Get a jump start on your future today – apply for the opportunity for American high school students to study abroad at a high school in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, or Thailand!
Studying abroad is an exciting journey and a key to academic and professional success for young Americans in today’s world. FLEX Global Abroad provides a unique opportunity for high school students and recent graduates to explore a new country, broaden their perspectives, and develop language abilities by living with a host family, studying in a local school, and participating in leadership activities. FLEX Global Abroad students also share information about the United States and their own hometowns and traditions with their host families, new friends, and local communities, thereby building lasting relationships and, at the same time, helping to strengthen the linkages between the United States and FLEX Global Abroad countries.
Deciding on the best program can be challenging. To help you make an informed decision on whether FLEX Global Abroad is the right fit, we invite you to review the Frequently Asked Questions for Students and Parents. You may also wish to consider the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program, which is an academically rigorous program focused primarily on language acquisition. The Department of State has conducted study abroad exchange programs for American high school students safely and successfully since the launch of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) in 1983, NSLI-Y in 2006, Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad in 2009, and FLEX Abroad in 2021 (FLEX and YES are the forerunners of FLEX Global).
Check this page for updates on the application opening!
Application Deadline for
2027-28 Academic Year:
November 30, 2026
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U.S. citizen, enrolled in grades 9-12 (high school, including home school) at the time of application
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Age 15 to 18.5 at the program start date
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Applicants of all grade-point averages and academic performance are encouraged to apply
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Complete eligibility details are available here and in the application.
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Round-trip airfare between the participant’s home and host communities
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In-country support
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Room and board with a host family
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Emergency accident and sickness coverage
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Host country visa fees
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Modest monthly stipend
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Access to a mobile phone or SIM card while on program
Call us: 1-800-380-6552, Monday - Friday,9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
The U.S. Department of State reserves the right to amend the FLEX Global Abroad country list at any time.