The United States has opened applications for Pakistani students interested in joining the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program for Spring 2027.
The fully funded exchange opportunity will allow successful students to spend a semester in the United States, attend an American high school and live with a local host family.
Levels: Matric
Fields:
Offered By: International Bodies : (Click here to view all scholarships by this authority)
International
Merit Based
All Pakistan
15-09-2025
The Spring 2027 program is scheduled to begin in January 2027. Selected participants will also take part in activities related to leadership, cultural understanding, governance, business and innovation.
Eligibility for Pakistani Students
The YES Program is aimed at Pakistani secondary-level students who meet its age, academic and educational requirements.
Applicants must:
- Be 15 to 17 years old on January 1, 2027.
- Have been born between January 1, 2010, and January 1, 2012.
- Be studying in 8th, 9th or 10th grade, or O Levels in Pakistan at the time of application.
- Have obtained at least 60% marks in each of the previous three academic years.
- Maintain at least 60% in major subjects, including English, Mathematics and Sciences.
- Have no failing grades during the last three academic years.
- Have sufficient English communication skills.
- Be a Pakistani citizen living in Pakistan.
O Level students studying in 9th or 10th grade can also apply. However, students in O Level 11th grade are not eligible.
Students Who Cannot Apply
Certain conditions can make applicants ineligible for the exchange program.
Students who have taken a gap year or repeated an academic year cannot apply. Those who will have already completed or graduated from secondary school before the program starts are also excluded.
Applicants must also meet the requirements for a J-1 exchange visitor visa and must not have previously travelled to the United States.
Dual nationals are not eligible. The program also excludes siblings or children of YES alumni, as well as children and siblings of staff members working with the Society for International Education and iEARN Pakistan projects.
What Selected Students Will Experience
Students selected for the YES Program will spend the Spring 2027 semester in the United States.
During their exchange, participants will:
- Attend a U.S. high school.
- Live with an American host family.
- Experience American culture and community life.
- Participate in leadership and educational activities.
- Learn about governance, business and innovation.
- Build connections with students and communities in the United States.
The program is designed to promote educational and cultural exchange while developing greater understanding between young people from Pakistan and the United States.
How to Apply for the YES Program 2027
Interested students can start their application through the YES Program Pakistan website.
Applicants need to check their eligibility before selecting the application option. The application is completed electronically and then needs to be printed, signed by hand and submitted along with the required supporting documents.
Applications must be submitted through post or courier.
Students are required to provide school-attested copies of their final mark sheets for the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years.
They must also provide a photocopy of one valid identity or birth document, such as a NADRA B-Form, Smart Card, FRC or birth certificate.
Where to Send the Application
Applicants should send their completed application and supporting documents to:
YES Program: Spring Semester 2027 Application
Society for International Education
88-H, P.E.C.H.S. Block-6, Karachi
Students should make sure that all required documents are included and that the application is properly signed before submission.
YES Program 2027 Deadline
The deadline to submit applications for the Spring 2027 YES Program is September 15, 2026.
Students are advised not to wait until the final day and should submit their applications well before the deadline. Incomplete, unsigned or incorrectly submitted applications may not be considered.
Selection will be conducted through a competitive, merit-based process.
An Opportunity for Pakistani High School Students
The YES Program provides Pakistani students with an opportunity to experience education and daily life in the United States while developing leadership and cross-cultural skills.
Established by the U.S. Congress in 2002, the program aims to strengthen long-term connections between young people in the United States and participating countries through educational and cultural exchange.
For eligible Pakistani students, the Spring 2027 intake offers a chance to gain international exposure, experience a different education system and develop skills that can support their future academic and career goals.
