The American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (AU EGLS) is a full undergraduate scholarship for international students at American University (AU) in Washington, DC. The full award pays every billable AU charge, meaning tuition, on-campus housing and a meal plan, for up to four years. Strong applicants who do not win the full award can be considered for partial scholarships worth up to US$40,000 a year. It is meant for students who have overcome real obstacles, have a record of leadership and community service, and plan to go home and work for under-resourced communities.
The deadline for students starting in fall 2027 is 15 January 2027, and it applies to two separate applications: the AU EGLS scholarship application and your Common App (or Coalition App) for admission. Below are the eligibility rules, the English scores AU has asked EGLS applicants for, the documents, the cost gap you still have to fill and how selection works, checked on 25 October 2026.
AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| University | American University, Washington, DC |
| Level | First-year bachelor’s degree, any AU major |
| Intake | Fall 2027 |
| Deadline | 15 January 2027 (AU EGLS application and Common App) |
| Full award | All billable AU expenses: tuition, room and board, renewable for four years |
| Partial awards | Up to US$40,000 a year, no separate application |
| Number of awards | Two full and up to eight partial in the latest published rounds |
| Who can apply | International students who need a US student visa (F-1 or J-1) |
AU started the scholarship in 2011 and named its first scholar, from Botswana, in 2012. For years it chose only one student per round. AU’s own anniversary page says the office gets close to 1,000 inquiries and about 100 completed applications a year, and five finalists are interviewed. Recent announcements (reported by Scholars4Dev for fall 2026 and repeated in 2027 listings) raise that to two full scholarships and up to eight partial ones. AU’s current scholarship page blocks automated access, so confirm the count when you apply.
Past scholars have come from Botswana, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Lebanon, Albania, Pakistan, India, Ecuador and Zimbabwe/South Africa, so the award is genuinely open to every region.
What the full scholarship covers, and what it leaves out
The full award pays the costs AU bills you for. On AU’s 2026-2027 cost-of-attendance sheet, those billable items for a first-year student living on campus are:
| Cost item (2026-2027) | Amount | Paid by full EGLS? |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $62,680 | Yes |
| Mandatory fees | $1,700 | Yes (billable) |
| Housing (average first-year room) | $13,112 | Yes |
| Food (meal plan) | $6,584 | Yes |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 | No |
| Personal expenses | $1,080 | No |
| Transportation and Metro pass | $964 | No |
| Total cost of attendance | $87,374 | Mostly |
AU puts the non-billable costs at about US$4,000 a year. That covers mandatory health insurance, books, flights, taxes and personal spending. You have to show you can pay that amount before AU will issue the paperwork for your student visa, which is why the application asks for a bank letter.
If you get a partial scholarship instead, the gap is much larger. A US$40,000 award against a total cost of more than US$87,000 leaves over US$47,000 a year to cover, and AU says partial award holders must show those additional funds.
Eligibility for the AU EGLS
Who cannot apply
- US citizens, US permanent residents, people with a pending green card and dual US citizens.
- Students who have already started post-secondary study at a university in their home country or in the US.
- Students who finished secondary school too long ago. For fall 2027, listings of AU’s rules exclude anyone who graduated before 2024 (the fall 2026 round excluded graduates before 2023).
- Early Decision applicants. Past AU instructions told EGLS candidates to apply Regular Decision only.
Who AU prefers
- Students who have overcome significant obstacles, including those from underrepresented global or socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Students with a strong academic record. AU’s earlier EGLS page asked for a GPA of at least 3.8 out of 4.0, or a place in the top 10% of the class, across grades 9 to 12.
- A record of leadership, volunteering and community service, and a commitment to the needs of people in your home country.
- Students still in secondary school and graduating by June 2027.
Curriculum notes
- IB students should be taking the full IB Diploma with at least three Higher Level subjects.
- A-Level students should be completing at least three A Levels and 13 years of schooling before they enrol.
- Other national curricula go through AU’s normal international admission review, so check its country-by-country requirements.
English requirements for EGLS applicants
AU sets higher English minimums for EGLS candidates than for ordinary first-year applicants. The last thresholds AU published on its EGLS page were:
| Test | EGLS minimum |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 95, with at least 20 in each section |
| IELTS Academic | 7.0, with at least 6.0 in each band |
| Duolingo English Test | 125, with at least 115 in each subscore |
| PTE Academic | 65 |
| Cambridge English | 185, with at least 169 in each part |
| SAT Reading | 33 subscore |
| ACT English | 29 |
AU’s general first-year minimums are lower (TOEFL 85, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 120), so a score that gets you admitted may still be below what EGLS reviewers want. Scores must go to AU directly from the testing agency. AU will not accept a copy you upload yourself.
Documents you need
| Document | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| AU EGLS application and scholarship essays | Future Eagle applicant portal |
| Common App or Coalition App, with all supporting documents | Common App / Coalition |
| Secondary school transcripts and counselor report | Through Common App |
| Teacher recommendation(s) | Through Common App |
| Official English test scores | Sent by the testing agency to AU Undergraduate Admissions |
| Bank letter showing at least US$4,000 | Future Eagle portal |
| AU Declaration of Finances form (signed) | Future Eagle portal |
| EducationUSA adviser letter (if you came through an EducationUSA programme, or held a FLEX or YES scholarship) | Emailed as a PDF to the address AU gives |
The bank letter only needs to show US$4,000, not the full cost of attendance. Applicants often panic here and try to prove US$87,000; AU’s instructions say the preliminary packet should show the smaller figure.
