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Application

The Global Gap Year Fellowship seeks diverse applicants who are curious about the world and committed to public service as global citizens. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who would not otherwise have the means to take a Gap Year. Applicants should:

    • Be high school seniors who apply for admission at UNC-Chapel Hill by the Early Action deadline
    • Possess intellectual curiosity
    • Have an appetite for experiential learning
    • Demonstrate creativity and resourcefulness
    • Be open to new experiences abroad (previous international experience is not required)
    • Note that if you were born after December 31, 2007 you are not eligible to apply for the Global Gap Year Fellowship. (Students must be 18 years of age when they leave the country)

Apply to Carolina Early Action and select your interest in GGYF on your MyCarolina Portal.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at unccampusyglobal@gmail.com.

Application Process & Timeline

We are now a part of the Excel @ Carolina opportunities offered by UNC Admissions.

  1. Students apply using the Common Application.
  2. At the end, students will be asked if they are interested in one of two Global Opportunities (GGYF and/or Carolina Global Launch). Please select the Global Gap Year Fellowship and answer the supplemental questions. Your application will be reviewed by UNC Admissions and, if referred on, by GGYF Staff.
  3. Finalists are selected and invited to UNC for the Global Gap Year Fellowship Finalist Weekend, during which they stay near UNC’s campus, attend workshops on ethical service and are interviewed by the selection committee.
  4. Finalists are notified about their acceptance to the Fellowship shortly after Finalist Weekend.

For questions concerning the application process, please view the Timeline below or visit our FAQ Page.

The dates below are for the 2025-26 application cycle. If you have specific questions regarding the application process, please email unccampusyglobal@gmail.com. 

October 15, 2024: Apply for undergraduate admission to UNC-Chapel Hill through the Common Application and select the Global Gap Year Fellowship opportunity on MyCarolina Portal.

End of January, 2025: Notification from UNC Admissions about your acceptance to UNC and if you are progressing with the GGYF process.

Feb/March 2025: Finalists are invited to participate in our virtual Finalists Weekend.

April 1, 2025: Finalists for the Global Gap Year Fellowship 2025-2026 cohort are notified and must accept their offer by May 1.

Summer 2025: Selected Global Gap Year fellows spend a week on campus at UNC learning about global engagement and preparing for their time abroad.