In addition, participants pay for their transportation costs and all living expenses. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and at least 18 years old. Canada and Australia have upper age limits of 31 and 26 respectively. They must also prove current or recent student status. To apply for programs in Costa Rica, Germany and France, applicants must have language proficiency.
All applications require proof of student status and a letter of reference.
Program application is not competitive. Program dates vary by country. While there is not a formal deadline, applicants should be aware of these dates and that it takes about four weeks to process applications. The purpose is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills. With the exception of Korea and Turkey, these programs offer a good opportunity for foreign language majors who wish to have more practice in their language of study.