Selection

Who is eligible for this programme (scholarship 2025-2026)?

The competition for FLEX scholarships is based on merit-based criteria and open at no cost to those who meet the eligibility requirements. Eligible applicants:

  • They must be born between 15 July 2007 and 15 July 2010 and must be in the 9th, 10th or 11th grade at the time of application. These two conditions are cumulative and absolutely no exceptions can be made.

  • Are in good or excellent academic standing (there is no minimum GPA required by the program).

  • Have previously studied English and demonstrate English language skills at the time of application.

  • They meet the criteria for obtaining a US visa which can be verified online.

  • They are Romanian citizens and can obtain a passport in their home country. Applicants may hold another nationality, but Romanian citizenship is mandatory.

  • Have not been in the US for 3 or more months in the last 5 years

  • Have not already emigrated to the US and do not plan to emigrate.

How and when to apply?

Candidates interested in the programme and meeting the eligibility conditions have been invited from August to December 2024 to participate in the selection process which will consist of 3 rounds as follows:

  • ROUND 1: It is open between 1 August 2024 - 26 September 2024. This round will include a preliminary online application and 3 essay questions to be completed and submitted within 10 days of the start of the application. The online application is available at:  https://ais.americancouncils.org/flex.

  • ROUND 2: After submitting the online application, students will be invited to take an online English test.

  • ROUND 3: This semi-final stage will start in October and will include an interview, 3 more essay questions, a full English test and an application to be completed in person by each student. Students who pass this stage will then be notified by the American Councils Romania office.

After submitting the application they will receive a confirmation email and an application code. Without this confirmation email, the application will not be registered.

Who selects the scholarship recipients?

Romania joined the FLEX programme in September 2015, when it received 25 scholarships for Romanian high school students. The number of scholarships for 2024-2025 was 30. The selection of high school students is done entirely by a selection committee in the US, made up of professionals from various fields. No selection is made in Romania.

What about the academic year in the US?

The FLEX programme is recognised by the Ministry of Education. The year of high school completed in the USA can be recognized upon return to Romania. According to the regulations in force, which are also available on the website of the National Centre for the Recognition and Equivalence of Diplomas, students can have their high school year in the USA recognised, with the equivalence being done as a block and not subject by subject.

The complete FLEX programme calendar:

  • March - July 2024: pre-enrolling;

  • August - September: submission of the online application and English language test.

  • October - November 2024: notification of semi-finalists.

  • October - December 2024: individual interview, English test, completion of individual application.

  • April - May 2025: announcement of final results (names of scholarship holders and those on the reserve list).

  • August - September 2025: travel of the scholarship holders to the USA.

  • May - June 2026: return to Romania.

Caution!

  • There are no participation, testing or any other fees for FLEX tests. There are also no fees in case of voluntary interruption of the program for various reasons related to the scholar.

  • The FLEX English language test cannot be equated to any other language certificate and the applicant is not required to have an English language certificate.

  • Families of Romanian scholarship recipients are not required to host another child during the FLEX scholarship period.

  • Host families in the US are carefully selected by specialized placement organizations and are vetted in various ways. They may or may not have children, may live in large, medium or small communities and may be of various ages. A grantee cannot choose or propose a family to live with.

  • The scholarship is equally targeted at high school students with disabilities and those from different minority backgrounds, and the programme does not discriminate in any way.

 

For further information, contact us at: flex.ro@americancouncils.org 

Phone number: +40 748 612 570

Instagram: American Councils Romania

Facebook: FLEX Romania