Global Competitiveness Leadership (GCL) is the flagship program of Georgetown University’s Latin America Leadership Program, run with the McDonough School of Business Office of Executive Education. Each annual cohort gathers emerging leaders aged 26 to 35 from Latin America, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Spain and Portugal to work on competitiveness and development in the region. The 2027 edition runs ten weeks: four weeks of virtual classes plus one asynchronous week from 11 January, then five weeks in person at Georgetown in Washington, D.C. from 16 February to 19 March. Weekly modules combine Georgetown and visiting Latin American faculty, case studies, leadership development, visits to multilateral institutions and think tanks, and an individual mentor for each participant. Everyone develops an impact project to carry out at home and presents it to judges at the end, and signs an agreement to return to their country of origin for at least one year.
Benefits & funding
- The program is valued at USD 25,000; LALP awards need-based scholarships at several levels.
- Participants on the maximum scholarship pay USD 3,500 in total.
- The scholarship covers ten weeks of virtual and in-person classes, housing, academic materials, transportation within Washington, D.C., and emergency medical insurance.
- Every participant, at any scholarship level, pays their own airfare, meals and incidentals.
- Housing is a designated apartment shared with three roommates of the same gender.
- An individual mentor across the ten weeks, plus entry to an alumni network of roughly 1,000 members in 23 countries.
Eligibility
- Aged 26 to 35 at the time of application.
- Citizen and resident of one of: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela.
- A college degree from an accredited university, with an excellent academic record.
- Proven English proficiency in reading, writing and speaking — TOEFL, a Cambridge English Language Assessment, an advanced English course certificate, or a degree from an institution in an English-speaking country.
- At least one year of professional or volunteer experience working on social impact projects.
- Currently working on a project that creates positive, lasting impact in the region.
- Willing to sign a written agreement to return to the country of origin for at least one year; not complying requires reimbursing the full USD 25,000 program cost.
Can you apply?
Worth a closer look
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Eligible nationalities
Argentina · Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Chile · Colombia · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · Guatemala
+ 15 more
Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Portugal · Puerto Rico · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Spain · Uruguay · Venezuela
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Residence required
Argentina · Belize · Bolivia · Brazil · Chile · Colombia · Costa Rica · Cuba · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · El Salvador · Guatemala
+ 15 more
Haiti · Honduras · Jamaica · Mexico · Nicaragua · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Portugal · Puerto Rico · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Spain · Uruguay · Venezuela
Not in your profile yet
Education required
Bachelor
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Experience required
≥ 1 yrs
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Age requirement
26–35 yrs
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Apply online at the GCL portal, georgetown-gcl.smapply.io, during the open window — 15 June to 14 August 2026 for the 2027 cohort.
- 2Complete the form with personal and academic information, the essays, and details of the impact project.
- 3Upload the supporting documents: a short video, a current CV, university diploma and transcripts (postgraduate ones too if applicable), two letters of recommendation including one professional, a valid passport copy, and proof of English competency.
- 4Georgetown reviews all materials; alumni committees run local interviews in parallel, and Georgetown may hold interviews of its own.
- 5Finalists may be interviewed again over Zoom. Every applicant is notified by email no later than 30 October 2026, and there is no waitlist.
- 6Admitted applicants confirm within seven days with a non-refundable USD 500 deposit; the final payment is due 11 December 2026. Anyone who needs a US visa applies for a visitor visa at the US embassy or consulate in their country.
Program timeline
Applications open (9:00 am EST)
Jun 15, 2026
Application deadline (11:59 pm EST)
Aug 14, 2026
Admission decisions announced by email
Oct 30, 2026
Final payment due
Dec 11, 2026
Virtual phase begins
Jan 11, 2027
Virtual phase ends
Feb 12, 2027
In-person phase at Georgetown begins
Feb 16, 2027
Program ends
Mar 19, 2027