YES Program
Say “Yes to YES!”
The online application for the 2025-2026 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) Program is open now and will be until October 24/2024.
Funded by the United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, this program helps students to foster lasting personal ties, engage in activities that promote mutual understanding across cultures, respect diversity, establish leadership skills, and understand civil society. At the same time, YES students help their American classmates enhance their understanding of foreign countries and cultures.
The Kennedy-Lugar YES program was established by Congress in October 2002 in response to the events of September 11, 2001. Since then, YES has impacted more than 13,000 students from 45 countries. The reciprocal Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad program opened for American students in 2009.
The program officially launched in Kosova in 2009 in hopes to expand communication between the people of the United States and Kosova in order to promote mutual understanding and respect. Since then, approximately 20 Kosovar students have completed the YES program each year and have joined the active alumni community in Kosova.
The YES program is administered in partnership with the United States Department of State by a consortium of nonprofit organizations, which is led by American Councils for International Education and includes numerous placement and recruitment organizations.
Students with Disabilities
The Department of State and the YES program work with Mobility International (MIUSA) to provide students with disabilities leadership-building workshops, appropriate information, and support as needed to enhance their year in America.
How to Apply
The YES program recruitment will include three rounds:
Round 1: This round includes a preliminary online application and 3 essay questions which must be submitted within 10 days of starting the application.
Round 2: Upon submitting their preliminary application, students will receive an email inviting them to take part in an online 15-minute English test.
Round 3: This semi-finalist round will begin in December and include an interview, 3 more essay questions, the full application, and a comprehensive English test. Students who pass to this stage will be invited to participate in round three by the American Councils’ office in Kosovo.
If you meet the following criteria, we encourage you to apply:
• Born between January 1, 2008, and July 15, 2010
• Enrolled in secondary school at the time of application
• Currently in the 10th or 11th grade and not yet graduated
• Have at least a B average, with no failing grades
• Have not spent more than 90 days in the U.S. in the past five years
• Meet U.S. J-1 visa eligibility requirements (U.S. citizens are not eligible)
• Resident and citizen of Kosovo
Students with disabilities must:
• Be enrolled in secondary school in the fall of 2024
• Be born between February 15, 2007, and July 15, 2010
For the 2025-26 school year, apply now at this link!
YES Program Brochure
Read our brochures below in English and Albanian for more details.
YES Program: The Impact of Foreign Exchange