The One Young World Leading Scholarship funds exceptional young leaders from around the world to attend the One Young World Summit, One Young World’s flagship annual gathering of over 20,000 potential changemakers from 196 countries. The 2026 Summit takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 3 to 6, 2026 — not Munich, which hosted the 2025 edition.
Don’t Miss: Top Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with selected candidates notified by email between June and October 2026, and a stated final deadline of October 31, 2026. Given the summit is roughly two months away as of this writing, applying sooner rather than later genuinely matters here — rolling review means later applicants compete against an increasingly filled cohort. This guide covers who qualifies, what’s covered, and what to prepare.
Also, Check Out: Top Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships in Europe
About the Summit and This Scholarship’s Purpose
The One Young World Summit brings together young leaders from nearly every country each year to address pressing global challenges alongside world leaders, activists, and mentors. The Leading Scholarship serves as One Young World’s flagship access programme, helping exceptional young leaders from countries often underrepresented in global decision-making spaces attend the Summit based on their leadership record rather than their ability to self-fund international travel and Summit fees.
Also Read: How to Write a Personal Statement for Scholarship | Tips and Free Template
Reflecting that mission directly, selection gives priority to applicants from less-represented countries at previous Summits, and to first-time attendees specifically, rather than returning One Young World Ambassadors. Selected scholars gain more than Summit access — they join a global network of more than 20,000 potential collaborators and can access exclusive Ambassador opportunities, including speaking engagements, regional networking, and ongoing mentoring after the Summit.
One Young World Leading Scholarship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | One Young World Leading |
| Host Country ⇒ | South Africa |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowships |
| Benefits ⇒ | Travel, accommodation, meals, and full delegate access |
| Funded by ⇒ | One Young World |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All Countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Rolling basis; stated final deadline October 31, 2026 |
What the Scholarship Provides
The One Young World Leading Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support to cover the full cost of attending the global summit. The award includes the following specific provisions:
- Full Summit Delegate Access: Complete entry to all official sessions, keynote addresses, workshops, panel discussions, and official ceremonies of the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Hotel Accommodation: Standard hotel housing provided for the duration of the summit (between November 2 and November 6, 2026).
- Complete Catering Coverage: Daily meals throughout the event, including full breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as light refreshments during official session breaks.
- Round-Trip International Travel: Economy-class flights booking cover to and from Cape Town. Departure and return flights must originate from and return to the same international airport in your home residence.
- Local Ground Transportation: Dedicated shuttle transportation between your official summit accommodation and event venues in Cape Town.
- Global Leadership Network Membership: Membership access to a global network of over 20,000 activists, entrepreneurs, policy leaders, and fellow Ambassadors representing 196 countries.
- Visa Fee Exclusions (Important Note): The scholarship does not cover visa-related costs. If you require an entry visa for South Africa, you are personally responsible for paying all visa processing fees, biometric appointment charges, and any associated travel expenses to and from the visa application center.
Who Can Apply
To qualify for the One Young World Leading Scholarship, applicants must satisfy every item on this list:
- Age Standard (18–35 Years Old): You must be between the ages of 18 and 35 at the time of the summit. While earlier cycles utilized an 18–30 window, the age bracket has been officially expanded to include candidates up to age 35.
- Strict Minimum Age Disqualifier: You must be at least 18 years old when the summit begins. Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of the event to qualify, regardless of their leadership merits or qualifications.
- Global Citizenship: You can hold citizenship and reside in any country worldwide. There are no regional, institutional, or national restrictions on who can submit an application.
- Demonstrated Leadership Track Record: You must provide verifiable evidence of personal leadership within your community, business, initiative, or professional field. You should demonstrate a history of generating original ideas, driving initiatives, and mobilizing others.
- Proven Social Impact: You must show a concrete commitment to addressing critical local or global issues. Selection panel evaluation favors candidates who can present clear evidence, key statistics, and measurable outcomes of their work.
- Communication and Collaboration Skills: You must possess strong interpersonal communication abilities, creative problem-solving skills, and a collaborative approach to driving social change.
