Frequently asked

Global Youth Council is designed to help Fellows develop a stronger personal narrative, a clearer sense of purpose, and a body of work that reflects their ideas, leadership, and interests beyond academics alone.

Throughout the Fellowship, participants develop a Capstone project showcasing their reflections, projects, discussions, and contributions across the year.

Fellows also gain exposure to global issues, mentorship opportunities with experts and leaders from different industries, and collaborative experiences that can help strengthen future university, scholarship, and career applications.

By the end of the programme, Fellows graduate with an official Global Youth Council Certificate and a formal Letter of Recommendation recognising their participation, growth, and leadership throughout the Fellowship.

The total investment for the 12-month Fellowship is £10,000 GBP. This includes full access to the Digital Campus, live sessions with global experts, personalised mentorship, a global community of peers, and the Global Summit – a 3-day in-person experience in a leading global city, with flights and accommodation included. Fellows also receive an official Global Youth Council Fellowship Certificate and personalised recommendation upon completion of the programme.

Global Youth Council is not designed as a traditional academic course or competition. It is a highly curated global Fellowship built around real conversations, collaboration, exposure to global leaders, and applied learning experiences.

Rather than focusing only on theory, Fellows engage with complex global challenges, work alongside peers from different cultures and backgrounds, and develop their own voice, ideas, and leadership identity throughout the journey.

The programme combines world-class speakers, small peer circles, case-based learning, mentorship and an immersive global summit experience designed to help Fellows grow both personally and intellectually.

To apply for the Global Youth Council, you must meet the following essential requirements:

Age: You must be between 16 and 18 years old.

Language: You must have a working knowledge of English, as you will be collaborating with peers and experts from all over the world.

We evaluate candidates on five core pillars: Leadership, Vision, Social Commitment, Talent/Skills, and Communication.

Whether your talent is coding, debate, classical music, art, or science, we want to see how you use it to help others and shape the future.

You do not need to have mastered all these areas to apply; we are looking for your potential to grow.

The Global Youth Council is a highly selective 12-month leadership accelerator designed for exceptional young people united by a shared purpose: to lead the change they want to see in the world.

The Fellowship is a blended experience that combines virtual engagement with a 3-day immersive, in-person Global Summit.

The Global Youth Council is an initiative of T4 Education, the global organisation behind the prestigious World’s Best School Prizes – the world’s leading awards celebrating schools that are transforming lives and communities – and the Best School To Work certification.

T4 Education works with schools and educators worldwide to power high performance in education, helping schools attract, develop and retain talent, celebrate excellence, and drive meaningful impact.

Yes. One of the core strengths of Global Youth Council is its global cohort. Fellows are selected from different countries, cultures, schools, and lived experiences around the world.

Throughout the year, participants collaborate closely through peer circles, discussions, projects, and live sessions designed to encourage meaningful cross-cultural exchange and long-term global friendships.

The Global Youth Council is intentionally designed to fit alongside your academic calendar.

The 12-month journey requires a total of 50 hours of online learning (averaging about 4 hours per month) plus the 3-day in-person Global Summit in July.

To prevent burnout and respect your school demands, we significantly lower the programme’s intensity during typical academic exam seasons (May–June and November–December).

All live virtual sessions take place on Saturdays at 12:00 GMT.

Throughout the year, Fellows participate in live global sessions, small peer circles, case-based discussions, collaborative activities, and personal reflection exercises through the Global Youth Council Digital Campus.

The experience combines world-class speakers, mentorship, applied learning, community interaction, and portfolio-building activities designed to help Fellows grow intellectually, personally, and socially.

Fellows engage with a diverse range of global leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, educators, policymakers, creatives, and experts from different industries and sectors.

In addition to guest speakers, Fellows also receive mentorship opportunities and guidance designed to help them explore future academic, professional, and personal pathways.

The Global Summit is our flagship in-person experience held in mid-July. Over 3 days in a leading global city, Fellows engage directly with global ideas, experts, and peers. To support this international experience, we partner with Envoys, a leading educational travel organisation with extensive experience in student travel, risk management, and safeguarding.

Our admission process consists of two main stages:

The Fellow’s Blueprint

An initial written application where you will share information about yourself, your background, your ideas, and your vision through a combination of written responses and short video submissions.

The Interview

Shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview. This is not a test of polished answers, but an opportunity for us to see how you think and communicate.

The application and selection process runs from July through November.

The official cohort is confirmed in November–December, and the Fellowship’s Global Launch kicks off virtually in January 2027.

Upon graduation, Fellows receive an official Global Youth Council Fellowship Certificate, a personalised recommendation, ongoing access to the global Global Youth Council network, dedicated mentorship, a personal Capstone Project documenting their journey, and valuable leadership experience gained through real-world challenges, projects, and global collaboration.

If you are offered a place and decide to join the Fellowship, a £2,000 deposit is required to confirm your participation. The remaining £8,000 is due before the Fellowship officially begins in January 2027. Further details, including payment deadlines and available payment options, will be shared with successful applicants.

Through the support of our philanthropic and corporate partners, we offer a limited number of highly competitive scholarships for students who demonstrate exceptional potential and financial need.

Up to 10 scholarships are available for the virtual component of the Fellowship. Please note that these scholarships do not cover travel, accommodation, or any other costs associated with attending the in-person summit.

All participants under the age of 18 must provide parent or guardian consent to participate. The programme is hosted on a secure learning platform with privacy controls, moderated spaces, and permission-based access. Our Digital Campus and live sessions are overseen by experienced educators and global experts, and our team includes certified safeguarding leaders. We follow recognised safeguarding best practices and comply with relevant child protection, privacy, and data protection requirements.