Student Leaders Program

Benefits & funding

• The U.S. Department of State through MEPI fully covers program expenses.
• Participants receive academic coursework, leadership and project-management training, community-service exposure, and support for a climate or environmental Community Engagement Plan.
• Participants receive follow-on training and professional networking and join the MEPI alumni network.
• A competitive follow-on Accelerator Workshop may be held in the MENA region.

Eligibility

• Applicants for the published 2025–2026 cycle had to be citizens of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank and Gaza, or Yemen. U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents were ineligible.
• Most applicants had to reside and study in their country of citizenship. Gazan, Lebanese, Syrian, and Yemeni applicants could reside and study in another participating MENA country; Syrian applicants living inside Syria were ineligible.
• Applicants had to be current undergraduate or graduate students. The cycle also allowed undergraduate graduates who finished no more than six months before June 25, 2025, or applicants beginning graduate study in their home country in fall 2025; applicants beginning a U.S. degree that fall were ineligible.
• Applicants had to be aged 20–24, with birth dates from July 25, 2000 through June 25, 2005, and have strong English proficiency and academic achievement.
• Applicants had to demonstrate commitment to leadership, civic engagement, and a climate or environmental Community Engagement Plan, be available for the full program, and commit to returning to or remaining in their home community.
• Previous participation in a U.S. government-funded exchange made an applicant ineligible. Prior U.S. travel alone did not; preference went to applicants from underserved or socioeconomically disadvantaged communities and those with limited travel or study abroad.

Application process

1. 1
   Check the official application portal and FAQ for a newly announced cycle; the published 2025–2026 application is closed.
2. 2
   Complete and submit the eligibility form and application form through the official portal.
3. 3
   Arrange one recommendation in English using the required recommendation form.
4. 4
   Upload a passport or government-issued national ID, a CV or résumé, and academic results or a university-enrollment letter.
5. 5
   Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed by a U.S. embassy or consulate before MEPI makes final selections.

Program timeline

1. October 16, 2024

   Applications opened for the 2025–2026 cycle.

2. Deadline for all listed locations except Israel, at 23:59 GMT.

   January 2, 2025

3. Israel deadline, at 23:59 GMT.

   January 24, 2025

4. Shortlisted interviews.

   January–February 2025

5. Applicants notified of decisions.

   By April 2025

6. Tentative in-person summer phase began.

   June 25, 2025

7. Tentative in-person summer phase ended.

   July 25, 2025