Varies funding · Study in the United States
AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship
Two full awards covering all billable expenses, plus up to eight partial awards worth up to US$40,000 a year
- Funder
- American University, Washington DC
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Coverage
- Varies
About this scholarship
The AU EGLS is one of the few fully funded undergraduate scholarships in the United States genuinely open to international applicants, and it has run since 2011.
It is explicitly aimed at students who intend to return home and work on under-resourced communities, so the essays and interviews test that commitment as hard as the academic record.
🗓️ Deadline
Submit the Common Application and the scholarship essays by mid-January
Award cycles shift year to year. Confirm the current deadline on the official site before you plan around it.
Eligibility
- An international student applying for first-year undergraduate admission at American University
- Not a US citizen or permanent resident, and not currently studying in the US in most cases
- An outstanding academic record and demonstrated leadership in community or civic work
- A stated commitment to returning home to work on social change after graduation
- Renewable for up to four years subject to academic performance
How to apply
- Submit the Common Application and all supporting documents by the mid-January deadline
- Submit the separate AU EGLS application and essays through the applicant portal by the same date
- Provide transcripts, references and evidence of your community work
- Finalists complete a series of interviews and additional essays
- Expect a long selection process — roughly 100 apply for a handful of awards
Studying in the United States
The world's largest choice of universities, cutting-edge research and up to 3 years of practical training. Post-study work: 12 months OPT (36 for STEM).
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AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship: your questions, answered
What does the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship cover?
Two full awards covering all billable expenses, plus up to eight partial awards worth up to US$40,000 a year. The AU EGLS is one of the few fully funded undergraduate scholarships in the United States genuinely open to international applicants, and it has run since 2011.
Who is eligible for the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship?
Core requirements are: An international student applying for first-year undergraduate admission at American University; Not a US citizen or permanent resident, and not currently studying in the US in most cases; An outstanding academic record and demonstrated leadership in community or civic work; A stated commitment to returning home to work on social change after graduation; Renewable for up to four years subject to academic performance. Eligibility rules are set by the funder and can change each cycle, so confirm on the official site before applying.
When is the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship deadline?
Submit the Common Application and the scholarship essays by mid-January. Because award cycles shift year to year, always check the official programme website for the current date.
Is the university placement service really free?
Yes, our service is 100% free. Counselling, university matching, application support and guidance right up to your offer cost you nothing. There are no consultation fees and no agent fees, because we are funded by our university partners. The only cost you take on is the university’s own tuition or semester fees, which you pay directly to the university after you accept your offer.
What exactly do you help with?
Everything from start to finish: understanding your options, shortlisting the right programme, preparing your application and personal statement, submitting to the university, and guiding you through the offer, enrolment and visa paperwork, all with a dedicated counsellor.
Which universities can you place me into?
We place students into a range of UK and international universities, and we shortlist the best-fit options for your grades, budget and goals rather than pushing a single school. On some pages we run dedicated free placement drives for a specific partner university, and we are always adding more partners. Tell us your goals and your counsellor will map out your options.