US shuts popular undergrad exchange programme for Pakistanis

USEFP says that it understands that news might be disappointing, especially for those who applied this year

By Jamila Achakzai

April 09, 2025

Students walk past Wilson Library on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, US, September 20, 2018. — Reuters

ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) Educational Foundation Pakistan has announced the closure of the popular Global Undergraduate Exchange Programme (Global UGRAD) for Pakistani students after 15 years of operation.

The move comes from the US State Department, according to the USEFP. “The US Department of State has informed USEFP that the Global UGRAD-Pakistan Program will no longer be offered,” the foundation said in a statement, without providing any reasons.

The USEFP said that it understood that the news might be disappointing, especially for those who applied this year and were looking forward to the opportunity. “Over the years, the Global UGRAD programme has provided life-changing experiences to thousands of students, fostering academic growth, cultural exchange and leadership development. We are immensely proud of the impact this programme has had on its participants and the communities they have touched.”

The USEFP said that though the Global UGRAD-Pakistan chapter was closing, it encouraged Pakistani students to explore other exchange and scholarship opportunities that might align with their aspirations.

The undergrad exchange programme, overseen by the USEFP since its launch in 2010, benefitted over 2,657 Pakistani students, who had the opportunity to study for a semester at US colleges and universities.