Obama Foundation Scholars Program 2020/2021, Now Open (Fully Funded)

The Obama Foundation Scholars Program offers rising leaders from around the world the opportunity for a year-long residency with Columbia World Projects at Columbia University. Scholars take classes at Columbia and pursue wide-ranging opportunities in partnership with the Obama Foundation, aimed at equipping them with new skills and expanding their networks to deepen their impact in their home countries.

Eligibility

The Obama Foundation Scholars Program at Columbia University seeks rising leaders from around the world who meet the following criteria:

Have a proven commitment to service and leadership within a community, region or country outside the United States, coupled with a demonstrated commitment to return to these communities following their completion of the program and apply their enhanced training, skills, and connections on a long-term basis for the benefit of these communities
Are emerging leaders who have made meaningful contributions to their field and are now at a “tipping point” in their careers
Are fluent in English (verbal, written and spoken)
Have the ability and inclination to positively shape the future of their community
Have a demonstrated commitment to humility, integrity, inclusivity, stewardship, fearlessness, imagination and teamwork

Scholar Benefits

Monthly stipend to assist with living expenses in New York City
A furnished studio apartment within walking distance of Columbia University
All tuition and fees for up to four courses at Columbia University
Basic medical, dental and life insurance for the duration of the program
Air travel to and from home country and any program-related activities
Leadership development programming led by the Obama Foundation that will help Scholars gain the real-world skills, tools, and experiences to expand the impact of their work when they return home

Application Requirements

Candidate must complete application, submitted entirely online, includes the following materials:

Resume/curriculum vitae

The resume/curriculum vitae should be a chronological listing of your employment and academic history, and other significant activities, including any awards, publications, or other achievements․

Personal video statement

The personal video statement should be a short video (no longer than five minutes in length) introducing the applicant and their work to the selection committee. Applicants will upload their video statement to a video hosting service, like YouTube or Vimeo, and will include a link to their video in the online application. Additional information on the requirements for the personal video statement can be found in the online application.

Responses to short essay questions

The short essay questions help the selection committee understand the applicant’s work, their motivation and how the program fits into their career trajectory. Applicants will submit their essay questions in the online application.

Proof of English proficiency

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting scores from one of three exams: The internet-based or paper-based exams of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic). No other exams will be accepted.

This requirement is waived for applicants who:

have completed an undergraduate degree – not a master’s or graduate degree – in a country where English is an official language;

have previously taken the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE exams in the last five years and scored at or above the minimum requirement of 100 (TOEFL-IBT), 600 (TOEFL-PBT), 7.0 (IELTS), or 68 (PTE Academic). If applicants qualify for a waiver under this exception, they must upload a scanned copy of their score report to the online application to ensure their application is eligible for review. If they did not score at or above the required minimum or no longer have a copy of their old results, they must retake an English proficiency exam.

The deadline to apply is 12:00 pm EST on December 13.

You can access and complete the online application form.

Visit Official Website Here

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