Imagine a full school year in the United States with an American host family. You attend a US high school. The programme pays for it. The FLEX Global Program is a fully funded exchange from the US Department of State. Applications for 2027 to 2028 are open in many countries right now.
There is one big catch. Each country has its own deadline and its own age rules. Some deadlines are this week. Check yours first.
Quick Facts
Last Information checked: 26 October 2026
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | FLEX Global Program 2027 to 2028 |
| Funded by | US Department of State |
| Run by | American Councils for International Education with partners |
| Who can apply | High school students from 31 participating countries |
| Length | One academic year |
| Travel | To the United States in August 2027 and home in May or June 2028 |
| Cost to families | The competition is free |
| Deadline | Different for each country |
What FLEX Global Is
FLEX Global is a high school exchange programme. You live with a host family and go to a US high school for one year. You also take part in community activities and leadership training. The programme has a focus on business technology and entrepreneurship.
It builds on two older programmes. These are the Future Leaders Exchange and the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study. Selection is based on merit.
Programme Benefits
- Round trip international airfare
- Accommodation and meals with a host family
- Enrollment in an American high school and school tuition where it applies
- Emergency accident and sickness insurance in the United States
- Visa fees
- A modest monthly stipend for basic personal costs
- A mobile phone or SIM card during the programme
- Pre departure orientation
- Support in the United States
- Cultural activities and activities in business technology and entrepreneurship
- Leadership skills and international friendships
Who Can Apply
These are the general rules.
- You are a citizen of a participating country
- You meet the age and birth date rules of your country
- You are in the right grade at a secondary school
- You have a good academic record
- You can show enough English to take part in school
- You meet the rules for a J-1 visa
- You can join the whole exchange year
- You apply only once in this cycle
The details change from country to country. Here are three examples.
| Country | Born between | Grade | Other rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 15 January 2010 and 15 August 2012 | Grades 9 to 11 | At least 70 percent marks in the past two years. No more than 90 days in the United States in the last five years |
| Egypt | 15 August 2010 and 15 August 2012 | Grades 9 to 11 in 2026 to 2027 | Neither you nor your parents have applied to a US immigration programme |
| Ukraine | 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2011 | Grades 8 to 10 or grade 11 in a 12 grade school | No more than 3 months in the United States in the last five years |
Use the rules of your own country. Do not copy another country’s rules.
The 31 Countries
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Bahrain
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Egypt
- Georgia
- Greece
- India
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- North
- Macedonia
- Pakistan
- Poland
- Romania
- Serbia
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan.
How Selection Works
Each country runs its own process. The steps below are common.
- Round 1. An online application with an English section and short essays. Some parts are timed
- Next rounds. An English test and proctored essays
- Interview. A talk with FLEX Global staff
- Full application. For students who move forward
- Final step. Selection takes place in the United States. Finalists pass a medical check and learn their status in spring 2027
The programme looks for merit and readiness for a year away from home.
Key Dates
- 22 October 2026: Deadline in Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan and Romania
- 31 October 2026 at 5:00 pm: Deadline in Egypt
- 5 November 2026: Deadline in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Thailand
- Spring 2027: Finalists learn their status
- August 2027: Travel to the United States
- May or June 2028: Return home
How To Apply
- Open the FLEX Global website at discoverflexglobal.org or your country office page.
- Select your country.
- Read the age grade and other rules for your country.
- Check your deadline.
- Start the online application when you have a stable internet connection.
- Finish the English section and the essays in the time given.
- Submit before your country deadline.
Students in some countries must contact their local FLEX Global country office to get the application. Read your country page for this.
Mistakes To Avoid
- Using the deadline of another country
- Missing the birth date window by a few days
- Applying from the wrong grade
- Starting a timed section with a weak internet connection
- Ignoring the limit on time spent in the United States
- Paying anyone for access. The competition is free
- Mixing up FLEX Global with other programmes that have different rules
