ACTIVE

Millennium Fellowship – Class of 2026

United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI)
◉Global
Duration:01 Aug 2026 - 30 Nov 2026
Application Deadline:28 Feb 2026

Millennium Fellowship – Class of 2026

1. Program Overview

The Millennium Fellowship is a semester-long leadership development program that takes place on participating university campuses worldwide. It is presented by the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and the Millennium Campus Network (MCN) to support undergraduate leaders advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UNAI principles through campus and community projects.

2. About the Program

Selected campuses host a cohort of 8–20+ Millennium Fellows who meet in person at least eight times between August and November 2026 to learn, collaborate, and implement projects that create measurable social impact. Each Fellow leads or co-leads a time-bound “Millennium Fellowship Project” that advances at least one SDG and one UNAI principle (for example, a social enterprise, research initiative, campus-wide sustainability campaign, or student-led advocacy project).

3. Financial Details

  • The Millennium Fellowship is fully funded for participants: there is no application fee and no program fee.
  • Fellows are expected to commit time and effort for meetings and project implementation, but are not charged for training or participation.

4. Program Structure

  • Duration: August – November 2026 (one academic semester).
  • Cohort model: 8–20+ Fellows form a campus hub, guided by two Campus Directors selected from the cohort.
  • Sessions: Minimum of 8 in-person convenings on campus, following the MCN Action Toolkit leadership curriculum (core values, hard skills, soft skills, project management).
  • Project work: Each Fellow implements a clearly scoped, time-bound project with defined goals and impact metrics.

5. Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicant must be at least 18 years old by August 2026.
  • Applicant must be an enrolled undergraduate student for the entire Fellowship period (August–November 2026).
  • Applicant must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at their institution.
  • Applicants should demonstrate interest in social impact / civic leadership and be willing to commit to regular in-person meetings and project work.
  • For a campus to become a Fellowship hub, at least 8 undergraduates from that campus must apply (15–20+ applicants recommended).

6. Program Tracks / Thematic Areas

There are no formal “tracks”; instead, each Fellow proposes a project that advances one or more SDGs and UNAI principles. Typical themes include:

  • Poverty reduction, public health, and well-being.
  • Quality education, gender equality, and reduced inequalities.
  • Climate action, sustainable cities, and responsible consumption.
  • Peace, justice, and strong institutions.
  • Innovation, decent work, and economic growth.

Students can apply with an existing initiative they wish to scale or a new project idea they plan to launch during the Fellowship.

7. Application Process and Deadlines

  • Where to apply: Online at the Millennium Fellowship application page: https://www.millenniumfellows.org/apply.
  • What to submit:
    • Personal and academic information.
    • Short essays on leadership, values, and social impact.
    • A description of your proposed Millennium Fellowship Project (goals, SDGs addressed, timeline, expected impact).
  • Campus requirement: Encourage at least 8–20 IITM undergraduates to submit applications so IIT Madras can be considered as a Fellowship campus hub.
  • Next priority deadline: Saturday, 28 February 2026.
  • The general application window remains open until 31 March 2026, but early submission by the priority deadline is strongly encouraged.

8. Selection Timeline

  • Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis after each priority deadline.
  • Selected campuses and Fellows for the Class of 2026 are typically announced in mid-2026.
  • Onboarding and pre-Fellowship preparation take place before August.

9. Program Expectations and Graduation Requirements

  • Attend a minimum of 6–8 on-campus training sessions led by Campus Directors, based on the MCN Action Toolkit.
  • Convene regularly with the campus cohort for peer-to-peer learning, feedback, and collaboration.
  • Implement and document your Millennium Fellowship Project, tracking progress and impact.
  • Engage with the online Millennium Fellowship portal for reflection, reporting, and learning modules.

A one-page summary of graduation requirements is available here: Graduation Requirements – One Pager.

10. Program Benefits

  • Leadership training in project design, impact measurement, communication, and team management.
  • A supportive peer cohort and access to a global network of over 10,000+ alumni from 300+ universities in 50+ countries.
  • Recognition and credentials: Upon successful completion, Fellows receive an electronic certificate of recognition jointly awarded by UNAI and MCN.
  • Enhanced visibility for projects and potential pathways into social-impact careers.

11. Alumni Community

  • Graduates join the MCN alumni community (11,000+ alumni) and can stay involved as mentors, speakers, and campus organizers for future Fellowship classes.
  • Alumni often help sustain and expand campus hubs and long-term social impact initiatives.

12. Additional Resources