Dalai Lama Fellows 2027: Global Leadership Coaching and a Lifelong Changemaker Network
Dalai Lama Fellows is accepting applications for its 2027 cohort, offering young changemakers a structured opportunity to develop compassionate leadership while continuing their community work. The programme is recruiting 15–20 people worldwide. Applications close on 11 November 2026 at 22:00 UTC, according to the official 2027 call.
What the fellowship offers
The organisation’s approach connects personal development with practical social change. Its fellowship curriculum explores attention, emotional awareness, relationships, uncertainty and responsible leadership. Participants apply their learning through a community project, rather than treating leadership as a purely academic subject.
- An online leadership curriculum organised around the programme’s Head, Heart and Hands approach.
- Individual coaching and mentoring that helps fellows reflect on their work and leadership challenges.
- Small-group and cohort learning with peers working in different communities.
- Continued connection to an international network after the fellowship.
The programme overview emphasises mindfulness, listening, communication and systems thinking. These skills are intended to support both the changemaker’s well-being and the quality of their contribution to a community. The fellowship is jointly stewarded by teams at the University of Virginia and University of Colorado Boulder.
Funding clarification: Dalai Lama Fellows does not provide project funding. Applicants should plan separately for the costs of delivering their social-change work. The 2027 opening assembly is virtual; an in-person closing assembly in 2028 remains dependent on funding.
Who can apply?
The official application portal lists the following requirements:
- Be aged 20–36 on 1 April 2027.
- Have strong spoken and written English.
- Be actively involved in a social-change project, or have clear, realistic plans for one.
- Understand the community and issue being addressed, preferably through at least a year of engagement.
- Be willing to practise contemplative approaches and participate fully in the learning programme.
Participation requires approximately 12 hours per month in addition to project work. The programme is inclusive and non-sectarian. Its community projects span areas including education, well-being, the environment and social justice.
How to prepare and apply
- Read the current call and check your age, availability and project fit.
- Register or sign in through the official application portal.
- Complete the background information, short essays and video submission, and provide a CV and recommendation letter.
- Check that the complete application and supporting materials are submitted before the deadline.
The portal strongly discourages using AI to write application responses. Applicants should explain their own experience and motivations in their own words. A useful preparation exercise is to identify one concrete leadership challenge, describe what you have learned from the community, and explain how you would use coaching to improve your practice.
Deadline and programme timing
The deadline is 11 November 2026, 22:00 UTC. Selected fellows begin virtual onboarding in March 2027, followed by the formal fellowship year from April 2027 through March 2028. Review the official call and application link for current instructions before submitting.
Application status checked on 14 October 2026.
