15 Global Leadership Programs for High School Students
If you want your leadership skills to extend beyond school clubs and into global contexts, you need experiences that challenge your worldview. Participating in a global leadership program during high school can provide that exposure.
What do global leadership programs cover?
A global leadership program will help you explore how leadership operates in international contexts. You may work on global case studies, collaborate with students from different countries, or examine issues such as sustainability, public policy, or social entrepreneurship.
How is participating in global leadership programs helpful?
These programs help you build teamwork, communication, and management skills that you can use in your own businesses. Participating in a global program can also strengthen your college applications. It shows initiative, maturity, and a willingness to engage with complex global challenges.
For international exposure, you can check out leadership programs abroad. To explore more options, you can have a look at virtual leadership programs.
With that in mind, here are 15 global leadership programs for high school students!
15 Global Leadership Programs for High School Students
1. United Nations Young Leaders Training Programme
Location: Online
Cost: $750
Application Deadline: Rolling until 30-participant cap is reached
Dates: Multiple editions run yearly (Jan, April, June, July/August)
Eligibility: Open to all interested participants worldwide
The United Nations Young Leaders Training Programme is a four-week online course delivered through UNITAR’s learning platform. You will study the structure of the United Nations, conference diplomacy, and the Sustainable Development Goals. You spend several hours each week reviewing readings, multimedia lessons, and policy materials. Negotiation exercises and SDG-focused discussions help you practice structured argument and international cooperation skills. You also attend live webinars led by UN professionals who explain career pathways and global policy work.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a virtual start-up boot camp where you build a business idea from scratch. In this program, you work on shaping a venture that responds to a clear market need and test whether the idea can become viable. You receive feedback from mentors with experience in business and technology, including professionals who have worked in established companies. As you develop your concept, you attend structured sessions on leadership, team management, coordination, and planning. Workshops and case discussions push you to examine your assumptions and refine your model. Speaker panels introduce different approaches to evaluating risk and opportunity in early-stage ventures. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Wharton Leadership in the Business World (LBW)
Location: Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $11,899 and a $100 non-refundable application fee. Financial aid is available
Application Deadline: March 18 (priority: January 28)
Dates: Three sessions: June 7 – 27, June 28 – July 18, July 19 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grade 11 (rising seniors) with demonstrated leadership experience and a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA; international applicants welcome
Wharton Leadership in the Business World is a three-week residential program focused on business strategy and management. You attend lectures by Wharton faculty and analyze companies using structured frameworks such as SWOT and industry analysis models. Team projects and simulations require you to evaluate competitive environments and recommend strategic decisions. A final case competition pushes you to defend your reasoning before judges. Daily sessions combine lectures, guest speakers, and small group work. All students receive a Wharton Global Youth Certificate upon completion.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by the program. Full financial aid available
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8–12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a remote program where you work directly with an early-stage start-up. In this experience, you complete a defined internship project with a company operating in areas such as technology, artificial intelligence, health tech, marketing, journalism, or consulting. Many of these companies are actively building products or expanding services, which means your work connects to ongoing business needs rather than simulations. Over the course of the internship, you collaborate closely with a company manager who assigns and reviews your work. You also receive structured support from a Ladder Coach who helps you stay on track and improve your execution. Your responsibilities are tied to real deliverables inside the organization. At the end of the program, you present your final work to the start-up team.
5. Notre Dame Leadership Seminars
Location: University of Notre Dame campus (residential), Notre Dame, IN
Cost: Free tuition, housing, meals (students cover $75 app fee, $150 enrollment fee, travel)
Application Deadline: January 21
Dates: July 18 – 29
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (top 10% class rank, rigorous curriculum, leadership experience, age 16+ by Aug 1; SAT 1300–1500/ACT 31+ preferred)
In this selective 10-day residential program, you join a cohort of 150 students to study leadership through a series of focused seminars. You choose from academic tracks such as Business: What Is It Good For?, The Power of Investing, Global Issues, Inequality, RADIANT technology, and The American Experiment. If you select a business-related seminar, you examine subjects such as the purpose of organizations, financial literacy, compound interest, investment approaches, and economic inequality. Learning takes place through lectures, group discussions, and collaborative projects that encourage analysis and application of key concepts. Upon successful completion of the program, you may be eligible to receive one transferable college credit.