- Mandatory Attendance Availability: You must be available to travel to South Africa and attend the entire duration of the summit in Cape Town.
- Selection Priorities: While all eligible candidates are evaluated, the judging panel grants priority to:
- Applicants residing in or holding citizenship from countries historically under-represented at previous summits.
- First-time attendees who have not previously participated in a summit as an Ambassador.
Documents to Prepare
To complete your application for the One Young World Leading Scholarship, you must prepare and submit the following files and responses through the official portal:
- Completed Official Online Application Form: Filled out directly on the One Young World scholarship portal. Because the online form does not auto-save draft responses prior to final submission, you should draft your answers in a separate word processing document beforehand to prevent data loss.
- Personal Statement and Application Responses: Written responses detailing your leadership history, key motivations, and long-term vision. Your submission must be written in your own voice without the use of AI content generation tools and must clearly address:
- The specific local or global problem your work aims to resolve.
- The specific actions, methodologies, or social enterprise models you use to solve this issue.
- Tangible evidence of your impact, including verified statistics, participant numbers, or concrete outcomes achieved to date.
- Your personal motivation and story driving your passion for this cause.
- How attending the summit in Cape Town will help scale your initiative, expand your reach, and enhance your leadership capacity.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Professional Résumé: A structured, up-to-date document highlighting your educational background, employment history, leadership positions, volunteer history, and relevant awards or honours.
- Verifiable Proof of Work and Supporting Materials: A curated list of direct web links and documents showcasing your projects. This includes:
- Links to your official organization website, social enterprise portals, or professional LinkedIn profile.
- Published media features, press releases, news coverage, or external interviews highlighting your initiative.
- Third-party impact reports, project summaries, or published research papers.
- Official letters of recommendation or reference letters from community leaders, institutional partners, or professional mentors attesting to your character and leadership track record.
How to Apply — Step by Step
- Confirm your age falls within 18 to 35 at the time of the summit, and that you hold a genuine, evidenced leadership track record before applying.
- Visit One Young World’s official scholarship application portal directly, as the organisation manages the entire application process through its own website rather than a third-party system.
- Complete the online application form with your personal, educational, and professional background.
- Answer the essay-style questions thoughtfully, focusing specifically on concrete leadership examples and measurable impact rather than general aspirations.
- Upload your CV, personal statement, and any supporting materials that strengthen your case.
- Submit as early as possible given the rolling review process — since notifications go out progressively between June and October 2026, applying early genuinely improves your standing relative to a shrinking pool of remaining spots.
- If selected, watch for your notification email, and begin planning your visa application immediately if you require one for South Africa, since visa processing costs and timelines are entirely your own responsibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2026 One Young World Summit really in Munich?
No. Munich hosted the 2025 Summit. The 2026 Summit takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 3 to 6, 2026 — confirm this directly on One Young World’s official site if you’ve seen conflicting information elsewhere.
What’s the actual age limit for this scholarship?
18 to 35 years old at the time of the summit. This is an update from the 18–30 range used in earlier cycles, so don’t rely on older guides for this figure.
Is there a hard application deadline, or is it genuinely rolling?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a stated final deadline of October 31, 2026. Because selection happens progressively as applications come in, applying earlier gives you a real advantage over waiting closer to the final date.
Does the scholarship cover my visa costs?
No. If you require a visa to enter South Africa, you’re responsible for the visa application fee, travel expenses related to visa processing, and any additional visa-related costs.
Does this scholarship favour applicants from specific countries?
Yes, by design. Priority is given to applicants from countries that have been less represented at previous One Young World Summits, and to first-time attendees rather than returning One Young World Ambassadors.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, including the corrected 2026 Summit location and updated age eligibility, were verified from One Young World’s official website as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on One Young World’s official Leading Scholarship page before applying. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with One Young World.
Official Application Portal
Join ScholarWaka Community
Get the latest scholarship updates and study abroad opportunities before anyone else.
