FELLOWS
Fellows are participants in the GCI Fellowship.
They are outstanding and engaged global citizens from around the world with an innate commitment to build a better tomorrow and catalyze positive change.
THE FELLOWSHIP
Our 10-month Fellowship equips young global citizens with the mindset, skills and resources necessary to become effective and ethical global leaders.
The GCI Fellowship begins at the GCI Summit, GCI's flagship event. Hosted in and around the Harvard University campus for the first 5 years, GCI's first overseas Summit launched in Tokyo, Japan in 2019. In 2024, the Summit was held at the University of St Andrews in Scotland for the third year.
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At the Summit, Fellows explore global issues through the lenses of engagement, ethics, excellence and leadership and identify the pressing global issue they will address "glocally:" thinking globally, but acting locally, as part of their "Glocal" Service Project (GSP).
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Fellows use Design Thinking to outline an initial action plan they will refine throughout the 10-month Fellowship.
THE
SUMMIT
During the 10-month program, Fellows collaborate with their individual Mentors to further refine their action plans and implement their Glocal Service Projects.
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Mentors are volunteers from the business community with significant experience in project design and implementation.
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At the end of the 10-month Fellowship, Fellows launch their "Glocal" Service Projects, collectively addressing a myriad of issues around the world identified as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
THE
MENTORSHIP
During the 10-month program, Fellows collaborate with their individual Mentors to further refine their action plans and implement their "Glocal" Service Projects.
​
Mentors are volunteers from the business community with significant experience in project design and implementation.
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At the end of the 10-month Fellowship, Fellows launch their "Glocal" Service Projects, collectively addressing a myriad of issues around the world identified as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
THE
MENTORSHIP
Once Fellows launch their Glocal Service Projects, they become Ambassadors and lifelong members of GCI’s ecosystem of global citizens and leaders.
Ambassadors, Mentors, Teaching Assistants, Faculty and the GCI community remain connected in person and online. Through our online platform for global collaboration, they continue to further initiatives that effect positive change. Ambassadors are also connected to opportunities for seed funding, internships and worthwhile educational programs.
THE AMBASSADORSHIP
"GCI cultivates a diverse community of global leaders who can, together and in collaboration with others, meaningfully advance inclusion, freedom, and justice for all, and tackle the challenges brought about by globalization, as identified in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. This is important work because we need, urgently, more leaders like these."
Dr. Fernando Reimers
Ford Foundation Professor of the
Practice in International Education,
International Education Policy,
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Become a Fellow
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
Applicants must be current freshmen/9th, sophomores/10th and juniors/11th graders* in secondary school at the time of application.
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*Admissions preference may be given to applicants in 9th and 10th grades to more fully support their "Glocal" Service Project.
AVAILABILITY
Applicants must commit to the duration of the year-long Fellowship, attending the Summit in its entirety and collaborating with GCI experts for the duration of the program.
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SUMMIT
The 2025 GCI Fellowship will launch at the Summit in St Andrews, Scotland from July 20 – 28, 2025.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Applicants must possess advanced proficiency in English to fully participate in the program.
If English is not the applicant’s first language or primary language of school, applicants must submit TOEFL iBT scores over 95 or equivalent.
APPLICATION DETAILS
TUITION
Tuition for the Fellowship is $6,000 and includes Summit room and board, academic materials, activity fees and transportation between Summit venues, including pick up and drop off from the airport or train station.
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Expenses related to round-trip travel to Scotland are not included.
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FINANCIAL SUPPORT: A limited amount of financial support is available. We encourage you to apply for financial support if you require assistance in meeting the cost of attendance.
REQUIREMENTS
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Online Application (Applicant and Parent Information)
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Essays
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One-minute Introductory Video
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2 Recommendation Letters
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School Reports (Current and Past Years)
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English Language Test Scores, if first language or secondary school's language of instruction is not English
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Application Fee US$30
PROCESS
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Acceptance to the program is competitive and therefore will require much advanced preparation. A parent or guardian will be required to fill out some parts of the application.
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The GCI Fellowship 2025 application opened in November 2024. Please subscribe to our newsletter for updates about the Fellowship 2025 application.
Sample Summit Schedule
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