Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program - Turkey

About the YES Program

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was established by Congress in October 2002 in response to the events of September 11, 2001. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of State and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs (ECA) to provide scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the United States. Students live with host families, attend high schools, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures. Starting in 2009, the YES Abroad program was established in order to provide a similar experience for U.S. students (15-18 years) to spend an academic year in select YES countries.

For more information please refer to the YES Website

What is the usual process for high school accreditation?

Accreditation processes for students going abroad on YES Programs may differ according to the school where they study in Turkey, the district and school they will attend in the US and the courses they will take in the US school. Accreditation processes are conducted under the sole discretion of Turkish Republic Ministry of Education and participants will be informed of all such processes as necessary. The students are required to file an application for accreditation based on the information and guidance provided to them. YES Program does not guarantee accreditation. Accreditation processes may be performed only after the students complete the program and return to Turkey and not before the commencement of the program.

Important Notes:

Students studying in High Schools under the General Directorates of Vocational & Technical Education and Religious Education Institutions of Ministry of Education (MoE) cannot receive Accreditation for their exchange year abroad.
In addition to this, applicants who are in 11^th grade on the 2018-2019 Academic Year and plan to study 12^th grade during their exchange year (2019-2020) are not guaranteed to receive a diploma in the US and may have to repeat 12^th grade when they return to Turkey.

YES Program Turkey Eligibility Criteria

• To be a citizen of the Republic of Turkey or have a long-term residence permit issued by the Republic of Turkey,
• Not to have or to have applied for US citizenship or Green Card (for both candidate and family),
• To attend 9^th, 10^th and 11^th grades of High Schools organized under the General Directorates of Secondary Education, Private Education, Vocational & Technical Education and Religious Education Institutions of Ministry of Education (MoE). (Students of prep class and 12^th grade are not eligible for YES Programs),
• To be born between 01 August 2001 and 01 August 2004,
• To have a general point average of 65 and above (out of 100) for the last 2 academic years (2016-2017 and 2017-2018),
• Not to have obtained any grade below 50 points (out of 100) for any class according to the year-end point average for the last 2 academic years (2016-2017 and 2017-2018),
• Not to have obtained 65 and below for any class including the semesters during the ongoing academic year (2018-2019),
• To speak English at an intermediate level and above.