Dalai Lama Fellows will select 15 to 20 young changemakers from around the world for a year-long leadership fellowship. The fellowship year runs from April 2027 to March 2028.
Applications are open now and close on 11 November at 22:00 UTC. Before you get excited, read one honest fact first: this fellowship does not fund your project. What it gives you instead is a year of leadership training, coaching, and a global community.
The key details at a glance
| Detail | What the official page says |
| Organisation | Dalai Lama Fellows (based at the University of Virginia) |
| Fellows selected | 15–20 changemakers worldwide |
| Fellowship year | April 2027 – March 2028 |
| Format | Mostly virtual, with a virtual assembly in May 2027 |
| Time commitment | About 12 hours per month, plus your project work |
| Age range | 20–36 as of 1 April 2027 |
| Application deadline | 11 November, 22:00 UTC |
What you actually get
The fellowship is built around a Head, Heart, and Hands approach to leadership. Through an online learning platform, you work through a curriculum designed to build three things: connection to yourself, connection to others, and connection to the larger systems you work in.
You also get monthly one-on-one coaching calls, monthly full-group learning calls, and quarterly small-group calls. Fellows commit to a daily contemplative practice — short, regular exercises meant to build self-awareness and resilience. The year opens with a virtual Contemplative Leadership Assembly in May 2027.
When the fellowship year ends in March 2028, you join the LifeLong Fellows community — a global network of past fellows who keep learning together. A closing assembly is planned for June 2028, and the organisers are working on funding to hold it in person.
You do not need to quit your job or pause your studies. The program is designed so fellows continue their normal work or education, setting aside about 12 hours a month for fellowship activities — not counting the time you spend on your own project.
The honest catch: no project funding
This deserves its own section because many applicants assume otherwise. Dalai Lama Fellows does not offer funding for your social change project. The official FAQ states this directly.
Their reasoning, built over ten years of running the program, is that the most valuable parts are the curriculum, the coaching, and the global community. They encourage fellows to find other creative sources of project funding, and your program coach can help you think through options.
So apply for the leadership growth, not for a grant. If your project needs money to survive, secure that separately.
Who should apply — and who should not
You are a strong fit if you:
- Are 20 to 36 years old as of 1 April 2027.
- Write and speak English fluently.
- Are already running a social change project, or have a concrete, well-planned idea you can launch within the first six months of the fellowship.
- Know the community your project serves deeply — ideally with at least a year of previous experience working with them.
- Are genuinely interested in contemplative practices and personal growth, not just project results.
- Can commit about 12 hours a month plus your project work, and attend the virtual assembly in May 2027.
You should probably not apply if:
- You are outside the 20–36 age range — the FAQ says no exceptions are made.
- You have no project and no concrete plan for one.
- You cannot set aside roughly 12 hours a month.
- You are mainly looking for project funding — this fellowship does not provide it.
- You want a team application — only individuals are selected.
How the application works
The application has five parts: your background and overview, short essay questions, a video submission, your resume or CV, and one letter of recommendation. If you applied last year, you can log in with your existing credentials.
Know the timeline. Finalists are invited for interviews throughout January 2027. Fellows are selected and notified in February 2027. Virtual onboarding happens in March 2027, and the fellowship year formally begins in April 2027.
Three live info sessions with Q&A are scheduled before the deadline: 6 October, 16 October, and 28 October. Register on the official site to get your joining link. If you have questions, the FAQ on the official page is detailed — and you can email the team directly.
More programs for emerging leaders: the Yale World Fellows Program and the WTO Internship Programme.
Questions applicants ask
Do I need to be Buddhist to apply?
No. Dalai Lama Fellows is a non-sectarian and inclusive program. Its curriculum draws on many of the world’s wisdom traditions without privileging any one, and fellows are encouraged to connect with practices from their own cultures.
Do I need to be a student?
No. The fellowship accepts applicants regardless of educational status — enrolled students, graduates, and non-students are all welcome.
Does the fellowship fund my project?
No. Dalai Lama Fellows does not offer project funding. The program’s value is its curriculum, coaching, and global community. Fellows are encouraged to find other funding sources for their projects.
Can I apply with my team?
No. Only individuals are selected. The program believes it is more impactful for one person to go through the fellowship and share the learning with their team.
Do I have to finish my project during the fellowship year?
No. Many fellows continue their projects after the year ends. But you are expected to complete the goals you set for your project during the fellowship year.
Can my project be fully online?
Yes. Virtual projects are welcome. But you must show meaningful, consistent engagement with your community — and the program highly prefers fellows who live close to the community they serve, with at least six months of prior experience with that community.
2 thoughts on “Dalai Lama Fellows: A Year-Long Leadership Fellowship for Young Changemakers”