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The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship

The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship promotes educational access and opportunity while enhancing international diversity. Bringing together the best of AU - academic excellence, leadership development, and global engagement - the AU Emerging Global Leader achieves, inspires, and serves with vision. The AU EGL is dedicated to positive civic and social change, and will return home to improve under-resourced, underserved communities in their home country.

The AU EGL scholarship covers all billable AU expenses (full tuition, room and board) for one international student who will need a 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 and miscellaneous expenses (approximately U.S.$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.

Important: Only one AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship is available for Fall 2021. If you are not selected as the 2021 AU EGL recipient and wish to continue the application process, you may be eligible for partial merit scholarships. However, you will need to submit proof of additional funds beyond the initial U.S.$4,000 you provided. Estimated costs for the 2020-2021 academic year are U.S.$70,231.

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 2019.

AU EGLS applicants must apply Regular Decision for fall (August) 2021. Do not apply Early Decision (ED).

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 out of 4.0 GPA (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:
    1. 95+ TOEFL iBT (all subscores must be 20 or above)
    2. Sub-scores of 24+ on the paper-based TOEFL (Taken after May 31, 2017)
    3. 7.0+ IELTS (all subscores must be 6.0 or above)
    4. 33 minimum SAT Reading Subscore
    5. 29 minimum ACT English
    6. 65 minimum PTE
    7. 120+ Duolingo (all subscores must be 110 or above)
  5. Students who are still enrolled in secondary/high school and graduating by June 2021.
  6. Important: Students in the IB system should plan to graduate with a full IB diploma with at least 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 2021.

The AU EGLS selection process is most competitive. Priority consideration will be given to those AU EGLS applicants who apply and complete the AU EGLS application, Common or Coalition Application, and international admissions process by December 15, 2020.

Instructions

  1. Complete the online AU EGLS application.
  2. Submit a bank letter and the AU Certification of Finances (AU CFIS) form - each demonstrating a minimum of U.S.$4,000. These can be uploaded via your Future Eagle Portal or sent by fax to +1-202-885-1025. Examples of bank letters and the AU CFIS form template
  3. Submit your official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test score results by December 15, 2020 at the latest. Please have official English proficiency score reports sent directly to American University Undergraduate Admissions.
  4. Complete and submit the Common Application or Coalition Application, together with all supporting documents per checklist by AU EGLS priority deadline of December 15, 2020, or by January 15, 2021 at the latest. Please note that students who do not submit a complete application packet with all supporting documents by the deadline will not be reviewed.
  5. If you are applying through a program supported by EducationUSA such as USAP, CCC, Opportunity Grants, Diana Kamal Scholarship Search, or similar, 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 levinson@american.edu as a PDF.
  6. 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. However, to continue the application process, you will need to submit proof of funds totaling U.S.$70,231 (estimated costs for first year of study).

Skype interviews and additional essay submissions will be required for AU EGL semi-finalists and finalists. If you have any questions, please contact intadm@american.edu .

 

Meet Our Current AU Emerging Global Leader Scholars

Sledja, KSB/BA '22

2018 AU Emerging Global Leader Scholar

How do you think EGLS recipients can contribute to the AU Community?

EGLS recipients serve as ambassadors of their countries at AU. Breaking stereotypes is the first step to avoiding conflict and achieving international peace.

How do you believe EGLS can help you achieve your life goals?

Through the EGLS scholarship I will be able to get an education that will help me develop my full potential. It will give me the opportunity to develop skills and cultivate my passion of bringing positive change in the world.

Fareha, SIS/BA '23

2019 AU Emerging Global Leader Scholar

How do you think EGLS recipients can contribute to the AU community?

EGL Scholars have an important role to fulfill within the AU community, not only as ambassadors of their own countries but as future leaders and scholars. I got the opportunity to further explore my interests in human rights and the international political landscape outside of the classroom, through faculty-guided research papers (as a first-year student!). I was also fortunate to be elected Vice President of the AU Amnesty International chapter. I believe the opportunities AU and DC provide are paramount to the larger goal of not only challenging myself but to make a lasting impact. 

Chaitanya, SIS/BA '24

2020 AU Emerging Global Leader Scholar

How do you believe the AU EGLS Scholarship can help you achieve your life goals?

As an international student who hoped to study abroad and forge an international career, this scholarship was the perfect opportunity to further my dream. Also, as an International Relations and Economics major, pursuing an undergraduate degree in Washington, DC, the global political capital, is also the perfect place to harness various internships and professional opportunities which can aid me in building the career  I dream of! I look forward to learning, growing and fulfilling my dreams at AU!  

Meiying, CAS'25

2021 AU Emerging Global Leader Scholar

How do you believe the AU EGLS Scholarship can help you achieve your life goals?

Being part of this group of scholars will allow me to both contribute and expand my previous mentoring experience of welcoming and mentoring incoming students. I will be fully committed to putting the resources, opportunities, and training provided by the scholarship to excellent use. The scholarship will allow me to pursue a state-of-the-art education in an enriched environment that will further enhance my skills, foster my innovative spirit, and build lifelong friendships. Finally, I will always proudly carry AU’s name into every success in my future. 
Meiying Matute, Ecuador,
2021 AU EGL Scholar,  CAS Class of 2025

Meet Our AU Emerging Global Leader Scholars Alumni

Lori, SIS '21

2017 AU Emerging Global Leader Scholar

The Emerging Global Leader Scholarship was a life-changing opportunity that allowed me to experience so much during my four years at AU. I was able to explore different interests and activities including Mock Trial, Crew Team, and the pre-law society. My favorite college experience has been TA-ing/PL-ing for 11 different classes. This, along with various research programs, helped me discover my passion for mentorship and research. My goal now is to one day become a professor. The past four years have been incredible for self-discovery and growth and I am so grateful and honored to be the 2017 AU Emerging Global Leader Scholar! 
Lori Younissess
2021 recipient of AU’s prestigious Bruce Hughes Award and SIS Commencement speaker

 

Dayana, SIS/BA '20

2016 AU Emerging Global Leader Scholar

Winning American University’s Emerging Global Leader Scholarship was the single most transformative and impactful event of my academic career. Aside from opening up professional and academic doors that I did not know existed, it allowed me to become a part of a welcoming community here at AU and to feel at home thousands of miles away from the place where I grew up and spent most of my life. Most crucially, being an EGLS taught me the importance of paying back and paying forward, both to American University at large and to other students whose limitless potential would have never been realized without opportunities like the AU EGL Scholarship. 
Dayana Sarova, 2021 recipient of the AU President’s Award

Nargiza Kanybek, SIS '19

Receiving the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship in 2015 has been a life-changing opportunity for me. It allowed me to be in an environment where I could realize my full potential not only as a student but also as a leader. I took classes in diverse fields, participated in clubs, participated in an exchange program in Europe, made friends from all over the world, and discussed ideas that went beyond just a classroom. Now, two years after graduation, I look back and realize that there is nothing more valuable for a young mind than to be in the right environment with the right group of people who inspire and challenge one another to do great things.  
Nargiza Kanybek Kanyak Kyzy
EducationUSA adviser in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

 

Biggie Tangane, International Student, Botswana

SIS '15

The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship gave me access to many platforms that allowed me to develop my professional skills and establish meaningful connections with thought-leaders from all over the world. AU is truly an international university and my International Studies major allowed me to broaden my scope in the field of international development. I apply several methodologies and skills learned at AU in my work today.
Biggie Tangane
2012 Inaugural AU Emerging Global Leader Scholar
SIS Class of 2015