The Obama Foundation Scholars Program 2023-2024 at Columbia University in New York City – USA. This scholarship program is fully-funded.

The deadline to submit an application for the 2023-2024 Obama Foundation Scholars Program is December 22 at 5 PM ET.

The Obama Foundation offers a robust curriculum of leadership development, training, networking activities, and customized support throughout the academic year to help the Obama Scholars gain the real-world skills, tools, and experiences they need to expand the impact of their work when they return home.

These experiences allow Scholars to gain insights from high-level leaders across sectors and from the wealth of knowledge across the network of Obama Foundation program participants while planning the way they’d like to reinvest their new skills, networks, and knowledge after they graduate from the program.

Foundation-led activities include both cohorts of Scholars, based at UChicago and Columbia, with the aim of creating a broader global community of practice for shared learning to both inform Scholars’ approaches to their own work and accelerate that work as they return to their communities after graduation.

Each cohort’s experience is tailored to tap into the rich research ecosystems of these two world-class institutions and the cities where they are based, providing unique and immersive learning opportunities for Scholars in Chicago and New York City.

Columbia University

Obama Foundation Scholars at Columbia University will participate in Columbia World Projects, an initiative that mobilizes the university’s researchers and scholars to work with governments, organizations, businesses, and communities to create tangible solutions to real-world issues. The program will also take advantage of the unique opportunities for engagement that come with being at one of the world’s most important centers of research and residing in New York City.

Scholars participate in an immersive program that brings together academic, skills-based and experiential learning, designed by Columbia University in consultation with the Obama Foundation.

Key components of the program at Columbia University include:

A Weekly Seminar that runs the length of the academic year, exploring questions in tandem with key global trends including inequality, technological developments, the diffusion of power, population movements, and climate change.
Personal and Professional Development Workshops designed to strengthen practical skills to enhance Scholars’ ability to lead. Previous workshop topics, led by institutes and faculty from across Columbia, include conflict management and resolution, design thinking, public speaking, and data analysis and interpretation.
An Experiential Learning component that engages Scholars in the work of Columbia World Projects.
Audited Coursework that provides Scholars with the flexibility to select and enroll in up to two graduate level courses each semester at Columbia.
A Thought Leadership Speaker Series that introduces Scholars to seasoned practitioners from the NGO community, and philanthropic, governmental, and international organizations to expand Scholars’ networks and perspectives to help advance their work.
Partnership with a Columbia faculty adviser selected for their subject matter expertise to provide Scholars with new insights and perspectives to inform Scholars’ work.
Meaningful opportunities for Scholars to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus and gain exposure to different perspectives by engaging with the Columbia University community.

The Obama Foundation Scholars Program 2023-2024 Eligibility Requirements

The Obama Foundation Scholars Program at Columbia University seeks rising leaders from the United States and around the world who meet the following criteria:

Are emerging leaders who have made meaningful contributions to their field and are now at a “breakthrough moment” in their careers
Have a proven commitment to service and leadership within a community, region or country, coupled with a demonstrated commitment to return to these communities following their completion of the program and apply their enhanced training, skills, and connections on a long-term basis for the benefit of these communities
Are fluent in English (verbal, written and spoken)
Have the ability and inclination to positively shape the future of their community
Have a demonstrated commitment to inclusivity, community-orientation, hope, courage, imagination, strategy, accountability, integrity and resilience

Cohort Profile

Since 2018, the Obama Foundation Scholars Program at Columbia University has welcomed:

46 rising leaders from 36 countries who have demonstrated a commitment to finding solutions to challenges in their communities, countries, and regions
Scholars who were, on average, 33 years of age, with ages ranging from 25 to 45
Emerging institutional and movement leaders addressing a range of challenges, including strengthening governance, increasing access to high-quality healthcare, environmental sustainability, and promoting women’s rights and ending gender-based violence

To learn more about our Scholars, please visit the Meet the Scholars page.

2023-2024 Application

A complete application, submitted entirely online, includes the following materials:

Complete online application form

Complete the online application form by December 22 at 5PM ET.

