Frequently Asked Questions

The Tomorrow’s Leaders Graduate (TLG) program is a joint effort between the US Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA/AC), and The American University in Cairo (AUC). The program is also implemented at the American University in Beirut (AUB) and the Lebanese American University (LAU). TLG equips academically qualified and economically deserving students with the professional qualifications and experience needed to advance knowledge and contribute to socially relevant outcomes. Furthermore, through organized graduate study and research, volunteer opportunities, and leadership training, TLG furthers the professionalization of emerging leaders, enhances their employability, and proposes local solutions to shared problems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

TLG offers MENA students a unique opportunity to pursue higher education and earn a master's degree in one of the following graduate programs: 

• Economics and International Development

• International and Comparative Education

• Migration and Refugee Studies

• Gender and Women’s Studies

• Journalism and Mass Communication

• Public Policy

• Public Administration

• Middle East Studies

• International Human Rights Law

• Science in Sustainable Development

• Sociology and Anthropology

• Political Science

• Science in Biotechnology

• Science in Environmental Engineering

For more information on fields of study, research projects, and/or email faculty advisors, visit the TLG page.

The students who are eligible should:

• Be nationals/citizens of Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, Syria, Bahrain, the West Bank, and Gaza
• Meet the AUC graduate admission requirements. 
• Have a strong academic potential with a bachelor's degree with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent
• Have proficiency in written and spoken English
• Possess maturity, flexibility, and leadership potential demonstrated in a combination of extracurricular activities, recommendations, and interviews
• Demonstrate financial need. Applicants should be underrepresented or economically deserving students and complete the Tomorrow’s Leaders Application Financial Statement. For more information, check the FHI360 FAQs

For fall 2024, applicants should be nationals/citizens of Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, Syria, Bahrain, the West Bank, and Gaza.

Yes, Egyptians are eligible to apply across all the implementing partners.

The TLG program is a very competitive program. A number of seats are offered for admission to AUC.

Applicants for the fall 2024 admission cycle must submit either international TOEFL (iBT) or Academic IELTS that is no more than two years old from their anticipated first date of enrollment with an overall score that qualifies them for full admission to AUC.

For more information, visit the Graduate Admission page with all the relevant information regarding the cut-off scores and the module placements.

AUC graduates will be exempted from taking the English placement tests.

Applicants must submit two separate applications for the TLG program.

1. Sumit FHI360 application
2. Submit the AUC TLG graduate admission application for those interested in the program within AUC

Note: Both applications are free of charge.

Yes, applicants need to apply and submit the two applications. The deadline for both submissions is November 29, 2024.

In the TLG application, candidates will need to express how they wish to develop their knowledge in one of the fields covered under this program, obtain substantial advanced practical experience, and further develop their capacity to be community and/or business leaders who contribute to addressing local, national, and/or regional problems.

Applicants are encouraged to describe their research interests and professional goals in their essays, how they plan to accomplish them, and why TLG is best suited for them. They shall also describe how their character and experiences have formed them into someone who will contribute positively and effectively to the academic discipline and society.

Professional recommendation letters are accepted. Yet, applicants should include referees who are capable of evaluating their writing and research skills. In the admission application, applicants are asked to indicate the names and email addresses of their referees. AUC will email the referees directly for submission of letters of recommendation. It is the applicant's responsibility to follow up with their referees to ensure that the letters are submitted on time. For further instructions, click here. You can also check the FHI360 FAQs page.

FHI360 will contact shortlisted applicants for interviews. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by the beginning of January 2024 and scheduled for interviews in January 2024. Final selections will begin being notified in May 2024 and continue on a rolling basis until all openings are filled.

You can also visit the FHI360 FAQs to learn more about the process after submitting your application.

For any inquiries or questions, send an email to [email protected].