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If you’re a high school student hoping to study in the United States without needing university admission or a tuition budget, the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program offers exactly that route. In this guide, you’ll learn who qualifies, what the exchange actually covers, how the application process works, and where to find your country’s specific deadline.
What Is the Kennedy-Lugar YES Program?
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program is a fully funded exchange initiative administered by the U.S. Department of State. It brings secondary-school students from more than 35 countries and communities of strategic importance to the United States, where they spend a semester living with an American host family and attending a local U.S. high school.
Unlike a university scholarship, YES is a secondary-school exchange rather than a degree programme. Selection is merit-based and competitive, and because the programme is government-funded rather than run by a private donor or university, the process tends to be structured and transparent about how students are chosen.
What Does the YES Program Cover?
- Round-trip international airfare to the United States
- Pre-departure orientation before travel begins
- Placement with a screened American host family
- Attendance at a local U.S. high school for the exchange semester
- A modest monthly stipend for personal costs during the programme
- Accident and sickness medical coverage throughout the exchange
- Programme activities and materials included as part of the exchange experience
Families are generally still responsible for costs such as the student’s passport, required medical exams or vaccinations, and additional personal spending money beyond the provided stipend.
Why This Program Is Worth Applying For
- It’s genuinely fully funded. Unlike many international opportunities that only cover partial costs, YES removes tuition, airfare, and housing costs entirely for selected students.
- It’s government-run, not privately funded. Because the U.S. Department of State administers the programme directly, funding and selection processes tend to be more stable and consistent year over year.
- It builds real cross-cultural experience early. Living with a host family and attending an American high school gives students an immersive experience well before any university application process begins.
- It’s genuinely merit-based. Selection depends on the strength of your application and interview performance, not on financial background or connections.
Eligibility Requirements for the YES Program
Before applying, keep these general conditions in mind, though exact rules are set separately by each country:
- You must be a secondary/high school student, generally around 15 to 17 years old at the start of the exchange, though the specific birth-date window is set individually by each country
- You must still be enrolled in secondary school at the time of application and must not have graduated before the exchange begins
- You must reside in one of the current YES participating countries or communities, spanning South and Southeast Asia, the Balkans and wider Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South America
- You must be prepared to complete an English-language assessment as part of the selection process
- You must meet any additional country-specific academic, grade, or residency requirements published on your country’s official YES page
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Find your country’s official YES page through the yesprograms.org website to access the correct local application route.
- Read your country’s specific age, school-grade, citizenship, and residency requirements, since these vary by country rather than following one global standard.
- Apply through the YES office or recruitment organisation designated for your country.
- Complete the initial application, providing your academic information as requested.
- Take the English-language assessment if you’re shortlisted to proceed.
- Complete a proctored essay and the full YES application, where required in your country’s process.
- Attend the required interview or selection activities as part of the final selection stage.
- Complete medical, visa, and pre-departure requirements if you’re selected as a finalist, ahead of travelling to the United States.
When Are the Application Deadlines?
YES does not use a single worldwide deadline, since each participating country sets its own closing date. For the current intake, several countries have deadlines clustering in September, while others have not yet published an exact date and should be confirmed directly through the national recruitment office rather than assumed to match a neighbouring country’s deadline.
Because deadlines and specific eligibility windows are set locally and can shift by country and by year, always confirm your country’s exact current deadline on your official YES country page before you begin preparing your application.
For the most accurate and current programme details, visit the official YES Programs website. To get real-time alerts on new intakes, deadline changes, and similar fully funded opportunities, join the ScholarshipsHive WhatsApp channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kennedy-Lugar YES Program really fully funded?
Yes, the programme covers round-trip international airfare, host family placement, school attendance, a monthly stipend, and medical coverage for the duration of the exchange. Families typically still cover costs like passport fees, medical exams or vaccinations, and additional personal spending money.
Do all participating countries have the same deadline?
No, each participating country sets its own application deadline rather than following one global closing date. Some countries have published specific dates, while others have not yet confirmed theirs, so applicants should always check their own country’s official YES page rather than assuming a shared deadline applies.
Can a student who has already graduated high school apply?
No, applicants must still be enrolled in secondary school at the time of application and must not have completed or graduated before the U.S. exchange begins. Each country also sets its own specific age and grade requirements, so checking the official country page is essential.
Final Thoughts and Advice by ScholarshipsHive
The Kennedy-Lugar YES Program is one of the more accessible fully funded paths to studying in the United States, but success depends on knowing your country’s specific rules rather than relying on general guidelines. Find your country’s official YES page early, confirm your exact eligibility window, and prepare thoughtfully for the interview and essay stages rather than treating them as formalities. If you’d like help figuring out your country’s specific requirements or want updates on similar fully funded exchange opportunities, join our ScholarshipsHive WhatsApp channel and let’s work through it together.
