FY26 John McCain Study of U.S. Institute for Student Leaders Program

Grants.gov Open Opportunities

Published March 12th, 2026

Detected March 13th, 2026

Summary

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the FY26 John McCain Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders program. This program aims to provide foreign undergraduate students with a deeper understanding of American leadership and the rule of law. Proposals are due for this academic exchange program.

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What changed

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the FY26 John McCain Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders on the Rule of Law and Public Service. This program will fund a five-week intensive academic exchange for approximately 20 foreign undergraduate students from military and law enforcement backgrounds, focusing on American leadership and the rule of law. The program includes a four-week academic residency and a one-week field experience, with an expectation of follow-on engagement activities.

Eligible applicants include private and public institutions of higher education, as well as non-profit organizations. The NOFO provides details on program description, eligibility, and submission requirements. Interested institutions should review the full announcement and submit proposals for consideration. The specific deadline for proposal submission is not explicitly stated in this summary but is typically found within the full NOFO document.

What to do next

Review the FY26 John McCain Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders NOFO for detailed program requirements and eligibility.
Prepare and submit a proposal if your institution meets the eligibility criteria and wishes to host the program.
Consult the provided contact information for any specific inquiries regarding the application process.

Source document (simplified)

FY 2026 John McCain Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders on the Rule of Law and Public Service

Agency: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Assistance Listings: 19.009 -- Academic Exchange Programs - Undergraduate Programs

Last Updated: March 12, 2026 View version history on Grants.gov

Description

The Office of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA, invites proposal submissions for the design and implementation of the John McCain Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders on the Rule of Law and Public Service (McCain SUSI). The SUSI will take place over five weeks in summer 2027. See details in section C. Program Description. The McCain SUSI is an intensive academic exchange program that provides a group of approximately 20 foreign undergraduate students and recent graduates from military and law enforcement colleges and universities with a deeper understanding of American leadership and how it has shaped global stability and security.

The McCain SUSI will include an approximately four-week academic residency at a U.S. educational institution and an approximately one-week integrated academic field experience that will bring participants to a U.S. region distinct from their residency location. The program should include opportunities for continued follow-on engagement once participants return home. The award recipient will be responsible for planning, overseeing, and implementing the program.

Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Education

Private institutions of higher education
Public and state institutions of higher education

Nonprofit

Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)

Miscellaneous

Other

Additional information

Please see full announcement.

Grantor contact information

Description

Tania Jazynka

Email

JazynkaT@state.gov

Documents

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| File name | Description | Last updated |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FY26McCainSUSI_NOFO.pdf | FY 2026 John McCain Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders on the Rule of Law and Public Service NOFO | Mar 12, 2026 01:04 PM UTC |
| FY26McCainSUSIBudgetTemplate.pdf | FY 2026 John McCain Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders on the Rule of Law and Public Service Budget Template | Mar 12, 2026 01:04 PM UTC |
| FY26McCainSUSIBudgetTemplate.xlsx | FY 2026 John McCain Study of the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders on the Rule of Law and Public Service Excel Version | Mar 12, 2026 01:04 PM UTC |
| performancemonitoringplanmode2.3_02.03.2025-4.docx | ECA Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) (DOCX) | Mar 12, 2026 01:05 PM UTC |
| performancemonitoringplanmode2.3_02.03.2025.pdf | ECA Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) (PDF) | Mar 12, 2026 01:05 PM UTC |