Resume/curriculum vitae

The resume/curriculum vitae should be a chronological listing of your employment and academic history, and other significant activities, including any awards, publications, or other achievements․

Personal video statement

The personal video statement should be a short video (no longer than three minutes in length) introducing the applicant and their work to the selection committee. Applicants will upload their video statement to a video hosting service, like YouTube or Vimeo, and will include a link to their video in the online application. Additional information on the requirements for the personal video statement can be found in the online application.

Responses to short essay questions

The short essay questions help the selection committee understand the applicant’s work, their motivation, and how the program fits into their career trajectory. Applicants will submit their essay questions in the online application.

Proof of English proficiency

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting scores from one of four exams: The internet-based or paper-based exams of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic); or the Duolingo English Test (DET). No other exams will be accepted.

This requirement is waived for applicants who:

have completed an undergraduate degree – not a master’s or graduate degree – in a country where English is an official language;

have previously taken the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, or DET exams in the last five years and scored at or above the minimum requirement of 100 (TOEFL-IBT), 600 (TOEFL-PBT), 7.0 (IELTS), 68 (PTE Academic), or 120 (DET; 75 on the DET taken prior to July 2019). If applicants qualify for a waiver under this exception, they must upload a scanned copy of their score report to the online application to ensure their application is eligible for review. If they did not score at or above the required minimum or no longer have a copy of their old results, they must retake an English proficiency exam.

Minimum Scores

TOEFL – Internet-Based Exam: 100
TOEFL – Paper-Based Exam: 600
International English Language Testing System Academic: 7
Pearson Test of English Academic: 68
Duolingo English Test: 120 (75 on the exam taken prior to July 2019)

Please note that while applicants who received scores below the posted minimums may still apply, applications are not guaranteed to be reviewed.

Two letters of recommendation

Two letters of recommendation are required from individuals who are familiar with the applicant and the applicant’s work in an academic, professional or community service setting. Recommendations should directly address the applicant’s suitability for admission to the Obama Foundation Scholars program. Recommendations should not be written by family members or friends.

The Obama Foundation Scholars Program 2023-2024 – Scholar Benefits

Monthly stipend to assist with living expenses in New York City
A furnished studio apartment within walking distance of Columbia University, if the program is able to convene in person
All tuition and fees for up to four courses at Columbia University
Basic medical, dental and life insurance for the duration of the program in New York City, if the program is able to convene in person
Air travel to and from home country and any program-related activities, if the program is able to convene in person

Scholarship FAQs

Are U.S. citizens and residents eligible to apply?

Yes. The Obama Foundation Scholars Program is designed for individuals with a history of and future commitment to living in and making significant contributions to communities, regions, and countries around the world.

What is the time commitment for the Obama Foundation Scholars Program 2023-2024?

The Obama Foundation Scholars program is a full-time program, running for the duration of the academic year from August through May. Prior to arriving in New York, Scholars will be asked to take part in some online activities, though these are not full-time commitments. In addition, Scholars will be expected to engage in various activities led by the Obama Foundation throughout the year. Upon returning to the countries and regions where they work at the conclusion of the program, Scholars will play a role in the broader international Obama Foundation network and participate in Obama Foundation activities.

Can participants continue in current jobs while participating in the program?

No. Scholars will not be permitted to continue their current job during their participation in the program. This is a full-time program in which active and engaged participation is key to creating a meaningful experience.

Can Scholars participate in this program remotely?

Scholars are expected to reside in New York City for the academic year, if public health conditions allow Scholars to safely do so. The Obama Foundation and Columbia University will continue to monitor the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic as it plans for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Will Obama Foundation Scholars receive a degree for participating in this program?

No, this is not a degree-granting program. Obama Foundation Scholars who complete the Columbia University program will receive a certificate of completion from the Obama Foundation Scholars Program at Columbia University.

Is the program appropriate for someone who already has a master’s degree?

The program is appropriate for individuals from a variety of educational backgrounds and an undergraduate or master’s degree is not a prerequisite for consideration. At Columbia University, the Scholars will participate in a year-long, rigorous, immersive program that brings together academic, skills-based, and experiential learning, designed by Columbia University in consultation with the Obama Foundation.

The program provides individuals who have a proven commitment to service and leadership with the tools they need to make their efforts more effective and give them the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge to tackle real-world challenges. Scholars will also have the opportunity to build connections with a network of leading practitioners and rising global leaders, taking advantage of the unique opportunities for engagement that come with being in the City of New York.