The Tomorrow’s Leaders Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative, with FHI 360 as cooperating agency. It funds students from the Middle East and North Africa to earn a bachelor’s degree at the American University of Beirut or the Lebanese American University.
Scholars also join leadership training, workshops and internships. Applications for the 2027–2028 academic year are open to 2026 school graduates and current seniors, with study starting in August 2027.
Benefits & funding
- Tuition and enrollment fees for up to four academic years.
- University health insurance, student housing, a textbook allowance and a laptop.
- A monthly living stipend while taking part in program activities.
- Two round trips a year to your home country, territory or place of residence.
- Possible eligibility to apply for a semester in the United States.
Eligibility
- Citizens of Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia or Yemen; or applicants from the West Bank; or Palestinian students legally residing in a third country.
- U.S. citizens and U.S. legal permanent residents cannot apply.
- Current high-school seniors or 2026 graduates; 2025 graduates also qualify if from Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, the West Bank, or Palestinians legally residing in a third country. Current university students are reviewed case by case.
- Strong academics, maturity and leadership potential; English at TOEFL iBT 80 (old scale) or 4.0 (new scale), within two years of program start.
- Able to travel and begin study in August 2027.
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.
Eligible nationalities
Algeria · Egypt · Iraq · Jordan · Lebanon · Libya · Morocco · Syria · Tunisia · Palestine · Yemen
Education required
High School · Bachelor Enrolled
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Application process
- 1Submit the single Tomorrow’s Leaders application by November 18, 2026; no separate AUB or LAU application is needed.
- 2Include transcripts, two recommendations and the free online English assessment; TOEFL or IELTS is not required at this stage.
- 3If shortlisted, interview in January 2027 and send TOEFL or IELTS results by March 8, 2027; the program pays the test cost.
Program timeline
Application deadline.
November 18, 2026
Shortlisted applicants notified and interviewed.
January 2027
TOEFL or IELTS results due from shortlisted applicants.
March 8, 2027
Offers begin, continuing on a rolling basis.
May 2027
Undergraduate study begins.
August 2027