6. Institute for Global Affairs Summer Geopolitics Academy
Location: Fully remote/online for the latest cohort (in-person programming in New York City was previously offered)
Cost: Not specified (philanthropically funded for underrepresented students)
Application Deadline: To be announced
Dates: One-week intensive bootcamp (specific dates vary by year)
Eligibility: High school juniors from underrepresented backgrounds demonstrating intellectual curiosity, leadership potential, and commitment to community
The Summer Geopolitics Academy is a one-week intensive bootcamp designed to develop the next generation of foreign policy leaders. You begin with a crash course in global affairs delivered by experts from government, academia, and the private sector. Throughout the week, you engage in interactive workshops, small-group mentoring, and site visits to global institutions. You work in teams to develop solutions to current global challenges through policy proposals, diplomatic simulations, or media campaigns. The program emphasizes understanding how regional events ripple across continents and how economic decisions in major capitals affect communities worldwide. You receive ongoing mentorship and network access that continues beyond the program.
7. Global Youth Excellence & Leadership Program (GYEL) High School Part 1
Location: Fully virtual
Cost: Tiered $0-$5,500; Subsidized for incomes under $200k
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (submit 1 month before term start)
Dates: Summer Term (June – August weekdays); Fall (Sep – Dec weekends); Spring (Jan – May weekends)
Eligibility: High-achieving high school students
The Global Youth Excellence & Leadership Program is a virtual course built around global institutions, geopolitics, and economic development. You will attend multi-hour lectures covering UN systems, global markets, human rights, sustainability policy, and international economics. You examine how foreign aid, trade, and inequality influence economic outcomes across countries. Coursework includes exams, debates, writing assignments, and structured discussions through an online learning platform. A required capstone project asks you to analyze a global issue and present recommendations. The structure emphasizes academic rigor and applied policy thinking.
8. AI Horizons: Global Youth Leadership in Emerging Technologies
Location: Fully virtual
Cost/Stipend: Tiered administrative cost $0-$5,500 (most families contribute 2.5% household income; financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (submit 1 month before term start)
Dates: Spring Term (January – May weekends); other terms: Fall (Sep – Dec), Summer (Jun – Aug weekdays)
Eligibility: High school students
AI Horizons is an online program focused on leadership in emerging technologies. You will examine how artificial intelligence influences labor markets, cybersecurity, finance, and healthcare systems. Coursework includes structured discussions, written assignments, and group projects. You analyze the ethical and economic implications of automation and AI deployment. A capstone project asks you to present a technology-based solution to a defined global challenge. The program links technology analysis with policy and leadership decisions.
9. Introduction to Global Leadership
Location: Fully virtual
Cost/Stipend: $600 administrative fee (no financial aid; $600 credit toward HSP1 if continuing)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Dates: 4 weeks on weekends every other month: Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec
Eligibility: High school students (report card required for review)
Introduction to Global Leadership is a four-week online course that introduces the basics of international systems and structured problem-solving. Live lectures explain the role of the United Nations, systems thinking, and how global challenges are framed through the SDGs. You participate in discussions, complete written assignments, and take a proficiency exam after the early modules. The platform allows for feedback and revisions through office hours. The format is shorter and more introductory compared to the advanced tracks. The emphasis is on clarity in analysis rather than surface-level inspiration.
