The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program is one of the few fully funded study-abroad routes open to Pakistani students before university. It is for high school students, it is paid for by the United States Department of State, and it places you with an American host family while you attend a local U.S. high school for a spring semester. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing, but this guide explains how the program actually works and how to approach it sensibly.
If you are a university student or a recent graduate, this is not for you. YES is a school-level exchange. If you are currently in high school in Pakistan and want a semester of living and studying in the United States without your family paying for it, keep reading.
A semester in an American home and classroom
The program was set up in 2003 for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations and strategic importance to the United States. Since then it has had over 15,000 participants. The stated aim is to build lasting connections between American citizens and people in the participating countries.
In practice, that means you live with an American host family, go to the local high school, and take part in community service and leadership activities. The study period runs for a spring semester, from January to June. The timeline currently listed for the next cohort is January to June 2027.
Think of YES as a cultural exchange first and an academic program second. You are not earning a foreign degree. You are spending one semester inside ordinary American school and family life, and the selection process tends to reward students who can show they will represent their home country well and come back with something to share.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded by the U.S. Department of State |
| Level | High school |
| Study period | Spring semester, January to June (listed as January to June 2027) |
| Deadline | Varies by country, confirm on the official site |
| Host country | United States |
| Pakistan eligible? | Yes, Pakistan is a participating country |
| Official site | yesprograms.org |
What the Department of State pays for
YES is described as fully funded. The covered items listed for the program are:
- Full tuition for a spring semester at a U.S. high school
- Placement with an American host family
- Cultural enrichment activities in the United States
- Leadership and community service training
- International travel to and from the United States
Notice how much of the value sits in the host family placement. Housing and day-to-day family life are part of the deal, which is what makes a semester abroad possible for students whose families could never pay for it. If you want exact details on pocket money, insurance or anything not on that list, ask the in-country partner organization rather than assuming. Those specifics are not spelled out in the general program description.
Pakistan is on the participating list
YES is not open to every country. It is available only to high school students from specific participating countries, and the list includes Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kosovo, Malaysia, North Macedonia and Pakistan. So yes, Pakistani students are eligible to apply.
The general eligibility rules are short:
- You must be a high school student.
- You must be a citizen of a participating country.
- You must meet the country-specific criteria set by the local administering organization.
That third point is where most of the real rules live. Each participating country has its own in-country partner that runs recruitment, sets local eligibility conditions and handles the application. Age limits, grade requirements, English testing and anything else that decides whether you qualify will come from the Pakistan page, not from the general program description. We are not going to guess at those here, because they can change and they differ by country.
Why the Pakistan country page matters more than anything else
The single most common mistake with YES is reading general information about the program and assuming it applies to you. The official website asks you to select your home country to see tailored application details, and that is not a formality. The deadline, the document list and the selection steps all depend on which country you apply from.
The documents requirement is a good example. There is no fixed universal checklist: what you submit varies, and you need to confirm it on the official site for Pakistan. Once you know what is required, our documents checklist for international scholarships is a useful way to get school records, identity papers and similar items ready early.
Applying through the local partner organization
The application route is straightforward on paper:
- Go to the official YES website and open the countries section.
- Select Pakistan as your home country.
- Read the local eligibility rules and application guidelines from the in-country partner organization.
- Submit the application form and required documents before the local deadline.
The local partner may ask you to sit an English proficiency test or attend an interview. Whether they do, and in what format, is set locally, so check the Pakistan page and prepare for both just in case. Students who treat the interview as an afterthought often undersell themselves. Be ready to talk about your school, your community and why you want to spend a semester in an American family.
When applications open and close
The program status is listed as opening soon, but there is no single opening date or deadline. Both vary by country, so confirm the dates for Pakistan on the official portal. Because the study period runs from January to June, recruitment happens well before the semester starts. Do not wait until the end of your school year to look into it.
A practical habit: check the Pakistan country page regularly and note the local deadline as soon as it appears. Missing a country-specific deadline is the easiest way to lose a fully funded opportunity like this.
Who this suits, and who should think twice
YES suits a high school student who is curious, reasonably confident in English, comfortable living with a family that is not their own, and willing to do community service and leadership activities alongside classes. It also suits families who want their child to have an international experience but cannot pay for one.
It is a weaker fit if you are mainly chasing academic credentials. One spring semester at a local American high school will not replace your Pakistani board exams, and you should think about how a term away affects your studies at home. Talk to your school before you apply so there are no surprises.
Some advice from what applicants commonly get wrong:
- Relying on secondhand information from friends instead of the Pakistan page on the official website.
- Assuming the deadline is the same every year or the same as another country's.
- Leaving English preparation until after applying, when an English test may be part of local selection.
- Not speaking to past participants. Alumni from Pakistan can tell you what the local process actually expects, and with over 15,000 alumni overall, they are not hard to find.
If you are comparing YES with other routes to the United States, our guide to all United States scholarships covers options at university level as well.
Frequently asked questions
Is the YES Program open to Pakistani students?
Yes. Pakistan is one of the participating countries. You must be a high school student, a citizen of a participating country and meet the criteria set by the local administering organization in Pakistan.
Who funds the program?
The United States Department of State funds YES. It is listed as fully funded, covering tuition for the spring semester, host family placement, cultural enrichment activities, leadership and community service training, and international travel.
How long will I stay in the United States?
One spring semester, which runs from January to June. The next listed study period is January to June 2027.
What is the application deadline?
It varies by country. Select Pakistan on the official website and confirm the local deadline set by the in-country partner organization.
Do I need an English test or an interview?
Possibly. The local in-country coordinator decides this, so check the Pakistan requirements and prepare for both an English proficiency test and an interview in case either is required.
Where will I live during the program?
With an American host family. You attend a local high school and take part in community service and leadership activities while you are there.
Check the official YES website for the Pakistan country page and current dates, and keep the full YES scholarship page handy for a quick summary.