American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarships

USA

The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (AU EGLS) was written by International Admissions Director Evelyn Levinson in 2011 to promote educational access and opportunity to international undergraduate students while enhancing AU’s 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. Levinson envisioned AU EGL Scholars who would be dedicated to positive civic and social change, and who would return home to improve under-resourced, underserved communities in their home countries. AU EGLS would also serve as AU Diplomat international student ambassadors. These scholars have not disappointed.

Eligibility:

  • International students who have overcome various obstacles and challenges as well as those from diverse and underrepresented global and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • A minimum 3.8 GPA equivalent out of 4.0 GPA (or in the top 10% of graduating class) for 9th-12th grades.
  • A demonstrated commitment to leadership, volunteerism, community service, and to advancing the needs of people in their home country.
  • 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. Score of 630 or higher on the SAT Digital version section entitled “Evidence-Based Reading and Writing” (EBRW) as of March 2023
    6. 29 minimum ACT English
    7. 65 minimum PTE
    8. 125+ Duolingo (all subscores must be 115 or above)
    9. Cambridge Assessment English score of 185 or higher. Each sub-score must be 169 or higher.
  • Students who are still enrolled in secondary/high school
  • 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.

Application Procedure :

  • Complete and submit the Common Application or Coalition Application with all required documents per the AU international instructions checklist.
  • Create your applicant portal when invited to do so. 
  • Submit a bank letter and the completed and signed AU Declaration of Finances Form (AU DFF), each confirming a minimum of US$4,000. These can be uploaded via your applicant portal. See examples of bank letters.
  • Submit your official TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English, PTE, or Cambridge Assessment English Test score results. Please have official English proficiency score reports sent directly by the testing agency to American University, Undergraduate Admissions, Washington, District of Columbia. Note: Students cannot submit their own results.
  • Students who do not submit a complete application packet with all supporting documents by the December 1 deadline will not be reviewed.
  • If you are applying through a program supported by https://educationusa.state.gov/ 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.
  • 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 up to US$81,620 (estimated costs for first year of study).
  • Upload the completed and signed AU Declaration of Finances form (AU DFF) as a PDF document to your AU applicant portal.

Application Procedure :

Zoom interviews and/or additional essay submissions will be required for AU EGL semi-finalists and finalists.