upload the required documents.
3. Submit Required Documents
4. Make sure to fill in all the necessary information, upload or attach the required documents, and review your application thoroughly before submission. Once submitted, you cannot make changes.
5. For online submission, make sure that all documents are uploaded, and then submit the application electronically.
6. After submission, your application will be reviewed, and if selected, you will proceed to interviews, English language tests, and other stages of the selection process.

Make sure to apply before the deadline specific to your country’s YES program.

Eligible Countries for Yes Program 

Click on your country, it will take you to the page where you can find all the information relevant to your country. Check eligibility criteria and apply. 

Albania | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Cameroon | Egypt | Gaza | Ghana | India | Indonesia | Israel (Arab Communities) | Jordan | Kenya | Kosovo | Kuwait | Lebanon | Liberia | Libya | Malaysia | Mali | Morocco | Mozambique | Nigeria | North Macedonia | Pakistan | Philippines | Saudi Arabia | Senegal | Sierra Leone | South Africa | Suriname | Tanzania | Thailand | Tunisia | Türkiye | West Bank.