How to apply for the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship
- Check the year’s rules: read the current AU EGLS page on american.edu (international admissions section) for the 2027 award count and graduation cutoff.
- Book your English test early: aim for October to December 2026 so official scores reach AU before the deadline.
- Open your Common App: add American University, choose Regular Decision and list your intended major.
- Start the AU EGLS application: AU sends you access to the Future Eagle portal once you begin. Write the scholarship essays there.
- Get your financial papers: a bank letter showing at least US$4,000 and the signed AU Declaration of Finances form.
- Brief your counselor and teachers: ask for the transcript, counselor report and recommendations by mid-December.
- Submit everything by 15 January 2027: AU will not review an incomplete packet.
- Watch your email: semi-finalists and finalists may be asked for a Zoom interview and extra essays in the spring.
AU used a priority date of 15 December in earlier rounds, with applications and English scores received by then getting first consideration. If the 2027 page repeats it, treat 15 December 2026 as your real target.
Deadline
Both the AU EGLS application and the Common App must be complete by 15 January 2027. A missing English score or bank letter counts as an incomplete packet, and late applications are not considered.
How to write the EGLS essays
AU does not publish the scholarship essay prompts in advance, but its description of the ideal scholar tells you what reviewers want to read about: obstacles you have faced, leadership you have shown, service to your community, and what you intend to do back home.
Write about one problem in your community that you have already worked on. Reviewers read about 100 applications, and the strongest stand out because they are concrete. A good opening is specific about a place and an action, for example: “In my village outside Kisumu, girls drop out of secondary school in Form Two because the nearest school with a science lab is 14 kilometres away, so last year I started a Saturday lab club using borrowed equipment.” Then explain what happened, what you learned and what you want to study at AU to take it further.
Tie your intended major to that plan. Washington, DC gives AU students access to federal agencies, embassies and international organisations, so it makes sense to name how you would use that, for instance an internship in development policy or public health.
Common mistakes
- Applying Early Decision when the scholarship requires Regular Decision.
- Uploading a photo of your test result instead of having the agency send scores.
- Showing the full cost of attendance in the bank letter and assuming you are disqualified when you cannot.
- Writing about leadership titles without describing what you actually did.
- Leaving out the “return home” part. The scholarship exists for students who plan to serve their home communities.
What happens after you apply
AU reviews admission and scholarship files together. Semi-finalists may be asked for more essays, and finalists (five in past rounds) have a Zoom interview. AU contacts finalists in the spring. If you win the full award, you accept your AU place, pay any required enrolment deposit as instructed, and AU issues the I-20 or DS-2019 for your F-1 or J-1 visa. The scholarship renews each year as long as you keep satisfactory academic progress.
AU EGLS compared with similar undergraduate awards
| Scholarship | University | Funding | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship | American University, Washington, DC | Tuition, room and board; partial up to $40,000/yr | 15 January 2027 |
| Dartmouth King Scholars | Dartmouth College, New Hampshire | Full aid: tuition, room, board, insurance, travel | 1 January 2027 |
| Morehead-Cain Scholarship | UNC Chapel Hill | Full four-year costs plus summer programmes | 1 October 2027 |
| Lester B. Pearson Scholarship | University of Toronto, Canada | Tuition, books, fees, residence for four years | 9 October 2027 (school nomination) |
For more US options, read our list of the best American scholarships for international students, and keep our US scholarships with upcoming deadlines page open while you plan your applications.
Who should apply, and who should not
Apply if you are in your final year of secondary school, have top grades, can point to real community work, and want to return home after your degree. It also suits students who would be happy at AU even with a partial award, provided their family can cover the rest.
Do not count on it if you have already started university, finished school before 2024, or need a fully funded place and have no backup plan. With two full awards from around 100 applications, most applicants will not win. Apply to need-based programmes like Dartmouth at the same time.
FAQs
Is the American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship fully funded?
The full award pays tuition, room and board, which is almost all of AU’s cost. You still pay about US$4,000 a year for health insurance, books, flights and personal costs.
What is the AU EGLS deadline for fall 2027?
15 January 2027 for both the scholarship application and the Common App. AU has used 15 December as a priority date in past rounds, so earlier is safer.
Can I apply for the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship without IELTS?
Yes, if you submit another accepted test such as TOEFL iBT, Duolingo, PTE or Cambridge English at the EGLS level. Some applicants can also use SAT Reading or ACT English scores.
Can I get the AU EGLS if I am already in university?
No. Students who have started post-secondary study in their home country or in the US are not eligible, and neither are those who finished secondary school before 2024.
Sources and updates
Coverage, eligibility exclusions, academic preferences, English thresholds, the US$4,000 non-billable estimate, documents and the Regular Decision rule come from American University’s AU EGLS page on american.edu (international admissions), and the history and selection figures from AU’s anniversary page for the scholarship. Costs come from AU’s 2026-2027 undergraduate cost-of-attendance page. The fall 2027 deadline, the two full and up to eight partial awards and the 2024 graduation cutoff are taken from the Scholars4Dev page (21 August 2025) and 2027 listings that quote AU’s current page, which could not be opened directly. Checked on 25 October 2026. We will update this post when AU confirms the 2027 award count.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
