One Young World’s flagship opportunity fully funded 2026, South Africa

Applications are now open for the Leading Scholarship 2026, One Young World’s flagship opportunity that supports outstanding young leaders to attend the annual One Young World Summit. This fully funded scholarship covers travel, accommodation, catering and full delegate access for the Summit taking place in Cape Town, South Africa from 3 to 6 November 2026.

It is open to young people aged 18 to 35 from almost every country who demonstrate proven leadership and a strong track record of creating positive change on local or global issues. There is no application fee. The application deadline is 31 October 2026. You can check out more Internships, BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Scholarship Name: Leading Scholarship 2026 (One Young World)
• Funding Type: Fully funded
• Host Country: South Africa (Cape Town)
• Summit Dates: 3 to 6 November 2026
• Application Opening Date: 11 June 2026
• Application Deadline: 31 October 2026
• Nationality: All nationalities
• Application Fee: None
• Selection Process: Rolling

What This Scholarship Offers:

• Full delegate access to all One Young World Summit 2026 sessions and activities
• Hotel accommodation from 2 to 6 November 2026
• Daily catering covering breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Cost of return travel to and from Cape Town (flights must depart from and return to the same airport)
• Access to a global network of more than 20,000 young leaders and potential collaborators from 196 countries
• Exclusive Ambassador opportunities including speaking events, regional networking sessions and mentoring
• Opportunity to represent your country by waving its flag at the Opening Ceremony
• Greater visibility for your work among world-renowned experts and decision-makers

Also Check: PhD, Postdoc & Professor positions at the University of Freiburg, Germany.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Be between 18 and 35 years of age at the time of the Summit
• Demonstrate a clear and evidenced commitment to delivering positive change
• Be actively addressing key local and/or global issues through your work
• Show a track record of generating impactful and innovative ideas
• Not be under the age of 18 when the Summit takes place
• Priority given to first-time Summit attendees
• Priority given to applicants from countries less represented at previous One Young World Summits
• Existing One Young World Ambassadors may apply but receive lower priority

Also Check: Technical University of Denmark PhD and Postdoc Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Scholars are selected on a rolling basis. Selected candidates will be notified by email between June and October 2026.
• Priority is given to applicants from countries that have been less represented at previous One Young World Summits.
• Priority is given to first-time Summit attendees (not existing One Young World Ambassadors).
• Due to the high volume of applications, One Young World cannot respond to individual emails about the outcome of the selection process.
• Feedback is not provided on why candidates are not selected.
• If selected and you need a visa to enter South Africa, you must pay the visa fee yourself. All related costs (including travel to and from the visa application centre) are your responsibility.

Also Check: Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (DUPR) Australia

How to Apply:

Thousands of applications are received every year. Follow these steps to make yours stand out.

Before You Start

• Read the scholarship overview and eligibility requirements carefully
• Confirm that your work fully aligns with the scholarship focus
• Draft all answers in a separate document first (the online form does not save progress until final submission)

Writing Your Application

• Answer every question clearly and concisely
• Complete all sections – incomplete applications are not considered
• Include specific impact numbers and evidence (example: people trained, measurable results, testimonials)
• Share your personal story and why you care about the issues you address
• Explain how attending the Summit will help you scale your work and increase your impact

Key Points to Highlight

• The problem you are solving
• How you are solving it
• Results and impact achieved so far
• Innovation in your approach
• Your leadership style and values
• Your future vision and how One Young World will help you achieve it

Final Checklist

• You may apply to more than one scholarship, but you can only be selected for one
• Add working links to your organisation website, LinkedIn, media coverage and awards
• Do not use ChatGPT or any AI tool to write your answers
• Submit as early as possible (selection is often on a rolling basis)

Also Check: Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (DUPR) Australia