Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, University of MontanaFellowship

Fully Funded YSEALI US Academic Fellowship

Oct 12, 2026 20:00:00 Asia/Jakarta

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

Global

Deadline

Oct 12, 2026 20:00:00 Asia/Jakarta

About this opportunity

The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Academic Fellows Program brings students and recent graduates aged 18 to 25 from Southeast Asia to the United States for a fully funded, five-week academic exchange at a U.S. university or college. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and run by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana. One application covers both the Spring and Fall 2027 cohorts, and there is no later round for Fall.

What you get:

A fully funded five-week academic exchange at one of 8 U.S. host institutions
Round-trip international airfare, your U.S. J-1 visa fees and basic living costs in the U.S., covered by the U.S. Department of State
No fee to take part
Visits to three U.S. cities during the programme
Membership of a YSEALI Academic Fellows alumni network of more than 2,700 people

What you'll do:

Study one of four themes: Economic Prosperity, Liberty and Freedom, Natural Resources, or Peace and Security
Complete an academic residency, community service activities and an academic field experience
Finish with a closing workshop, with the programme also running a Reciprocal Exchange that sends Americans to Southeast Asia

Key dates:

Applications close October 12, 2026 at 20:00 WIB (Jakarta time)
Interview invitations begin in early November 2026
All applicants notified of their status by February 2027
Spring cohort expected April 1 to May 5, 2027
Fall cohort expected September 16 to October 20, 2027

More information:

The application is in English, takes about 60 minutes, and includes two essays of 350 to 400 words each
Semi-finalists are interviewed in English, virtually or in person, by their U.S. embassy or consulate
Only one application per person; submissions cannot be edited once sent
A reference PDF of the application is on the official Application Information page, but only applications made through Submittable count
Eligibility and programme questions: ysealiafp@umontana.edu

Who can apply

Aged 18 to 25 by the application deadline; exceptional applicants over 25 may be considered, but no one under 18 at the deadline is eligible
Citizen of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste or Vietnam
Citizens of Myanmar (Burma) and Laos are not eligible for 2027 because of visa restrictions
Physically residing in an ASEAN member state from October 12, 2026 through the start of your Fellowship
A full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student, or graduated with an undergraduate degree in the last four years
Proficient in reading, writing and speaking English
Not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, not a U.S. Government employee or immediate family member of one, and not a YSEALI Academic Fellows alum
Eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 visa

AI Verification

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This opportunity is run by an established organization, and we confirmed its key details against the official source. As always, never share sensitive personal or financial information until you are sure a request is genuine.

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Cross-checked 12 of 13 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

+Five weeks at a US university, with return flights, J-1 visa fees and basic living costs paid by the US Department of State
+No fee to take part, and visits to three US cities
+One application covers both the Spring and Fall 2027 cohorts
+Run by the Mansfield Center at the University of Montana, with an alumni network of more than 2,700
+Applicants with little or no previous US study or travel are preferred, so first-timers have an edge

Worth checking yourself

!Closes Monday 12 October at 20:00 Jakarta time, not midnight. One programme document says 13 October, but go by the 12th
!Only for citizens of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste or Vietnam living in an ASEAN country; Myanmar and Laos are excluded this year
!Aged 18 to 25 by the deadline, and a current student or a graduate from the last four years
!Semi-finalists interview in English at their US embassy or consulate
!One application per person, and you cannot edit it once sent

Sources checked

YSysealiafp.orgApplyYSysealiafp.orgApplyYSysealiafp.orgApplyYSysealiafp.orgApplyYSysealiafp.orgApplyYSysealiafp.orgApplyTHthemaureenandmikemansfieldcenter.submittable.comOfficial

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