Emerging Global Leader Scholarship 2027 in United States | Fully Funded — American University
Full-ride undergraduate scholarships for international students are rare enough that most lists only have a handful worth mentioning, and American University’s Emerging Global Leader Scholarship is one of the genuine ones: a single award each year that covers tuition, room, and board in full for four years, not just a partial discount dressed up as a “full” scholarship.
About the Scholarship
American University, based in Washington, D.C., awards this scholarship to exactly one incoming international undergraduate student per admission cycle who needs a visa to study in the U.S. It’s a merit-based award decided as part of the regular admissions review, not a separate application process with its own form. Students weighing their options may also want to look at similar automatic merit awards like George Washington University’s Presidential and International Scholarships, the University of Iowa’s IDEA Award, or University of San Francisco’s Merit Scholarships.
Scholarship Benefits
- Full tuition coverage
- Room and board included for the duration of the award
- Renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study, provided satisfactory academic performance is maintained
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be an incoming international undergraduate applicant requiring a student visa
- You must apply for undergraduate admission to American University
- You must maintain satisfactory academic standing each year to keep the renewal
Fields of Study Covered
Open to incoming international undergraduates across American University’s degree programs. There is no restriction tying the scholarship to a specific major.
Required Documents
- A completed American University undergraduate admission application
- Academic transcripts
- Standardized test scores or other materials required by AU’s general admission process
- Any supplemental essays requested as part of the regular application
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Apply for undergraduate admission to American University as an international applicant
- Submit your application by the university’s regular international admission deadline
- Complete all required admission materials in full, since scholarship consideration is automatic for eligible applicants
- Wait for your admission decision, which will include your scholarship outcome if selected
Selection Process
Because there’s no separate scholarship application, every eligible international applicant is automatically considered as part of AU’s regular admission review. The single scholarship recipient is chosen based on the strength of their full application: academics, essays, and overall profile.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Treat your full admission application as your scholarship application, since there’s no separate essay or form to strengthen your case
- Apply as early as the admission cycle allows, since early applicants are reviewed with the full applicant pool
- Make sure every required document is submitted completely, since an incomplete application can’t be fully considered
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to submit a separate scholarship application?
No, this scholarship is awarded automatically through the regular international undergraduate admission process.
How many students receive this scholarship each year?
American University awards it to one incoming international undergraduate student per year.
Is the scholarship automatically renewed every year?
It’s renewable for up to four years, but you must maintain satisfactory academic performance each year to keep it.
Can graduate students apply?
No, this scholarship is specifically for incoming international undergraduate students.
What is the application deadline?
There’s no separate scholarship deadline. It follows American University’s regular international undergraduate admission deadline, so check the university’s current admissions calendar directly.