The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait provides a variety of exchange programs for youth leaders and professionals from various backgrounds in Kuwait. These exchanges help candidates to deepen their understanding of the American culture and grow their professional and academic skills. U.S. citizens cannot apply for these programs. For more information about any of these opportunities, please email PASKuwaitM@state.gov

International Visitor Leadership Program

Each year nearly 5,000 exchange participants come to the U.S. on the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). More than 200,000 International Visitors have engaged with Americans through the IVLP, including more than 500 current or former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government.

Launched in 1940, the IVLP helps strengthen U.S. engagement with countries around the world and cultivate lasting relationships by connecting current and emerging foreign leaders with their American counterparts through short-term visits to the United States. The majority of IVLP exchanges include visits to four U.S. communities over three weeks, although projects vary based on themes, Embassy requests and other factors. Participants meet with professional counterparts, visit U.S. public and private sector organizations related to the project theme and participate in cultural and social activities.

There is no application for IVLP. Participants are nominated and selected annually by the staff of U.S. Embassies around the world.

Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA)

This program is available for Kuwaiti citizens. The Fulbright FLTA Program provides young teachers of English as a Foreign Language the opportunity to refine their teaching skills and broaden their knowledge of American cultures and customs while strengthening the instruction of foreign languages at colleges and universities in the United States.

Fulbright operates on a yearly application cycle, which generally (but not in all cases) opens approximately 15 months before the anticipated start of the grant with a deadline approximately 11 or 12 months before the grant’s start date.

Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars (SUSI)

Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars are designed to strengthen curricula and improve the quality of teaching about the United States in academic institutions overseas. SUSIs for Scholars are six-weeks long; SUSIs for Secondary Educators are five-weeks. These Institutes are comprised of a four to five-week academic residency and a one to two-week educational study tour to a different region of the United States. The program covers the following topics:

• American Culture and Values
• Education and Workforce Development
• Journalism and Media
• Religious Freedom and Pluralism in the United States
• Secondary Education
• U.S. Economics and Business
• U.S. Foreign Policy

Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD)

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (also known as the Global UGRAD Program) provides one semester scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students from around the world for non-degree full-time study combined with community service, professional development and cultural enrichment.

The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program is open to anyone who is/has:

• over 18 years of age.
• a citizen of a UGRAD participating country, currently residing in that country.
• enrolled as an undergraduate in good standing at any accredited university, public or private, and has at least one semester remaining at their home university at the conclusion of the UGRAD program.
• completed secondary education in their home country.
• a solid command of written and spoken English (English Language training for some finalists is possible).
• able to begin studies in the United States in August 2021 or January 2022 (selected participants may not defer to a later date).

Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program brings high school students from countries of strategic importance to the United States for an academic year to advance the U.S. foreign policy goals of promoting civil society, youth leadership development, and lasting ties between Americans and the people of participating countries.  While on program, participants live with American host families, attend high school, and engage in community service and civic education activities. Since 2003, nearly 13,000 students from over 45 countries have participated in YES. The U.S. Embassy collaborates with Amideast Office in Kuwait to select the students.

Bring U.S. Experts to Kuwait!

The U.S. Embassy connects local audiences in Kuwait with U.S. experts and professionals who can provide academic assistance, training workshops, or brief speaking / lecturing opportunities about technical subjects. To learn more about these programs, e-mail PASKuwaitM@state.gov

Request a Speaker!

Through the U.S. Speaker Program, you can work with the U.S. Embassy to request a speaker who can give a technical presentation, a series of lectures, or a workshop for your audience to increase their awareness about new ways and techniques in various professional fields.  The speaker program is fully funded by the U.S. Department of State.

*Due to the current pandemic situation, all speaker programs are conducted virtually.

Fulbright Specialist Program

The Fulbright Specialist Program sends U.S. faculty and professionals to serve as short-term experts at academic and other institutions abroad. They assist host institutions, including universities, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and other institutions for a period of 2 to 6 weeks with curriculum improvement, faculty development, institutional planning and related issues in a wide range of fields including agriculture, economics, education, and public health, among others.

*Due to the current pandemic situation, the FSP cannot be conducted virtually.

Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching for U.S. Teachers

The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Semester Research Program sends select U.S. primary and secondary school teachers abroad for three to six months. The Embassy announces this opportunity to the Ministry of Education and other relevant educational institutions in Kuwait when available.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study, conduct research or be an English teaching assistant abroad for one academic year. U.S. applicants contact local universities in Kuwait directly to obtain a letter of invitation so that they can apply for the program.

Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends approximately 800 American scholars and professionals per year to approximately 130 countries, where they lecture and/or conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. U.S. applicants contact local universities in Kuwait directly to obtain a letter of invitation so that they can apply for the program.