Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad)
Forecasted
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad) supports U.S. high school students and recent graduates in overseas homestays and local schooling to build cultural understanding and leadership.
Funder: American Councils for International Education
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Fully funded, merit-based scholarship; approximately six months for the semester program
Summary: YES Abroad supports U.S. high school students and recent graduates in overseas cultural exchange through host-family living and local-school attendance.
Key Information: Applicants must be U.S. citizens and meet birth-date, school-enrollment, and prior-exchange eligibility requirements.
Description
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by a consortium led by American Councils for International Education. Established in 2009 as a reciprocal extension of the YES program for international students, it provides merit-based scholarships for American youth to live and study overseas.
Participants live with host families, attend local schools, and serve as youth ambassadors, building lasting relationships while sharing American society and values. The program emphasizes cultural immersion, leadership development, broader perspectives, and engagement with host communities. Originally described as an academic-year exchange, the advertised Spring 2027 offering is an approximately six-month semester program in Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Indonesia, or North Macedonia.
