The Academy
Experience
Join a community of determined young changemakers from around the world. Through our signature leadership course, talks with today’s top changemakers, and personalized mentorship, you’ll build the power skills for a lifetime of social impact.
Eligibility
Students worldwide ages 17-21
Timing
Feb 22 - May 14, 2021
Tuition
$500 - $5000
Learn about our sliding scale tuition
Application Deadlines
Dec 15, 2020
Jan 15, 2021
Explore a typical week
Global Citizen Academy offers an engaging blend of interactive online learning, discussions with leading innovators, real-world projects, and peer collaboration.
Explore the sample schedule below to get a taste of the exploration, community, and growth that’s possible with Global Citizen Academy. To accommodate different time zones and schedules, there will be multiple sections for each course. Your schedule may not look exactly like the sample below, but we'll do our absolute best to make sure every student can join a session that works for them!
Leadership As A Practice
19 students / 90 minutesBuild a foundation for living and leading with purpose.
Speaker Series: Leadership in Action
60 minutesGet inspired by discussions with today's most innovative leaders.
Leadership As A Practice
6-8 students / 60 minutesBuild a foundation for living and leading with purpose.
Leadership As A Practice
6-8 students / 60 minutesBuild a foundation for living and leading with purpose.
Volunteer with our Impact Partners or Pursue an Independent Passion Project
Volunteer with our partners working on climate change, racial justice, educational inequity, and more; or pursue another project that calls to you.
Personalized Mentorship
Connect one-on-one with mentors for guidance on topics spanning college, career, personal growth, and how to make an impact.
Reflect & Prep
Apply what you're learning with engaging activities, reflections, and projects.
Student-Led Clubs & Events
We invite you to co-create the Global Citizen Academy experience with us. From all across the world, Academy students have organized book clubs, discussion groups, and celebrations. We encourage you to take full advantage of connecting with the Academy’s global network!
LEADERSHIP TRAINING IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT
Take our signature leadership course that teaches self-awareness, community engagement, and living and leading with purpose. Rather than the traditional focus on lectures, the Academy emphasizes active collaboration guided by our talented instructors. On Minerva’s Forum online learning environment, students engage in Socratic discussion, live polling, breakout groups, debate, role-playing, and simulations. You’ll also have access to Global Citizen Year’s Mentor Directory that includes 100+ diverse professionals and experts who are available for one-on-one mentoring sessions.
Speaker Series - Leadership in Action: To complement the coursework, we’ve lined up a star-studded speaker series. Global Citizen Year alumni moderate these intimate discussions that have featured Melinda Gates, DeRay McKesson, and 20+ other luminaries.
Explore Speaker List
Our world needs young leaders now more than ever. By working with Global Citizen Year Academy, we can empower many more young people around the world with the resources and tools they need to make an impact.”
SHAWN MENDES, GLOBAL CITIZEN YEAR’S GLOBAL YOUTH CHAIR
AN ADAPTABLE SCHEDULE FOR MAXIMIZING PURPOSE
The Academy was explicitly designed to add an enriching layer of purpose to high school, college, gap years, or work. With multiple sections offered, the Academy's 5-10 hour weekly commitment enhances and is compatible with almost any schedule or time zone. Through Global Citizen Year Academy’s intentional balance of structure and independence, you’ll develop confidence and agency as you learn to chart your own course and design your life.
Volunteer with our Impact Partners: As an Academy student, you’ll have the opportunity to engage directly with causes you care about by volunteering with our Impact Partners
See Impact Partners
Global Citizen Year Academy is so important. We have a chance in this century to address a lot of the problems that began in the last century. It really is up to us. Young people are the future -- and the now-- of social change.”
PREMAL SHAH, CO-FOUNDER KIVA.ORG
LIFELONG GLOBAL NETWORK
Get unparalleled access to an inspiring, diverse global community. Connect with other determined young changemakers -- both during the Academy and beyond.
View our alumni network across the globe
View the Map
How much does this cost?
We are pleased to offer a sliding scale model for Global Citizen Year Academy with tuition ranging from $500 to $5,000 (full tuition) on a payment plan schedule. We offer a 10% discount at each tuition tier to those families who wish to pay tuition in one payment. We ask that you pay at the highest level of the sliding scale that you can afford. This allows others who need to pay less the opportunity to attend.
What’s the time commitment?
Students should plan for an average weekly commitment of 5-10 hours a week. Each week students will engage in:
- 3.5 hours on the Active Learning Forum participating in engaging courses with faculty, peers, and cross-sector leaders from across the globe.
- Remaining hours completing pre-work, reflections, and course-related projects, both individually and as a group.
Sign up for more!
For interested students, sign up here to learn more about our programs! For educators, visit our educator form to request more information