10. HOBY World Leadership Congress (WLC)
Location: The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. (location varies by year)
Cost: Tied to state seminars ($260-$425 based on deadlines)
Application Deadline: Varies by state; early-bird deadlines around Feb 14
Dates: July 25 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (HOBY State Seminar participants preferred; other leadership/service experience accepted)
HOBY World Leadership Congress takes place in Washington, D.C., bringing together students from across the United States and multiple countries. Over a week, you participate in workshops and simulations built around the Social Change Model of Leadership. Sessions focus on decision-making, communication, diversity, and ethical action. You work in teams, debate ideas, and build plans for impact in your own communities. The schedule is immersive, with activities running throughout the day. The experience centers on collaboration across different backgrounds and perspectives.
11. TED Virtual Summer School
Location: Online
Cost: $3,150
Application Deadline: To be announced
Dates: June 15-26, July 6-17, July 20-31, Aug 3-14
Eligibility: Students aged 14–18
TED Virtual Summer School is a two-week online program centered on communication and idea development. You join daily small-group live sessions while also completing guided exercises on a digital platform. Throughout the course, you build an idea, refine your argument, and receive feedback from tutors trained in storytelling and public speaking. Peer review is part of the structure, so you regularly revise your work. The program concludes with delivering a recorded TED-style talk. The format blends structured coaching with independent preparation.
12. NSLC on International Diplomacy
Location: Georgetown (D.C.) and Columbia (NYC)
Cost: $4,495 (Residential)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Dates: June 12-20 or June 24-July 2
Eligibility: High school students
At the NSLC on International Diplomacy, you assume the role of a diplomat for the United Nations, engaging in discussions that mirror real-world foreign policy challenges. You explore the principles of international relations as you debate current events, navigate global power dynamics, and learn how cultural and economic factors influence negotiation and cooperation. The program partners with the American Foreign Service Association to provide you with a greater understanding of diplomacy and global affairs. You gain firsthand experience in how diplomacy, communication, and leadership work together to resolve conflict and shape the future of global relations through simulations and policy discussions.
13. Global Young Leaders Conference (GYLC)
Location: Washington, D.C. and New York City (in-person, residential)
Cost: Historically around $3000
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Dates: Summer sessions (typically 10-day programs)
Eligibility: High school students
The Global Young Leaders Conference brings together students from around the world to explore international career options and expand global thinking. You work side by side with peers and experts from diverse cultures and backgrounds, learning from top policy officials, lobbyists, journalists, diplomats, business leaders, and academics. You hone your skills in communication, decision-making, goal setting, and negotiation. The program culminates in the Global Summit simulation, where you step into the role of a global leader acting as a diplomat representing a country on international commissions, working to bring people to a consensus on issues of worldwide importance.
14. Georgetown International Relations Program
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (in-person)
Cost: $3,725 (Residential) / $3,095 (Commuter)
Application Deadline: April 1
Dates: June 21-27 or July 19-25
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8-12 (Minimum 2.0 GPA)
The Georgetown International Relations Program immerses you in international relations, diplomacy, and global policy at one of the nation's top schools for foreign service. You explore how countries negotiate, resolve conflicts, and cooperate on issues like security, human rights, and climate change. Through simulations, discussions, and case studies, you build core leadership skills including critical thinking, public speaking, negotiation, and cross-cultural communication. You engage directly with diplomats and policy experts through visits to embassies and participate in Model UN simulations and roundtables with professionals from the U.S. Department of State.
15. All-American Model UN Summer Diplomacy Academy
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Typically ranges from $1,500–$2,000
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions run in June and July
Eligibility: High school students
The Summer Diplomacy Academy at American University is a week-long intensive program designed to enhance your Model UN and diplomacy skills. You analyze foreign policies of different countries and develop comprehensive solutions to international issues. You construct long-form presentations, lead question-and-answer periods, and develop comfort making impromptu speeches. Throughout the week, you must pass competencies in resolution writing, procedure, public speaking, and debate. Each afternoon, you demonstrate your progress in exercises designed to showcase skill development, including moderated debates, impromptu speeches, and crisis simulations.