George Washington University Global Leaders Fellowship

Overview

The GW Global Leaders Fellowship (now formally administered as the Global Leaders Award by the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences) is a competitive partial tuition award offered by George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, D.C., to outstanding international graduate students admitted to eligible on-campus master's programmes. The award provides a renewable tuition reduction of up to USD $10,000 per academic year and an application fee waiver, and is designed to attract future leaders who will return to their home countries to apply the skills and expertise gained at GWU.

GWU is a major private research university located in Washington, D.C. — one of the most politically significant cities in the world. Its Elliott School of International Affairs, School of Business, Columbian College of Arts & Sciences, and Graduate School of Education and Human Development are among the eligible schools for this award. Studying in Washington places students in direct proximity to international organisations, government agencies, NGOs, the World Bank, IMF, and numerous think tanks — offering unparalleled networking opportunities for students interested in public policy, international affairs, and development.

• Up to USD $10,000 per academic year toward tuition fees
• Renewable each academic year for the duration of the eligible master's programme (subject to satisfactory academic standing)
• Includes application fee waiver — reducing the cost of applying to GWU
• Awarded on a competitive basis to the most qualified eligible applicants admitted to CCAS master's programmes
• Applicants must hold or intend to hold an F-1 student visa
• No separate scholarship application — consideration is part of the graduate admissions process

⚠️ Nepal eligibility — please verify directly. The original fellowship (pre-2020) was restricted to students from a specific list of countries: China, Cambodia, Eastern Europe, Laos, Latin America, the Caribbean, Mongolia, Sub-Saharan Africa, USSR Successor States, and Vietnam. Nepal was not included in that list. The current restructured award's country eligibility list is not publicly published on the GWU CCAS website. Nepali students are strongly encouraged to email gradccas@gwu.edu before applying to confirm whether Nepal is now an eligible country for this award.

Eligibility

Who is Eligible

• Citizenship from an eligible country: Must be a citizen of one of the countries designated as eligible for this initiative. The current eligibility list is not publicly published — contact GWU CCAS at gradccas@gwu.edu to confirm whether your country qualifies.
• F-1 student visa: Must be studying or intending to study on an F-1 student visa. J-1 visa holders are not eligible (with the exception of Fulbright recipients under the original fellowship terms).
• Admission to an eligible CCAS master's programme: Must be admitted to and enrol in an eligible on-campus master's degree programme in the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences at GWU's Foggy Bottom campus.
• Full-time enrolment: Must be enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking programme.
• First-time GWU applicant: The fellowship targets incoming graduate students — current GWU students are not eligible.
• No prior study or work in the US: Under the original fellowship criteria, applicants must not have studied or worked in the United States or third countries outside their home country. Confirm whether this restriction applies under the current award structure by contacting GWU CCAS.
• Commitment to return: The fellowship is intended for students who will return to their home countries after graduating to apply their skills. This is an eligibility principle, not a legally binding obligation, but it informs the selection process.

Who is Not Eligible

• US citizens, permanent residents, and resident aliens.
• Students on visa types other than F-1 (except Fulbright J-1 holders under specific terms — confirm with GWU).
• Students enrolled in part-time programmes or programmes at GWU campuses other than the Foggy Bottom main campus.
• Current GWU graduate students — this is an incoming student award only.
• Students admitted to the School of Business Executive Education programme.
• Students whose country of citizenship is not on the current eligibility list — contact GWU CCAS to confirm.
• PhD students — the current award structure appears to target master's programmes only. The original fellowship covered doctoral candidates; confirm current PhD eligibility with GWU directly.

How to Apply

1. Confirm Nepal's eligibility before applying. Email GWU CCAS at gradccas@gwu.edu to ask whether Nepal is currently listed as an eligible country for the Global Leaders Award. Do this early — ideally several months before the application deadline — to avoid wasting time on an ineligible application.
2. Choose your eligible CCAS master's programme. The fellowship is administered by the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences. Eligible programmes include master's degrees in the College of Professional Studies, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Elliott School of International Affairs, Graduate School of Education and Human Development, and School of Engineering and Applied Science. The School of Business Executive Education programme is not eligible. Browse CCAS master's programmes at columbian.gwu.edu/masters-degrees.
3. Apply for GWU graduate admission through the standard online portal. There is no separate fellowship application — the Global Leaders Award is considered as part of the admissions process. Complete and submit your graduate application, including all required materials (transcripts, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, GRE/GMAT scores if required, and English proficiency scores).
4. Pay the application fee (which will be waived if you receive the fellowship). The application fee is required to be paid upfront. If you receive the fellowship, you will receive an application fee waiver as part of the award notification.
5. Ensure your application is submitted before February 1. The deadline to be considered for the Global Leaders Award is February 1, provided the programme's own application deadline has not already passed. Some GWU programmes have earlier deadlines — apply to the programme first and confirm the February 1 scholarship deadline applies.
6. Await admission and fellowship decisions. Fellowship awards are made competitively to the most highly qualified eligible applicants. Admitted students receive notification of the fellowship decision along with or shortly after their admission offer.
7. Accept admission and enrol full-time. If offered the fellowship, accept your admission offer and enrol as a full-time F-1 student in your eligible CCAS master's programme. The award renews each academic year subject to satisfactory academic performance.