U.S. Department of State
Upcoming Deadlines
The Fall 2025 Virtual NSLI-Y application is available. Apply Now!
Deadline is June 9 at 4:00PM ET.
When a NSLI-Y application is open, it is available on the American Councils for International Education system at ais.americancouncils.org. Applicants must create a login account to apply.
Interested applicants, families, and educators can register to receive NSLI-Y application announcements here:
Virtual NSLI-Y
Virtual NSLI-Y will be offered in Fall 2025 (Sept-Nov). The application is available until June 9, 2025 at 4:00PM ET.
Please review the program information, eligibility requirements, participation requirements, application components, and Terms & Conditions before applying for Virtual NSLI-Y.
Summer and Academic Year Abroad Programs
The application for NSLI-Y 2026-27 programs abroad will open in Fall 2025.
There is a single application for three of the U.S. Department of State’s study abroad programs: NSLI-Y, Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Abroad, and Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad. Applicants interested in applying for more than one of these programs now only need to prepare one application.
Applicants indicate which programs they wish to apply for. Applicants may apply and potentially be selected for more than one program but can only accept one scholarship.
FAQ
Yes, to view a submitted NSLI-Y application, go to the application website and enter the username and password. After an application has been submitted, the applicant can continue to access it and monitor the status of the transcript, parent statement, and recommendation, but will not be able to make any changes to the application.
Applicants will receive application status updates by email. Please note that all contact regarding the NSLI-Y application will be sent to the primary email address listed in the application.
Please do not call or email American Councils or other implementing organizations to inquire about selection decisions. NSLI-Y staff will notify applicants as soon as information is available.
Summer and Academic Year Abroad programs: NSLI-Y typically notifies applicants if they have become a semi-finalist in December. Summer and Academic Year Abroad semi-finalists will be notified of their final status on a rolling basis through March and April.
Virtual NSLI-Y programs: Fall Term finalists will be notified of their final status on a rolling basis from late July to early August.
To learn more information about the NSLI-Y and Virtual NSLI-Y timelines, please visit the Dates and Deadlines page.
Summer Abroad and Virtual NSLI-Y finalists have 7 days from the date of notification to accept or decline their scholarship. Academic Year Abroad program finalists have 14 days to accept or decline the scholarship. Finalists may not request a change to their assigned program location or schedule.
No. Per the Terms and Conditions, American Councils and the U.S. Department of State cannot discuss individual determinations about the application review and/or selection.