The Leading Scholarship is One Young World’s flagship route for young leaders to attend its annual Summit. The 2026 Summit runs in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3 to 6 November.
One Young World seeks applicants with evidenced commitment to positive change, work on local or global issues, and impactful, innovative ideas. The scholarship prioritizes applicants from countries underrepresented at prior Summits and first-time attendees, but these are preferences rather than eligibility bars.
Benefits & funding
- Full delegate access to the One Young World Summit 2026.
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the Summit.
- Access to the One Young World Global Leadership Programme and Action Accelerator.
- Membership of the One Young World Ambassador Community, including regional events and opportunities.
- Transport and accommodation may be covered, but this is decided case by case for each scholar.
- Scholars who need a South African visa must pay the visa fee and related application travel costs themselves.
Eligibility
- Be aged 18–35; anyone under 18 at the time of the Summit is ineligible.
- Show evidenced commitment to delivering positive change.
- Address key local or global issues through your work.
- Have a track record of generating impactful and innovative ideas.
- No nationality, residency, gender, education, or work-experience gate is published.
- Applicants from countries underrepresented at previous Summits and first-time attendees receive priority, but others remain eligible.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Age requirement
18–35 yrs
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Application process
- 1Check the Leading Scholarship criteria and review the One Young World application guidance.
- 2Open the official portal and complete the personal information, application questions, and additional-information sections.
- 3Answer every section, provide evidence of impact, and include working links that substantiate your work.
- 4Submit by 31 October 2026; applications and selections are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Program timeline
Applications open.
11 June 2026
Selected candidates receive email notifications on a rolling basis.
June–October 2026
Application deadline.
31 October 2026
Summit starts.
3 November 2026
Summit ends.
6 November 2026