The University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program is a joint initiative of the Obama Foundation and three University of Chicago professional schools: the Booth School of Business, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, and the Harris School of Public Policy. It is built for graduate students who already carry a track record on a social challenge and want sharper tools, wider networks and an interdisciplinary strategy for the work ahead.
Scholars stay inside their own degree program and add a year of leadership training around it. The year includes leadership workshops and convenings, Community Impact Seminars, quarterly Civic Treks, executive coaching and expert consultation, and meetings with Institute of Politics Pritzker Fellows.
Eighteen students made up the 2025-2026 University of Chicago cohort. Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort are closed, and the Foundation has not published dates for the next cycle. The Obama Foundation also ran a separate Scholars track at Columbia University for global rising leaders; Columbia states it is not accepting applications for a 2026-2027 cohort.
Benefits & funding
- A $10,000 stipend to defray tuition costs and living expenses in the final year of the master’s program.
- A certificate from the Obama Foundation on completion, alongside the University of Chicago degree the coursework earns.
- Leadership development workshops and convenings, Community Impact Seminars and quarterly Civic Treks.
- Executive coaching, expert consultation and meetings with Institute of Politics Pritzker Fellows.
- No cost to apply and no cost to participate.
Eligibility
- Open to University of Chicago students entering the final year of a master’s program at the Booth School of Business, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, or the Harris School of Public Policy.
- At least three years of demonstrated leadership experience with clear traction on a particular social challenge.
- Demonstrated academic success.
- A commitment to apply the training after the program, and an interest in international perspectives on that challenge.
- Full participation across the whole academic year; partial participation is not allowed.
- Part-time students may apply under their own school’s rules, which set conditions on classes completed and graduation timing — confirm the current cycle’s figures with the school.
- Applicants running an electoral campaign for public office during the program term are not eligible, because the Obama Foundation is a US 501(c)(3) organization.
- No nationality requirement and no political affiliation requirement.
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.
Education required
Master Enrolled
Experience required
≥ 3 yrs
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Application process
- 1Check your school’s eligibility rules for the current cycle with Booth, the Crown Family School or Harris.
- 2Attend an information session with program alumni and facilitators from the Obama Foundation and the University of Chicago.
- 3Submit the online application with a resume or curriculum vitae and responses to short essay questions.
- 4Supply two letters of recommendation if you reach the finalist round; only finalists are asked for them.
- 5Interview with the selection committee, held in mid-to-late May.
- 6Receive the decision in June; the cohort is announced in the fall.
Program timeline
Fall
information sessions with alumni and program facilitators.
application closed; next cycle dates unpublished.
2026-2027 cycle
finalist interviews.
Mid-to-late May
decisions released.
June
Fall
cohort announced and the program year begins.
End of the academic year
program ends and the certificate is awarded.