Funding

Self Funded

Program dates

TBA

Fellowship•UK · London · Hybrid

Commonwealth Young Leaders Fellowship

Commonwealth Leaders Academy

Application Deadline

Closed · July 19, 2026

Expected to reopen

Official Page

The Commonwealth Young Leaders Fellowship is the flagship leadership programme of the Commonwealth Leaders Academy, an institution that works with emerging and established leaders across the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries. The 2026 cohort runs three months, from August to October. Fellows work through a competency framework covering five core leadership competencies, take an institutional placement, and then design and deliver a Leadership Challenge Project at home, connected to a Commonwealth-wide theme. Two in-person convenings anchor the cycle: one week in London and one week in Antigua and Barbuda, built around the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Mentoring comes from senior practitioners, policymakers and institutional partners.

Benefits & funding

  • Mentorship from senior practitioners, policymakers and institutional partners.
  • Structured leadership development across five core competencies, an institutional placement in month two, and a national-level Leadership Challenge Project in month three, ending in a final showcase.
  • Two in-person convenings: one week in the United Kingdom, hosted at partner institutions in London, and one week in Antigua and Barbuda, taking part in activities at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
  • Invitation and support letters for visa applications for both convenings.
  • No stipend and no guaranteed travel funding. For this cohort, unless otherwise stated, fellows cover their own travel-related costs.
  • Partial travel bursaries or accommodation support may be offered on a needs basis where funding partnerships are confirmed; details go directly to shortlisted applicants.
  • Fellows are encouraged to seek co-funding from home institutions, employers or national youth agencies.
  • The Academy publishes no participation or application fee.

Eligibility

  • Open to young people from Commonwealth member states — 56 countries in total.
  • Typically 18 to 35 years old. The Academy words the age range as a guide, not a fixed cut-off.
  • A track record of, or strong commitment to, community leadership, public service, or social impact work.
  • Availability for the full three-month cycle, including both in-person convenings.
  • No degree level, field of study, or minimum years of work experience are specified.

Can you apply?

Worth a closer look

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  • Eligible nationalities

    Antigua and Barbuda · Australia · Bahamas · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belize · Botswana · Brunei · Cameroon · Canada · Cyprus · Dominica

    + 44 more

    Eswatini · Fiji · Gabon · Ghana · Grenada · Guyana · India · Jamaica · Kenya · Kiribati · Lesotho · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Malta · Mauritius · Mozambique · Namibia · Nauru · New Zealand · Nigeria · Pakistan · Papua New Guinea · Rwanda · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Singapore · Solomon Islands · South Africa · Sri Lanka · Tanzania · Gambia · Togo · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · Tuvalu · Uganda · UK · Vanuatu · Zambia

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Application process

  1. 1
    Applications go to the Commonwealth Leaders Academy before the published deadline. The 2026 window closed on 19 July 2026 at 23:59 BST.
  2. 2
    Shortlisted applicants are contacted directly, including on any travel bursary or accommodation support available for that cohort.
  3. 3
    Selected fellows plan and book both international convenings; the fellowship secretariat issues invitation and visa support letters.
  4. 4
    Questions on eligibility, logistics or the application itself go to the programme secretariat at info@cwlac.org.

Program timeline

  1. Application deadline, 23:59 BST

    Jul 19, 2026

  2. Fellowship opens with onboarding and an immersion week

    August 2026

  3. One-week convening in London, United Kingdom

    Late August 2026

  4. Month 2

    Institutional placement

  5. Month 3

    National-level project implementation

  6. One week in Antigua and Barbuda, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (exact dates not published)

  7. Final showcase closes the cycle

    October 2026