Application Deadline: November 11, 2026
Applications are now open for the 2027 Dalai Lama Fellowship Programme. Dalai Lama Fellows (DLF) offers a one-year fellowship program for emerging changemakers aiming to cultivate leadership practices rooted in awareness, compassion, and integrity. The interdisciplinary and deeply contemplative program provides a curriculum, coaching, group learning, and additional forms of support to help Fellows apply what they are learning in the fellowship to their important work in the world.
During the fellowship year, each Fellow implements an original field project addressing a local challenge. With the program’s support, Fellows cultivate capacities of self-awareness, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, listening and communication, systems-thinking, and much more to help their work make a genuinely positive impact on the communities they serve. Fellows’ learning is also supported by instruction in a range of contemplative practices that foster a deeper connection to self, others, and ecosystems.
The programme is seeking 15-20 changemakers from around the world for the 2027 Dalai Lama Fellows program.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to fulfill the minimum requirements, through the application a candidate must demonstrate:
- Age requirements: 20-36 years old as of April 1, 2027
- Fluency in written and spoken English
- Current engagement with or well-articulated plans for a social change project and sustained engagement with the project throughout the fellowship year (NOTE: due to the difficulty of launching a social innovation project from scratch, we give preference to applicants who have ongoing projects, but each year we have selected Fellows who have a concrete vision for a project and plans to launch during the fellowship year, given they have the adequate expertise, resources, and community connections at the time of applying)
- In-depth knowledge of the community and the issue that the project is seeking to address, preferably with at least one year of previous experience working with the community
- Interest in learning and engaging in contemplative practices throughout the year
- Commitment to participating in all dimensions of the program, including online learning platform, 1-on-1 coaching calls, group learning calls, etc. (We estimate full participation in the fellowship requires about 12 hours per month, not including Fellows’ work on their projects)
- Attendance at the virtual Contemplative Leadership Assembly in May 2027
Program Timeline:
- October 1, 2026: Application opens
- November 11, 2026: Application deadline (applications and all accompanying materials must be submitted by 22:00 Coordinated Universal Time)
- January 2027: Finalists are invited for interviews (invitations sent throughout the month)
- February 2027: Fellows are selected and notified
- March 2027: Virtual onboarding of new Fellows
- April 2027: Formal fellowship year begins
- May 2027: Opening Contemplative Leadership Assembly (via Zoom)
- March 2028: Formal fellowship year concludes, Fellows enter LifeLong Fellows global leadership and learning community
- June 2028: Closing Contemplative Leadership Assembly (we are currently pursuing funding for an in-person Contemplative Leadership Assembly in 2028)
Application Procedure
The application for Dalai Lama Fellows consists of five main parts:
- Applicant background and overview
- Short essay questions
- Video submission
- Resume/CV
- Letter of recommendation
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Dalai Lama Fellowship Programme
