Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad

Fully funded, merit-based U.S. Department of State exchange in which U.S. high school students spend a semester abroad living with a host family and attending a local school, with leadership and cultural activities. The current program is the Spring 2027 semester (approximately six months, beginning January 2027) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Indonesia, or North Macedonia; applicants must be open to placement in any of these. Eligibility: U.S. citizen, born between July 15, 2008 and January 15, 2012, in grades 9-12 or a gap year. Cycle status at listing time: the Spring 2027 application deadline was September 22, 2026 at 4 PM ET, and the site states that academic-year 2026-27 recruitment is paused. Check yes-abroad.org for the next cycle.

Fully funded by the U.S. Department of State; no dollar figure published. Covers round-trip airfare, room and board with a host family, school tuition where applicable, host-country visa fees, emergency accident and sickness coverage, orientations, a modest monthly stipend, and a mobile phone or SIM card. Does not cover U.S. passport fees, required medical exams and immunizations, or personal pocket money.