About this opportunity
Dalai Lama Fellows is a global community of social innovators and organisers who want to lead with more attention and more compassion. The 2027 programme selects 15 to 20 people and runs a full fellowship year from April 2027 to March 2028, built on personal transformation and leadership practice rather than on a new project you have to invent. Fellows keep working on their own social change project while the programme works on them.
The shape of the year is deliberately light on travel and heavy on practice. You join an online learning platform, take part in one on one coaching calls and group learning calls, and attend the virtual Contemplative Leadership Assembly in May 2027. The programme estimates full participation at about 12 hours a month, not counting the work on your own project, and it is structured so you can keep studying or working alongside it. Fellows whose projects sit in a different city or country from where they live are asked to show how they will stay genuinely engaged with that community through the year.
Eligibility
is open across borders. You must be aged 20 to 36 as of April 1, 2027, be fluent in written and spoken English, and be engaged with, or have a well articulated plan for, a social change project. The foundation gives preference to applicants whose projects are already running, and asks for in depth knowledge of the community and the issue, ideally with at least one year of experience working with that community. Priority areas include health and wellbeing, education, environmental sustainability, cultural understanding and human rights.
One thing to read carefully before you start: the fellowship does not provide direct funding for projects. What it offers instead is the curriculum, personalised coaching, group learning, assemblies and lifetime access to the LifeLong Fellows community of peers and mentors. For a young African founder who needs a year of structured thinking and a global network rather than a cheque, that trade is often the more useful one. Applications and all supporting materials must be in by 22:00 UTC on November 11, 2026.
What you receive
- A one year fellowship running from April 2027 to March 2028
- A curriculum in contemplative and compassionate leadership drawn from many of the world's traditions, delivered in a non sectarian and inclusive format
- One on one coaching calls and group learning calls on an online learning platform
- The virtual Contemplative Leadership Assembly in May 2027 and the closing assembly in June 2028
- Lifetime membership of the LifeLong Fellows global leadership and learning community
- A workload of about 12 hours a month, designed to sit alongside study or work
Who can apply
- Aged 20 to 36 years old as of April 1, 2027
- Fluent in written and spoken English
- Currently engaged with a social change project, or holding well articulated plans for one
- In depth knowledge of the community and the issue the project addresses, preferably with at least one year of previous experience working with that community
- Interest in learning and practising contemplative methods through the year
- Commitment to online learning, one on one coaching calls and group learning calls
- Availability to attend the virtual Contemplative Leadership Assembly in May 2027
Who should not apply
- Candidates outside the age range of 20 to 36 as of April 1, 2027
- Applicants who cannot set aside about 12 hours a month for programme activities
- Applicants who will not be able to attend the virtual Contemplative Leadership Assembly in May 2027
Documents to prepare
- Applicant background and overview
- Answers to the short essay questions
- A video submission
- Resume or CV
- A letter of recommendation
How to apply
- Read the eligibility requirements and the FAQ on the Dalai Lama Fellows apply page
- Open the 2027 application and register, or log in with existing credentials if you applied in a previous year
- Work through the five parts of the application: background and overview, short essays, video submission, resume or CV, and a letter of recommendation
- Show how you will stay engaged with your project and community if the work sits in a different city, state or country from where you will be living
- Submit the application and every accompanying material by 22:00 Coordinated Universal Time on November 11, 2026
Selection process
- Applications open on October 1, 2026 and close on November 11, 2026 at 22:00 UTC
- Finalists are invited for interviews, with invitations sent throughout January 2027
- Fellows are selected and notified in February 2027
- Virtual onboarding for new Fellows runs in March 2027
- The formal fellowship year begins in April 2027 and concludes in March 2028, when Fellows enter the LifeLong Fellows community
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- African Women Building With AI Summit 2026
A free four hour virtual summit for African women building with AI, from ideas to income and impact, with general admission at no cost and a $47 VIP tier.
- I AM NALA Fellowship 2027 on Women, Peace and Security for Young African Women
The I AM NALA Fellowship on Women, Peace and Security brings together 20 young African women aged 18 to 40 who are refugees, internally displaced or stateless, and who are already working for peace, justice and political change. The programme runs from January 2027 to July 2027 and builds leadership and advocacy skills in the women, peace and security field. Applications close on 31 October 2026.
- One Young World Leading Scholarship 2026
A fully covered leadership scholarship giving young people aged 18 to 35 full access to the One Young World Summit in Cape Town, with meals, leadership programmes and Ambassador membership included.
- Harvard LEAD Fellowship 2027 to 2028: Fully Funded Global Health Leadership Fellowship for Professionals in Low and Middle Income Countries
A one year, fully funded leadership fellowship from the Harvard Global Health Institute and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, built for global health professionals based in low and middle income countries. Applications close at 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, November 15, 2026.
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply if I am outside the 20 to 36 age range?
No. The programme cannot accept applications from candidates outside the age range, measured as of April 1, 2027.
Do I have to take time off from school or work?
No. The fellowship is structured so you can continue your academic studies or professional responsibilities, as long as you can set aside about 12 hours a month for the programme.
Do I have to be interested in Buddhism to apply?
No. Dalai Lama Fellows is a non sectarian and inclusive programme, and the curriculum presents ideas and practices from many of the world's traditions.
Does the fellowship fund my project?
No. The programme does not provide direct funding for projects. It offers the curriculum, personalised coaching, group learning calls, assemblies and access to a global network of peers and mentors.
Can my project be in a different country from where I live?
Yes, if your application shows how you will be engaged with the project and the community in a meaningful and consistent way throughout the fellowship year.
I applied last year, do I start again?
Log in with your existing credentials. If you need a new password use the forgot password option and check your spam folder for the reset email.
Who can I email with questions?
The programme answers questions at dalailamafellows@virginia.edu, and it runs live information sessions with question and answer time during the application window.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
