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U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Academic Exchange Programs - Undergraduate Programs

Federal program · program number 19.009 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · also called “Undergraduate Programs”

Key facts

Open now
None right now
Closed for this year
1 grant, next round estimated
Type of help
Cooperative agreement (a grant with close agency involvement)
Typical award
$399,750 to $16,950,000.

Closed for this year

This year's round is over. GrantMe estimated the next round from last year's dates.

What it pays for

As authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange programs, including the exchange of scholars, researchers, professionals, students, and educators. ECA programs foster engagement and encourage dialogue with citizens around the world. Educational and cultural engagement is premised on the knowledge that mutual understanding, the development of future leaders, and the benefits of education programs serve to influence societies and affect official decision-making almost everywhere in the world today. ECA programs inform, engage, and influence participants across strategic sectors of society � including young people, teachers, scholars, journalists, and other professionals � increasing the number of foreign individuals who have first-hand experience with Americans and with the values of freedom, representative government, rule of law, economic choice, and individual dignity, while building international knowledge and capacity among Americans. The purpose of Undergraduate Programs is to provide targeted support for American students to pursue intensive language study abroad and to expand the opportunities available for American students via study abroad programming as well as to provide foreign students with opportunities to gain a better understanding of the United States, while developing new generations of world leaders. Undergraduate programs include the Global...

Who can apply

Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act) the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State awards grants and cooperative agreements to educational and cultural public or private nonprofit foundations or institutions. Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Organizations must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please refer to the Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) announcement for further eligibility criteria.

How applications are judged

As stated in Grants.gov or the U.S. Department of State's MyGrants (formerly SAMS Domestic) announcements.

Match

None required (federal program listing).

Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization

This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 7 pass-through grants on file. Largest shown:

Tennessee pass-through grant winners
Past winnerWhereThroughAmountFiscal year
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyInternational Research and Exchanges Board Inc.$156K2025
State of TennesseeNashvilleWorld Learning$43K spent that year2025
Pellissippi State Community CollegeKnoxville, Knox CountyWorld Learning Inc.$35K2023
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyWorld Learning Inc.$35K2026
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyWorld Learning Inc.$33K2024
State of TennesseeNashvilleInternational Research and Exchanges Board$29K spent that year2025
State of TennesseeNashvilleFhi 360$25K spent that year2023

Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).

Official program listing (SAM.gov) Program website