Tomorrow’s Leaders Program 2027 to 2028

The Tomorrow’s Leaders Program 2027 to 2028 is a fully funded undergraduate scholarship and leadership development opportunity for talented young people from the Middle East and North Africa region. The program is sponsored by the US Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative and administered by FHI 360.

The program is designed for academically strong students who demonstrate leadership potential, maturity, flexibility and a commitment to contributing to their communities. It combines undergraduate education with leadership training, mentorship, professional development and practical opportunities designed to prepare participants for future roles in government, business, civil society and other sectors.

Selected students will study at participating American style universities in the MENA region. For the 2027 to 2028 academic year, the current participating institutions are the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University. Applicants may indicate a preferred university but must be willing to attend either institution, as final placement depends on university admission requirements and program selection.

About the Opportunity

The Tomorrow’s Leaders Program seeks to develop a network of future leaders from the MENA region who can contribute to positive social and economic development. The program provides students from under resourced backgrounds with access to high quality undergraduate education and leadership development that may otherwise be financially inaccessible.

Participants receive academic advising, faculty mentorship and leadership training while completing their degree. They also have opportunities to take part in internships, career oriented workshops and civic leadership activities.

The program has developed a network of more than 1,900 alumni across the MENA region. Students may also become eligible to apply for a semester of study at a university in the United States.

The program does not offer medical school as an eligible field of study. Applicants should review the available degree programs before selecting their intended area of study.

Opportunity Benefits

• Full tuition and enrollment fees for up to four academic years

• University health insurance

• Student housing

• Entrance visa and residency permit fees

• Monthly living stipend during Tomorrow’s Leaders activities

• Textbook allowance

• Laptop for use during the program

• Two round trip tickets to the home country, territory or place of residence each year

• Career oriented workshops

• Civic leadership development

• Internship opportunities

• Faculty mentorship and guidance

• Academic advising and student support

• Opportunity to apply for a semester of study at a university in the United States

American University of Beirut

• Agribusiness

• Biology

• Business Administration

• Chemistry

• Computer Science

• Data Science

• Earth Sciences

• Economics

• Food Science and Management

• Mathematics

• Applied Mathematics

Lebanese American University

• Bioinformatics

• Biology

• Accounting

• Banking and Finance

• Family and Entrepreneurial Business

• International Business

• Information Technology Management

• Management

• Marketing

• Chemistry

• Computer Science

• Economics

• Graphic Design

• Mathematics

Applicants should note that only degree programs listed by the Tomorrow’s Leaders Program are available through the scholarship.

Eligibility Criteria

• Be a citizen or national of Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia or Yemen

• Palestinian students from the West Bank may apply, as may Palestinian students who currently reside in a third country with legal residency status

• Be a current high school senior or have graduated from high school in 2026

• Applicants from Iraq, Libya, Syria, the West Bank, Palestinian students residing in a third country with legal residency status, and Yemen may also qualify if they graduated from high school in 2025

• Demonstrate strong academic credentials

• Generally have academic results of 80 percent or better

• Demonstrate maturity, flexibility and leadership potential

• Have proficiency in written and spoken English

• Be able to travel internationally and begin undergraduate studies in August 2027

• Be willing to attend either participating university if selected

• Be able to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale during the program

• US citizens and US legal permanent residents are not eligible

Required Application Materials

• Completed online application form

• Official secondary school transcripts for grades 10 and 11, and grade 12 where available

• High school graduation certificate or diploma

• Unofficial English translations of academic documents when required

• Documentation of extracurricular activities

• Documentation of volunteer activities

• Results from the required online English assessment

• Two recommendation submissions

• Personal information and other applicable sections requested through the application system

Shortlisted applicants will have additional requirements:

• TOEFL or IELTS results by March 8, 2027

• SAT I or SAT II results by March 26, 2027 where required for selected majors or students attending American style high schools

Applicants who already have valid TOEFL or IELTS results that are less than two years old may submit them with their application.

Selection Criteria

Applicants are assessed based on several factors, including academic performance, English language proficiency and leadership potential. The program also considers whether applicants meet the admission requirements of the participating universities.

Strong candidates are expected to demonstrate academic ability alongside maturity, flexibility, extracurricular engagement and potential to contribute positively to their communities.

The selection process includes an initial application review followed by interviews for shortlisted candidates. Shortlisted applicants are expected to be notified by the beginning of January 2027, with interviews taking place during January.

Applicants who progress further may be supported in completing standardized testing. Candidates may subsequently be forwarded for consideration by participating universities, with conditional offers expected to begin from May 2027 on a rolling basis.

How to Apply

1. Review the official Tomorrow’s Leaders Program eligibility requirements and available fields of study.
2. Confirm that you meet the citizenship, graduation year, academic and English language requirements.
3. Prepare your academic transcripts, graduation documents and evidence of extracurricular or volunteer activities.
4. Complete the online Tomorrow’s Leaders Program application.
5. Complete the required online English assessment using the same email address associated with your application.
6. Provide the email addresses of two recommenders so they can submit their recommendations through the application system.
7. Submit the completed application before November 18, 2026.
8. If shortlisted, complete the required TOEFL or IELTS assessment and provide the result by March 8, 2027.
9. Submit SAT results by March 26, 2027 if required for your intended major or educational background.
10. Participate in the interview and subsequent selection process if invited.
11. If selected, complete the university admission and pre departure requirements and prepare to begin your studies in August 2027.