The Academy
Experience
Join a community of determined students from around the world. Through our signature leadership course, talks with today’s top changemakers, and personalized mentorship, you’ll build skills for a lifetime of social impact.
Eligibility
Students worldwide
post-high school to 21
Timing
12 weeks
4 hours per week
Tuition
$5,000 USD
Need-based scholarships available
Application
To Be Announced
LEARN FROM EXPERIENCED CHANGEMAKERS LEADING IN THEIR FIELDS
The Academy speaker series puts today’s most influential changemakers (like Melinda Gates, Jay Shetty, and Adam Grant) in conversation with Global Citizen Year students -- the rising leaders of tomorrow. Unlike traditional lectures or TEDtalks, these deeply human conversations are unscripted and student led, featuring alumni moderators and questions from Academy students.
In your social justice course, you’ll learn from expert instructors routinely rated with 99% satisfaction by students. Instructors bring diverse and inspiring expertise including international development work, Fulbright grants, and PhDs in educational theory.
You’ll also have the option to receive one-on-one support from a personal mentor. Our network of nearly 200 mentors includes entrepreneurs, social impact leaders, filmmakers, environmental researchers, and much more -- all eager to support your development.
SPEAKER SERIES
Learn directly from people like the CEO of Google, the Founder of the Sunrise Movement, and a leading activist of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Our world needs young leaders now more than ever. With Global Citizen Year, we can empower many more young people around the world with the resources and tools they need to make an impact.”
SHAWN MENDES
GLOBAL CITIZEN YEAR’S GLOBAL YOUTH CHAIR
Learn to tackle challenges in a collaborative environment.
The Academy experience will prepare you to join the generation of young changemakers rising to address our shared, global challenges. Explore your identity, worldview and the values that drive you. Learn how to connect your intent with the issues you care about in the world and in your community. Maximize your impact by developing concrete skills including public speaking, asset-based community development, root cause analysis, and how to create and pitch a project proposal. Download the course syllabus for more details.
Rather than traditional lectures, the Academy emphasizes active collaboration guided by our expert instructors. On Minerva’s Forum online learning environment, you’ll engage in Socratic discussion, live polling, breakout groups, debate, role-playing, and simulations.
COURSE SYLLABUS
Take a look inside our world-class curriculum!
Global Citizen Year Academy is so important. We have a chance in this century to address a lot of the problems that began in the last century. It really is up to us. Young people are the future -- and the now-- of social change.”
PREMAL SHAH
CO-FOUNDER, KIVA.ORG
Join a global community dedicated to positive change.
You are passionate, curious, and deeply motivated to make an impact. From all across the globe, we’re bringing together students like you who care deeply about the state of our world and are committed to doing something about it.
Academy students come from over 80 countries and bring an incredible diversity of perspectives, passions, and lived experiences. Connect with LGBTQ+ poets, bloggers for mental health, environmental entrepreneurs, and students taking creative approaches to challenges of all kinds. Discuss the big issues in your social justice course, and then keep the conversation going on our community Discord which is alive with student-led initiatives, clubs, and events.
View our alumni network across the globe
View The Map
What's the time commitment?
Students should plan for an average commitment of 4 hours a week.
How will students participate across multiple time zones?
We offer multiple course sections to accommodate different time zones and schedules. Each student has the opportunity to select the course time that works best for them. Course selection occurs on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to apply early for the widest selection of course times.
What's the Forum learning platform like?
Learn more about Minerva’s cutting-edge Forum learning platform here.