Byron Fellowship (allgemeines Programm der Foundation, nicht UCL-spezifisch)

What the Byron Fellowship gives you

You take part in a four-month leadership programme worth about EUR 6,900 (7,500 USD) per place, and every accepted participant joins on a full scholarship, so you pay nothing. The programme covers all costs of a one-week in-person retreat at the Uplands Center in Upstate New York, including a shared room, farm-to-table meals and the reading materials you need. The rest runs online from June to October: two one-to-one partner conversations, one full-group Zoom call, and four group calls after the retreat. It is run by the Byron Fellowship Educational Foundation, a non-profit based in Indiana, USA. There are no projects, deadlines or grades. The focus is reflection, vision and personal growth in a small group of 16 people. If you can afford it, you may voluntarily pay any amount up to the true cost to help fund future groups, but this is not required.

Who can apply

• Who it is for: You are already building or leading something, for example a founder, organisation leader, educator, artist, researcher or non-profit leader working on social or environmental change.
• Not a student award: This is for active leaders and change-makers, not for people who are still only studying.
• Nationality: Open to applicants from anywhere in the world.
• Field: Open to all backgrounds, from the arts and sciences to social work and community organising.
• Age and degree: No age limit and no formal qualification required.
• Travel: You pay your own travel to New York. If you come from abroad and your flight is expensive, you can apply for limited help towards the cost.

How to apply

You apply through the Byron Fellowship website. The application takes about 90 to 120 minutes and asks for short reflection answers plus references. Places are filled as applications come in, so the group can fill up before the final deadline. Applying early helps.

How realistic are your chances?

Only 16 people are chosen worldwide each year, so a place is genuinely competitive. Selection is not about grades or prestige but about a real fit with the programme's reflective, community-focused approach. A clear, honest application about your work and where you are in your journey matters most. Because places fill as applications arrive, applying well before the deadline improves your odds.