FUTURE LEADERS EXCHANGE (FLEX) GLOBAL
FLEX Global is a U.S. Department of State program that gives Moldovan secondary school students the opportunity to spend an academic year in the United States free of charge, living with an American host family and attending a U.S. high school. The program is implemented by American Councils for International Education in partnership with AFS, Amideast, and iEARN, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Research from Moldova.
What is FLEX Global?
FLEX Global is a program that allows high school students from select countries to spend an academic year in the United States, living with a host family and attending a U.S. high school. FLEX Global builds on the legacies of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program, which has operated for over 30 years, and the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, which has operated for almost 25 years. FLEX Global aims to develop a network of young leaders who understand and support U.S. culture and priorities, with a focus on entrepreneurship, technology, and leadership.
FLEX Global is a highly competitive, merit-based exchange program funded and administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Participants attend a U.S. high school, engage in community activities, develop leadership skills, and take part in enhancement activities focused on business, technology, and entrepreneurship. After returning home, they apply what they have learned to benefit their communities.
Apply online: ais.americancouncils.org/flexglobal
What Does the Program Cover?
FLEX Global is free for participants and covers:
Round-trip domestic and international travel (from home to the United States and back);
Monthly allowance to help students participate in social activities and buy necessary personal supplies;
Placement with a screened U.S. host family for one academic year;
Enrollment in a U.S. secondary school;
Program orientation activities including pre-program preparation and re-entry preparation;
Program activities arranged in local U.S. communities; and
Medical insurance, excluding pre-existing conditions and dental care.
The program also supports participants throughout the year.
What is NOT covered?
costs of obtaining an international passport and parental permission to travel abroad;
personal expenses beyond the monthly stipend;
excess baggage costs;
internet and mobile data plans.
Who is eligible to apply?
The FLEX Global competition is free of charge and open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements. Students may apply only once per recruitment cycle.
Applications for the 2027–2028 academic year are accepted until October 22, 2026.
Eligible applicants for must:
Be born between January 1, 2010 and July 15, 2012;
Be enrolled in and attending a secondary school in the country in which they apply to the program at the time of application; not eligible if graduated;
Be a student of the 9th,10th, or 11th grade;
Know English;
Be a citizen of Moldova;
Meet the J-1 visa requirements.
Not having stayed in the USA for three (3) months or more during the past five (5) years.
Who is not eligible:
students who do not meet the requirements above;
students who have already graduated from secondary school;
students who have spent 3 months or more in the United States within the last 5 years;
students whose immediate or other family members have applied or are applying to emigrate to the United States, plan to emigrate, or have already emigrated.
Students who change their grade level to an ineligible grade before departure to the United States will be disqualified.
What to consider before applying:
Will I have to repeat a year of school?
Will I return home too late to take final school or university entrance exams?
Will my university or institute defer my admission?
Will I be required to serve in the military after I return?
Will I be eligible to graduate with honors or receive a medal at my home school?
Apply online: ais.americancouncils.org/flexglobal
How does the testing and selection process work?
The online application for the 2027–2028 FLEX Global program is now open. Students who meet the eligibility requirements can take part in the selection process from anywhere with internet access, using a computer or a mobile phone.
Stage 1: Online Application
By October 22, 2026, applicants must complete the application form at ais.americancouncils.org/flexglobal. The application includes an English knowledge section and three short essays in English. These sections are timed, so start them when you have enough time and a stable internet connection.
Next Stages
Applicants who advance after Stage 1 take an English test, write proctored essays, have an interview with FLEX Global staff, and complete a full application. Selection takes place in the United States and is based on merit and readiness for a year-long exchange. English proficiency is an important factor, but not the deciding one.
After Selection
Finalists must pass a medical fitness evaluation and will learn their status in spring 2027. In June or July, they attend a pre-departure orientation in Moldova. Participants travel to the United States in August 2027 and return home in May or June 2028 on their assigned program end date. Visas cannot be extended or amended for any reason.
Questions about the program: flexglobal.md@americancouncils.org
Program Information
The program application is open
Funded by
The United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
For further information, contact us at: flexglobal.md@americancouncils.org
Phone number: +373 76007613
Instagram: FLEX Global Moldova
Facebook: FLEX Global Moldova