Robertson Scholars Leadership Program 2027: Apply by 15 Nov

Robertson Scholars Leadership Program is a full undergraduate scholarship for Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the United States. It pays eight semesters of full tuition, room and board and most mandatory fees, and adds funded summer experiences and two semesters of study abroad funding.

Any student applying for first-year undergraduate admission to Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill can apply, regardless of citizenship or nationality, and there is no nomination process. The application opened on 15 August 2026 and the final deadline for the 2027 intake is 15 November 2026, with an earlier 15 October 2026 window for students who want an early answer.

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Robertson Scholars Leadership Program 2027

Quick facts2026-27

Scholarship from	Robertson Scholars Leadership Program, a merit scholarship at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
Study level	Undergraduate (first bachelor’s degree) only. Graduate study is not covered, and transfer students are not eligible.
Who can apply	High school students applying for first-year undergraduate admission to Duke University and/or UNC-Chapel Hill. Students of every nationality and country of residence are considered equally – no nomination is needed.
What is covered	Eight semesters of full tuition, room and board, and most mandatory fees at Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill, plus access to funding for up to three summer experiences and up to two semesters of study abroad.
Last date to apply	15 November 2026 (regular deadline). Students who want an early decision can apply by the early notification deadline of 15 October 2026.
How to apply	Submit the Robertson High School Application online, and apply separately for first-year undergraduate admission to Duke University and/or UNC-Chapel Hill by that university’s own deadline.
Official website	robertsonscholars.org – applying to the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program

Go to official website

What the Robertson Scholarship gives you

Full tuition for eight semesters at Duke University or UNC-Chapel Hill.
Room and board and most mandatory university fees for the same eight semesters.
Funding for up to three summer experiences – the first summer lasts a minimum of eight weeks and later summers are designed around your own goals.
Funding for up to two semesters of study abroad.
A campus switch semester: every scholar spends one semester in residence at the sister university.
Student privileges at both universities, with a minimum of five courses taken at the sister campus over four years.
Coaching, retreats, a leadership colloquium and a National Outdoor Leadership School expedition at the start of the programme.

Robertson Scholars eligibility

You must be a high school student applying for first-year undergraduate admission to Duke University and/or UNC-Chapel Hill. Your Robertson application does not replace the university admission application – you must complete both.
The programme is open to all citizenships and nationalities, and the organisers state that all students are considered equally regardless of their state or country of residence.
There is no nomination process and no requirement to be selected by your school.
You may apply to Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill through Early Action, Early Decision or Regular Decision – the Robertson accepts applicants in all three routes, including students who apply Early Decision to another university.
You need one letter of recommendation that speaks directly to your leadership. More than one letter is not accepted, and letters from family or friends are not allowed.
No transcripts are accepted with the Robertson application, and students who have taken the SAT or ACT must report their score.
Transfer students and students seeking graduate degrees are not eligible.

How to apply for the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program

Apply for first-year undergraduate admission to Duke University and/or UNC-Chapel Hill through the Common App or Coalition Application.
Create your Robertson High School Application on the Robertson website – it opened on 15 August 2026.
Choose your deadline: 15 October 2026 for the early notification window, or 15 November 2026 for the regular deadline.
Add the name and email address of one recommender. The Robertson team sends them a unique link and the letter must come from them directly.
If you are selected, take part in the group activity stage between December 2026 and February 2027.
Attend the semi-finalist interview in February 2027 and, if invited, the finalist interview in early March 2027 in the United States.
Recipients visit the campuses between 31 March and 3 April 2027.

Robertson Scholars important dates for 2027 entry

15 August 2026	Robertson application opens for high school students
15 October 2026	Early notification deadline – early applicants learn by the end of December whether they progress to the group activity
15 November 2026	Regular application deadline
December 2026 to February 2027	Group activity stage for selected applicants
February 2027	Semi-finalist interviews (invitations sent on a rolling basis)
Early March 2027	Finalist interviews in the United States
31 March to 3 April 2027	Recipient campus visits

What is expected of Robertson Scholars

Scholars must keep up good academic performance: a 3.0 GPA at the end of the first year and 3.30 at the end of each later year to stay in the programme.
Scholars take part in the signature programming – retreats, the campus switch, cross-campus coursework and community events.
Every scholar completes Community Summer after the first year, working with community partners, and can add up to two more funded summer experiences.
Scholars matriculate at one university, take a minimum of five courses at the other, and graduate from their home institution.

What is the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program?

It is a merit scholarship and leadership programme at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the USA. Scholars get eight semesters of full tuition, room and board and most mandatory fees, plus funded summers and study abroad.

What is the last date to apply for the Robertson Scholarship in 2027?

The regular deadline for the 2027 intake is 15 November 2026. Students who apply by the early notification deadline of 15 October 2026 can learn by the end of December 2026 whether they have progressed to the group activity stage.

Can international students from India apply for the Robertson Scholarship?

Yes. The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program states that it welcomes applications from all students regardless of citizenship or nationality, and that all candidates are considered equally whatever their country of residence.

Do I need a school nomination for the Robertson Scholarship?

No. The programme no longer uses a nomination process and any student can apply directly. You do need one letter of recommendation that specifically addresses your leadership.

Do I have to apply to Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill separately?

Yes. The Robertson application is separate from university admission. You must apply for first-year undergraduate admission to Duke University and/or UNC-Chapel Hill and meet that university’s own application deadline.

How much money does the Robertson Scholarship pay?

The programme provides eight semesters of full tuition, room and board and most mandatory fees, plus access to generous funding for up to three summer experiences and up to two semesters of study abroad. The exact value depends on the cost of attendance at Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill.

Can I apply if I am a transfer student?

No. Transfer students are not eligible for the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program, and the programme is limited to undergraduate education.

Robertson Scholars Leadership Program 2027: Full Ride in USA