Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program 2026 at Yale

Omran Aburayya
Oct 5
4 min read

If you’re the kind of rising leader who seeks space, insight, and community to sharpen your impact, the Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program at Yale is one of the most prestigious leadership residencies you should keep your eye on. Applications are highly competitive and selective — but the four-month immersive experience in New Haven offers a rare opportunity to grow intellectually, connect globally, and deepen your influence.

Here’s a full guide to help you in your application.

🎓 Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program Summary

Location: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Host Institution: Yale’s International Leadership Center, Jackson School of Global Affairs
Program Level: Non-degree, mid-career leadership residency
Applicants: Early to mid-career leaders (5–25 years of professional experience), from non-U.S. countries (or work focused outside U.S.)
Focus: Multidisciplinary — open to leaders across sectors (government, NGOs, media, business, arts, social innovation, etc.)
Value / Coverage: Fully funded (living stipend, housing, medical insurance, travel)
Duration: 4 months (mid-August to mid-December)
Application Deadline: December 2025
Program Start Date: Mid-August

🧭 Fellowship Overview

The Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program is a four-month, full-time residential leadership program based at Yale’s International Leadership Center and run through the Jackson School of Global Affairs.

During that time, Fellows are fully immersed in intellectual, leadership, and network-building opportunities. Key components include:

🧩 Program Components & Structure

Weekly Seminars (“Good Society”): Every week, Fellows present their vision, reflect on their professional contributions, and exchange ideas about how to build a “good society.”
Salon Series / Guest Dialogues: Fellows host distinguished guests (scholars, practitioners, policymakers) for in-depth conversations on pressing global topics — promoting cross-disciplinary dialogue and challenging assumptions.
Personal & Professional Development Coaching: Fellows receive one-on-one and group coaching, leadership skills training, and support for self-reflection and growth.
Course Auditing & Independent / Collaborative Projects: Fellows may audit many of Yale’s courses (2,000+ offerings) across disciplines, work on collaborative projects, and conduct independent research during their residency.
Public Engagement & Events: Fellows deliver talks, participate in panels, host events across Yale, and contribute to campus intellectual life.
Mentorship of Yale Students (Student Liaisons): Each Fellow is paired with one or more Yale student liaisons who help coordinate their campus presence and for whom the Fellows provide mentorship.
Networking & Peer Community: Fellows benefit from cohort peer learning, connections with past Fellows (network of 400+ Fellows across ~96 countries)
Flexibility for Family & Dependents: The program can accommodate Fellows who bring children or partners. Yale assists with housing, immigration, and local arrangements where possible.

This structure is intentionally holistic: it combines rigorous intellectual engagement, leadership growth, public influence, and close connection to Yale’s broader community.

🎁 Benefits & Coverage

Participants in the World Fellows Program receive a comprehensive compensation package that significantly reduces financial burdens and enables full engagement:

Living Stipend (taxable) — to cover day-to-day costs in New Haven
Furnished Housing (1- or 2-bedroom apartment) for the full program term
Medical Insurance throughout residency
Round-trip airfare from applicant’s home country to New Haven / U.S.
No tuition or program fee — Fellows pay no Yale tuition or fees.
Possibility for family support — Yale helps with housing, childcare, and immigration logistics for eligible family members.

All in all, the fellowship is fully funded, making it financially accessible to qualified participants.

✅ Eligibility Criteria & Selection

Eligibility Criteria

Professional Experience: Typically 5 to 25 years into one’s career, with significant achievements at regional, national, or international levels.
Citizenship / Residence: Must be citizen of a country other than the U.S. (dual U.S. citizens can apply, but priority is given to those whose work is outside U.S.).
English Fluency: Must be fluent in English (reading, speaking, writing) — formal test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) are not required, but fluency is assessed during interview if advanced.
Full-time Residency & Commitment: Fellows must reside on Yale campus (New Haven) for the full duration (mid-August to mid-December) and commit fully to program obligations.
Not Full-time Student or Academic: The program is designed for practitioners, not full-time students or full-time academics.
Track Record & Leadership Potential: Applicants must be people of integrity, with vision, leadership, and capacity for impact.

🔍 Selection Criteria & Process

Applications are reviewed competitively. Yale typically receives thousands of applications for about 16 Fellowships each year.
Final decisions are communicated by late April.
Selection is based on a combination of:
- Demonstrated excellence, impact, integrity
- Clarity of vision for contributing to a good society
- Capacity for creative, strategic, entrepreneurial thinking
- Likelihood to benefit from and contribute to the Yale community
- Ability to meet full residence and program demands
Applicants may reapply in future years, but must submit a new updated application (cannot reuse prior documents).

📝 Application Procedure

Online Application Portal — All submissions are handled online (no paper forms).
Fill in Application Sections — Typical sections include personal statements, career narrative, vision statement, and professional history.
Letters of Recommendation (3 required) — You input names and emails; the system sends link for recommenders to upload.
Review & Submit by Deadline — All parts must be submitted by the deadline. Late letters may be accepted but with no guarantee.
Interview / Further Assessment — Final stage may include interviews, during which English capability is evaluated.

🗂️ Documents & Materials

Up-to-date CV / Resume
Personal / Vision Statement (purpose, leadership trajectory, plans for future impact)
Professional narrative or essays explaining achievements, challenges, mission
Three letters of recommendation, in English
(No English test scores required)
(Proof of citizenship or passport)

Make sure all materials reflect your most current achievements, visions, and growth.

ℹ️ Tips & Additional Insights

Because the program is very competitive, emphasize distinctiveness, depth of impact, and clarity of your future vision.
Show how your goals align with “building a good society” — this is central to the Yale framing.
Engage the broad Yale offerings — mention how you might audit classes or collaborate across disciplines.
Prepare your recommenders well: their letters should convey your leadership trajectory, potential, and character.
Be candid about how you will fully engage with the demanding schedule (seminars, events, mentoring).
Use the nomination pathway too — though nomination is not required, it helps raise your profile.
Follow the Yale World Fellows website and sign up for notifications to catch next cycle’s opens.