Brief description: The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship is targeted to high-achieving international students who wish to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in the US and who are dedicated to positive civic and social change. It is intended for students who will be to returning home to improve under-resourced, underserved communities in his/her home country.

Host Institution(s): American University, Washington DC, USA

Level/Field(s) of study: Any undergraduate study offered at the University

Number of Scholarships: Two (2) full scholarships are available and up to 8 partial scholarships

Target group: The scholarships are targeted to international students from any country who are not U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or dual citizens of the U.S. and another country.

Scholarship value/inclusions/duration: The AU EGL scholarship covers all billable AU expenses (full tuition, room and board). The scholarship does not cover non-billable expenses such as mandatory health insurance, books, airline tickets and miscellaneous expenses (approximately U.S. $4,000). On the other hand, AU EGL partial scholarships valued at up to US$40,000/per year. It is renewable for a total of four years of undergraduate study, based on continued satisfactory academic performance.

Eligibility: Preference will be given to:

1. International students who have overcome various obstacles and challenges as well as those from diverse and underrepresented global and socioeconomic backgrounds.
2. A minimum 3.8 GPA equivalent (or in the top 10% of graduating class) for 9th-12th grades.
3. A demonstrated commitment to leadership, volunteerism, community service and to advancing the needs of people in their home country.
4. Students with one of the following: 95+ TOEFL iBT (all subscores must be 20 or above); sub-scores of 24+ on the paper-based TOEFL (Taken after May 31, 2018); 7.0+ IELTS (all subscores must be 6.0 or above); 33 minimum SAT Reading Subscore; 29 minimum ACT English; 65 minimum PTE; 125+ Duolingo (all subscores must be 115 or above); or Cambridge Assessment English score of 185 or higher. Each sub- score must be 169 or higher.
5. Students who are still enrolled in secondary/high school and graduating by June 2026.
6. Important: Students in the IB system should plan to graduate with a full IB diploma with at lease 3 HL subjects. Students studying in the British A- Levels system must complete at least 3 A levels and finish 13 years of study before August 2026.

You are NOT eligible to apply if:

• You are a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or dual citizen of the U.S. and another country.
• You are enrolled in or have already begun any post-secondary studies at another university in your home country or the United States.
• You graduated secondary school earlier than 2024.

Application instructions: To apply to the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship, you must apply and complete the AU EGLS application, Common or Coalition Application, and international admissions process by   December 2025 AU EGLS applicants must apply Regular Decision for fall 2026 (not Early Decision ED or Early Action EA).