Details

The Laidlaw Undergraduate Leadership and Research Program promotes ethical leadership and international research around the world—starting with the passionate leaders and learners found on campuses like Cornell.

With generous support for your leadership development, a summer abroad putting your skills into action, and research, this 21-month program for emerging leaders lays out a path for you to invest your skills, knowledge, and experience to help others. As a Laidlaw scholar, your talent and motivation are cultivated through international experiences, leadership training and research, and networking with like-minded peers.

The Program's Key Components

Leadership Training

Leadership training is an essential component of the program that continues throughout your time as a Laidlaw scholar. You’ll learn core leadership values and skills that include how to be a global citizen, prioritize collective action and critical reflection, and meaningfully engage with your community. 

Leadership-in-Action Experience

Spend your summer abroad to gain intercultural competency, learn from mentors in the field, and reflect on your role as a leader and researcher in creating a better world. You will be able to choose from a variety of options: 

1. Placement at a partner NGO with a cohort of your fellow Laidlaw scholars
2. Apply to a summer opportunity like Global Internships, other Cornell summer programs listed in Experience, or a Laidlaw central leadership program

Cornell Laidlaw scholars have worked on community health promotion in Fiji, human rights issues in Zambia, climate change in Mexico, and conservation education in Uganda. These skills are directly transferable to future work across disciplines, while also introducing you to different life experiences and expanding your perspective.

Networking

Over your two years in the program, you will get to know like-minded scholars who are passionate about Laidlaw's shared values. The international network of Laidlaw scholars extends beyond Cornell University to a global community that shares an online space for continued collaboration.

Research

You will spend a summer as a Laidlaw scholar working on campus on an internationally-focused research project that is supervised by a faculty member or an experienced research team. Your work is supported by a weekly stipend. 

We support you in finding an international research project and faculty mentor for your second summer of the program. 

Award

Summer 1: Program fees or stipend while you engage in an international leadership-in-action experience. Additional support is available for travel or research-related expenses.  

Summer 2: Up to $3,900 stipend while you conduct full-time research.

Eligibility

First- and second-year students from any college or major may apply. We are looking for students who seek to be globally engaged citizens, ethical leaders, and internationally focused researchers. You should have a strong academic background and must be able to commit to full participation in the program. U.S. citizenship is not required. 

In order to be eligible for program funding, scholars must commit to all components of the program. Upon acceptance, scholars will be required to sign a commitment form. These expectations and important upcoming dates are outlined below.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted by January 31, 2025 using the link below. Students who are selected to become Laidlaw scholars are notified by March 15.

Documents to Submit with Your Application

• Resume/CV
• Copy of your passport. If you do not have one or if it will expire before January 2026, apply for a passport now.
• Personal leadership statement
• Transcript (can be unofficial)
• Two references who can submit letters of recommendation

Contact our Laidlaw coordinator with any questions.