WACA Student Scholars Program 2026

WACA Student Scholars Program 2026 in the USA

The WACA Student Scholars Program 2026 is a fully funded opportunity for undergraduate students interested in international affairs, global issues, and careers related to world affairs. The World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) organizes the program and provides selected students with the opportunity to attend the WACA National Conference at no cost.

Through the program, selected Student Scholars receive support for conference attendance, travel, room and board. Students also participate in Scholar Day activities in Washington, D.C., which can include visits to think tanks, embassies and international organizations.

The program selects 25 undergraduate students from local World Affairs Council communities. However, students cannot apply independently without nomination. They must first be selected and nominated by their local World Affairs Council.

WACA Student Scholars Program 2026 Overview

Category	Details
Program Name	WACA Student Scholars Program 2026
Host Country	United States
Organization	World Affairs Councils of America
Study Level	Undergraduate
Program Type	Student Scholars Program
Funding Type	Fully Funded
Number of Students	25
Conference	WACA National Conference
Travel Support	Provided
Room & Board	Provided
Eligibility	Undergraduate Students
Minimum Age	18 Years
Nomination	Required
Deadline	September 25, 2026

The national application deadline is Friday, September 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT.

What Does the WACA Student Scholars Program Cover?

Selected students can attend the WACA National Conference without paying for conference participation. WACA also provides support for:

• Conference attendance
• Travel expenses
• Room and board
• Participation in Scholar Day
• Visits to think tanks
• Visits to embassies
• Exposure to international organizations
• Networking opportunities in the field of world affairs

The program is designed to help undergraduate students gain direct exposure to professionals and institutions working in international affairs.

Who Can Apply?

The WACA Student Scholars Program has specific eligibility requirements.

Applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Attend a local college or university within an eligible WACA Council community.
• Be selected and nominated by their local World Affairs Council.
• Complete the national online application after receiving the nomination.

Each participating Council can nominate one undergraduate student.

Important Nomination Requirement

One of the most important aspects of the WACA Student Scholars Program is that students cannot simply apply independently.

Interested students must first contact their local World Affairs Council and find out about its internal nomination process. The Council selects its nominee, and the nominated student can then complete the national WACA application.

Because local Councils may have their own internal deadlines, students should contact their Council as early as possible rather than waiting for the national deadline.

Who Is Not Eligible?

The program is specifically designed for undergraduate students.

Generally, the following applicants are not eligible:

• High school students
• Graduate students
• Students who do not meet the minimum age requirement
• Students without a local WACA Council nomination
• Students studying in the Greater Washington, D.C. area
• Previous nominees who were not selected, according to the current program guidance

Required Documents

After receiving a nomination from their local Council, students need to prepare the required application materials.

These include:

• Online Student Scholars application form
• Current resume
• 1–2 page Letter of Intent
• Other information requested in the application

The nominating Council also submits an official nomination form and recommendation letter. Applicants should coordinate with their Council to ensure that all required materials are submitted on time.

Letter of Intent

The Letter of Intent is an important part of the national application.

Students should use the letter to explain their:

• Academic interests
• Career goals
• Interest in international affairs
• Preparation for the program
• Reasons for wanting to attend the WACA National Conference
• Expected benefits from participating in the program

A clear and focused letter can help demonstrate why the student would benefit from the Student Scholars experience.

How to Apply for WACA Student Scholars Program 2026

Interested students should first contact their local World Affairs Council and ask about the nomination process. Since each Council can nominate only one undergraduate student, the local selection process is an important first step.

After being selected as the Council's nominee, the student should complete the WACA online Student Scholars application and submit the required resume and Letter of Intent.

The nominating Council is also responsible for submitting its official nomination materials and recommendation. The completed national application must be submitted by September 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT.

Application Process

Contact your local Council: Find the World Affairs Council serving your college or university community and ask about its Student Scholars nomination process.

Seek nomination: Participate in the Council's local selection process and become its official Student Scholars nominee.

Prepare your documents: Update your resume and prepare a strong 1–2 page Letter of Intent explaining your interests, goals and motivation.

Complete the online application: Once officially nominated, complete the WACA Student Scholars application form.

Coordinate with your Council: Make sure the Council submits its nomination form and recommendation letter as required.

Submit before the deadline: Complete the national application process by September 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT.

Wait for selection: WACA reviews the nominated students and announces selections within approximately two weeks after the application deadline.

Number of Scholarships

The program provides 25 opportunities for undergraduate students from participating Council communities to attend the WACA National Conference.

The selected Student Scholars receive support for conference participation, travel, room and board.

WACA National Conference

The WACA National Conference provides students with an opportunity to engage with professionals and organizations involved in international affairs.

Selected scholars can attend the conference without paying the normal participation costs and receive support for their travel, accommodation, and board.

This experience can help students understand potential career paths in diplomacy, international relations, public policy, global development and related fields.

Scholar Day

An important part of the Student Scholars experience is Scholar Day in Washington, D.C.

Students can take part in an exclusive educational excursion that may include visits to:

• Think tanks
• Embassies
• International organizations
• Other institutions connected with international affairs

These activities provide students with an opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world global affairs.

Selection Process

The selection process begins at the local level.

Each participating World Affairs Council may select one undergraduate nominee. After the Council nominates its candidate, WACA's national office reviews the nominated students in consultation with the WACA Board of Directors.

Final selections are expected to be announced within two weeks after the national application deadline.

Post-Program Requirement

Selected participants are expected to provide a brief evaluation and experience report after attending the National Conference.

The report is generally required within two weeks after the conference and allows WACA to receive feedback about the Student Scholars' experience.

Is the WACA Student Scholars Program Fully Funded?

Yes.

The WACA Student Scholars Program is described as a fully funded conference opportunity.

Selected students receive support for:

• Conference attendance
• Travel
• Room
• Board
• Scholar Day activities

Therefore, students can participate in the WACA National Conference without paying the major participation and travel-related costs covered by the program.

Application Deadline

The WACA Student Scholars Program 2026 deadline is:

September 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT.

Students should not wait until the final day because they first need to complete their local Council's nomination process. The local nomination deadline may be earlier than the national deadline.

Why Apply for the WACA Student Scholars Program?

The program offers undergraduate students an opportunity to gain practical exposure to the field of international affairs.

Key benefits include:

• Fully funded conference participation
• Travel support
• Room and board
• Access to the WACA National Conference
• Scholar Day in Washington, D.C.
• Exposure to think tanks
• Embassy visits
• International organization visits
• Networking opportunities
• Career exploration in world affairs

For students interested in international relations, diplomacy, public policy, and global affairs, this can be a valuable professional development experience.

Final Thoughts

The WACA Student Scholars Program 2026 is a valuable fully funded opportunity for undergraduate students interested in international affairs and global issues. The program selects 25 students from participating World Affairs Council communities and provides support for conference attendance, travel, room and board.

The most important requirement is the local nomination. Students must first be nominated by their local World Affairs Council before completing the national application.

Eligible students should contact their local Council as soon as possible and prepare their resume and Letter of Intent in advance. The national application deadline is September 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT. Apply Now