Application Deadline: January 15, 2026.
LOCATION: USA
The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (AU EGLS) promotes educational access and opportunity while enhancing international diversity. Bringing together the best of AU—academic excellence, leadership development, and global engagement—AU Emerging Global Leader Scholars achieve, inspire, and serve with vision. The AU EGLs are dedicated to positive civic and social change to help address issues faced by under-resourced, underserved communities in their home country.
ELIGIBILITY:
Preference will be given to:
International students who have overcome various obstacles and challenges, as well as those from diverse and underrepresented global and socioeconomic backgrounds.
A demonstrated commitment to leadership, volunteerism, community service, and advancing the needs of people in their home country.
Students who meet our English Proficiency requirements.
Students who are still enrolled in secondary/high school and graduating by June 2026.
They recommend that AU Emerging Leader Scholarship applicants apply Regular Decision for Fall 2026, though some early applicants may be deferred for further consideration for the AU EGLS award. Finalists and award winners will be notified by April 1st, 2026.
IMPORTANT:The AU Emerging Global Leadership Scholarship application process involves two steps:
Step 1: Applicants who wish to be considered for AU EGLS full or partial scholarships must first submit their Common application and all supporting documents before January 15, 2026.
Step 2: Submit the AU EGL Scholarship application and essays via your applicant portal by the required January 15, 2026 deadline. You must complete Step 1 before submitting the AU EGLS application. Late applications will not be considered.
Complete and submit the Common Application with all required documents per the AU international instructions checklist before January 15, 2026.
Create your applicant portal when invited to do so.
Submit a bank letter and the completed and signed AU Declaration of Finances Form (AU DFF), each confirming a minimum of US$4,000. These can be uploaded via your applicant portal. See examples of bank letters.
Submit your official TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English, PTE, or Cambridge Assessment English Test score results before January 15, 2026. Please have official English proficiency score reports sent directly by the testing agency to American University, Undergraduate Admissions, Washington, District of Columbia. Note: Students cannot submit their own results.
If you are applying through a program supported by EducationUSA or if you are a past FLEX or YES high school scholarship recipient from the U.S. Department of State, please provide a letter from your EducationUSA center’s adviser confirming your candidacy. You may request for the letter to be sent to jtomczak@american.edu as a PDF.
If you are not selected as one of the finalists, you may still be considered for admission to American University, Washington, DC and eligible for partial merit scholarships.
Zoom interviews and/or additional essay submissions will be required for AU EGL semi-finalists and finalists. If you have any questions, please contact intadm@american.edu.
BENEFIT:
The AU EGL scholarship covers all billable AU expenses (full tuition, room, and board) for two international students who will need a non-immigrant visa (preferably an F-1 or J-1 student visa) to study in the United States. The scholarship does not cover non-billable expenses such as mandatory health insurance, books, airline tickets, taxes, and miscellaneous expenses, which students will need to pay out of pocket (approximately US$4,000 per year).
The AU EGL scholarship is renewable for a total of four years of undergraduate study, based on continued satisfactory academic performance. Students interested in all majors offered at AU are eligible to apply.
New: AU EGL partial scholarships! We’re excited to share that in addition to the two full AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarships covering all billable expenses, AU will also offer up to eight additional AU EGL partial scholarships valued at up to US$40,000/per year.
No additional application process is needed to be eligible for AU EGL partial scholarships. Partial scholarship candidates will be selected from talented applicants who complete the AU EGL scholarship process successfully. If you are recommended for an AU EGLs partial scholarship, you will need to submit proof of additional funds beyond the initial US$4,000 for the difference not covered by the AU EGLS partial scholarship. For example, if you are offered US$40,000/year, you will need to submit financial documents confirming US$42,000 on account for your first year instead of the full estimated costs of US$83,680.
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