Eligibility
Make sure you are eligible before applying
Who is the New York Program for?
The Mountbatten New York Program aims to transform the lives and careers of young professionals and recent graduates, helping them to jump-start their careers when they return home post-Program.
This is a cultural exchange program and Mountbatten Program is a registered J-1 visa sponsor.
All Trainees must fulfil the following J-1 visa and Mountbatten Program eligibility requirements:
If you are unsure whether you meet the requirements below, please contact your admissions team to confirm.
Eligible Nationalities
If you are interested in applying for the New York Program you must not be a US citizen or hold dual nationality with the United States.
The Program is open to all other nationalities.
All non-UK and non-EU nationals are recommended to contact your local US embassy to understand immigration requirements and how J-1 visas are awarded and processed in your home country.
Language requirements
All applicants must have highly proficient verbal and written English language skills to undertake both their placement and their academic course.
For candidates whose first language is not English, any of the following certificates or scores may be provided to serve as a guideline for proficiency to begin the application process:
- IELTS (academic) 6.5 overall with not less than 5.5 in any section
- TOEFL minimum 575 on paper-based and 90 on internet-based
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
- Cambridge Certificate Proficiency (CPE)
- Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP)
- GCSE English grade C or above
- Pearson Test score of 58 for English Academic or Level 5 General
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
Education background
Applicants must have:
- A degree from a University outside of the United States
- An undergraduate degree classification of 2:2 or above (or equivalent from your home country)
Applications are also accepted from current University students, providing the applicant is scheduled to graduate before beginning the Mountbatten Program. If you are within 12 months of graduating at the start of the program, less work experience may be considered.
Work experience
Applicants must demonstrate a minimum of 12 months full-time professional (business/office/administrative) work experience to fulfil eligibility requirements.
- Work experience can be accumulated in several positions, and may have been acquired before, during, and/or after relevant academic studies.
- Work experience must be related to one of the areas we offer placements in: Finance, Event Management, HR, IT, Law, Marketing/Communications or Non-Profit.
- Voluntary/unpaid work can count towards the requirement.
- Retail, restaurant, bar/pub work cannot be counted.
Work experience must also be acquired outside of the United States.
Non-intent to stay in the US
An important part of Mountbatten's and the U.S. Department of State's philosophy is that all participants leave the USA upon completion of their program to practice and develop what they have learned in the USA back in their home country.
The Mountbatten Program does not encourage or support transfers or adjustments of status within the USA to other cultural exchanges that use the J-1 visa or to any other type of US non-immigrant or immigrant visa.
