US-funded Tomorrow’s Leaders scholarship opens applications for 2027

Applications have opened for the 2027–28 academic year of the Tomorrow’s Leaders Program, an undergraduate scholarship initiative sponsored by the US Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).

The programme supports academically strong students from eligible countries and territories in the Middle East and North Africa, combining university education with leadership development. The application deadline is November 18, 2026, according to the programme’s official website.

The initiative is administered by FHI 360, a nonprofit human development organisation that manages outreach, applications and recruitment on behalf of MEPI.

Scholarship covers tuition and living support

The programme provides financial and academic support for undergraduate students for up to four academic years. According to its official frequently asked questions page, the package includes tuition and enrolment fees, university health insurance, student accommodation, visa and residency permit costs, a textbook allowance and a laptop for use during the programme.

Students also receive a monthly living stipend when participating in programme activities and two return trips to their home country, territory or place of residence each year.

Additional opportunities include career-focused workshops, internships, faculty mentoring and the possibility of applying for a semester of study at a university in the United States. The US study opportunity is not guaranteed to every participant.

Applicants must meet nationality and academic criteria

Eligible applicants must be citizens of Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia or Yemen, or come from the West Bank. Palestinian students residing in a third country with legal residency status may also apply.

For the undergraduate programme, applicants must generally be current high-school seniors or have graduated in 2026. Certain applicants from Iraq, Libya, Syria, the West Bank, eligible Palestinian students residing in a third country, and Yemen may qualify if they graduated in 2025.

The programme expects strong academic records, English-language proficiency and leadership potential. Its guidance says applicants should generally have achieved 80 per cent or better across their academic history, while final admission also depends on the partner universities’ requirements.

US citizens and US lawful permanent residents are not eligible.

Applications require academic records and recommendations

Applicants must complete the online form and provide official school transcripts, their graduation certificate or diploma where applicable, evidence of extracurricular or volunteer activities, and results from an online English assessment.

Two recommendations are also required, with at least one coming from an academic reference. Applicants do not need to submit a separate application to either partner university.

The programme’s application guidance states that shortlisted candidates are expected to be notified by early January 2027 and interviewed during January. Shortlisted applicants may also need to submit TOEFL or IELTS results by March 8, 2027. Final offers are expected to begin from May 2027 and continue until all places are filled.

Two universities host the programme

The undergraduate programme operates through two partner institutions: the American University of Beirut in Lebanon and the Lebanese American University, also in Lebanon.

Applicants may indicate a university preference, but they must be willing to attend either institution. Placement depends on the universities’ admission requirements and candidate selection. Medical school is not an eligible field of study under the programme.

How to apply

The official programme website provides eligibility requirements, application instructions and frequently asked questions at Tomorrow’s Leaders scholarship.