Support Services for Low-Income Students

LAU provides comprehensive support (in housing in addition to a stipend that could be used for food, legal services, transportation or any other needs) to students from low-income families to enable them to complete their education successfully. Through programs like the USAID Higher Education Scholarship Program and the Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate (TLU) and Graduate (TLG) Programs, financially disadvantaged students benefit from a wide range of support services. These programs are designed to cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition, enrollment fees, and medical insurance, while also providing essential allowances for housing, transportation, books, food, or legal services. Additionally, students receive laptops, psychosocial support, and academic advising to ensure their well-being and academic success. 

TL Undergraduate Program (TLU)

TLU Program Overview and Benefits

This program provides four-year university scholarships and internship opportunities at LAU to high school students who have the potential to become leaders. It aims to transform participants into well-rounded individuals, endowed with the knowledge and skills to be successful in the marketplace and to take on the challenges facing their home countries.

In addition to their studies, recipients are expected to engage in community service activities and internships. Limited English-language training is provided for some participants. Undergraduate students who maintain a 3.0 GPA may have an opportunity for a study abroad semester in the United States.

Student Life

In addition to pursuing rigorous academic studies on campus and a semester-long study abroad program in the United States, the LAU MEPI-TL students organize and participate in a number of supplemental activities designed to develop them into well-rounded professionals and leaders.

• Seminars/Roundtable discussions/Workshops: Academics, representatives of local and international NGOs, government officials, and business leaders lead students in a variety of programs.
• Site visits: Visits to businesses and public organizations, in addition to non-governmental and community associations give students a broad perspective on leadership and management as well as insight into the career paths available to them.
• Mentoring: The LAU MEPI-TL staff provides both academic and psychological support to students as they transition to life in Lebanon and the university. Selected faculty members also serve as mentors, trainers and supervisors to students throughout the duration of the program. In addition, new participants are paired with senior TL students who serve as mentors, helping newcomers quickly integrate into both the LAU community and the TL program.

Study Abroad in the United States

TL students have the opportunity to apply for a study abroad program and spend a semester in a US-affiliated partner university during their Junior year at LAU. Students are selected based on LAU’s study abroad rules and procedures. During their time in the States, students are expected to continue to pursue coursework toward their major requirements.

This experience is designed to broaden each student’s global perspective through cross-cultural and academic exchanges.

Supplemental Activities

In addition to their coursework, students are expected to participate in a number of supplemental activities aimed at developing their interpersonal, leadership and professional skills:

• Seminars/Roundtable discussions
• Summer internships
• Community service
• Networking activities
• Leadership skill-building
• Mentoring experiences
• TL Capstone Project

Student Governance

All LAU MEPI-TL students are encouraged to take a leadership role at LAU, so that they may affect their rights and lives at LAU. To this end, the students elect their representatives every October. The representatives liaise on the students’ behalf with the LAU MEPI-TL administrative team, and with the LAU student body and councils.

Leadership Engagements

In addition to their academic studies and supplemental activities, LAU MEPI-TL students benefit from leadership skills development programs and internships, which prepare them for leadership roles in the region’s public or private sector upon graduation.

Leadership skills sessions

Regularly conducted workshops and retreats help students build their leadership capabilities throughout the program. These sessions help students develop the soft skills key to being both a contributing team member and effective team leader.

Summer internships/Community service

The internships and community service programs have an international and reform focus. Students participate in summer internships following their freshman and sophomore years, as well as a six-month civic service project at the conclusion of the program. At the end of their internship/volunteer experiences, students prepare a public presentation.

USAID Higher Education Scholarship Program

USAID provides merit-based scholarships to financially needy and academically eligible public school graduates from across Lebanon, including the most disadvantaged corners of the country. These scholarships enable students, often from marginalized families that would otherwise have no possible means to attend these schools, to study at the highest-quality Lebanese universities.  These universities offer an American-style education that promotes critical thinking, leadership skills and community service.  

Requirements to Join USP IX Cohort 1

1. Know that any attempt to seek a “wasta” or interference regarding the selection process (admission, financial aid, exams) or any other intervention from any person or side will automatically lead to immediate disqualification.
2. Be a Lebanese citizen.
3. Have attended a public or private high school in Lebanon for at least the last three years of your secondary education and expected to complete your baccalaureate during summer. An exception is made for students who spent two years out of the three in a public and private school and one secondary year in a US Government education exchange program (such as YES). Documents proving participation in such programs need to be presented along with the application. Students who spent less than their last three years of schooling in Lebanon are not eligible unless their transfer to Lebanon was substantiated by death of the breadwinner, or official bankruptcy.
4. Have a cumulative average of 13.5/20 (Grades 10 and 11) if you are applying from a public school.
5. Have a cumulative average of 16/20 (Grades 10 and 11) if you are applying from a private school.
6. Obtain a minimum of 13.5/20 on your official Lebanese Baccalaureate exam.
7. Obtain the minimum required scores on the tests and exams set by the university you are applying to.
8. Demonstrate past and present performance of service and community activities.
9. Not be registered at any university or have completed studies at any university.
10. Register at one of the universities, AUB or LAU, as a full-time student at all times.
11. Not have siblings who have benefited or are benefiting from any USP or US funded undergraduate scholarship unless they dropped during the first year of enrollment in order to ensure that as many families as possible benefit from the program.
12. Parents must not be receiving an educational university subsidy of $5000 or more.

Financial Aid Guidelines

If interested in being considered as a candidate for the USP IX scholarship program, students need to demonstrate financial need. 

• The list of financial aid required documents
• Sample of the financial aid required documents

TL Graduate Program (TLG)

TLG Program Overview and Benefits

LAU was the first university in the MENA region to implement the Tomorrow’s Leaders Graduate (TLG) Program in 2018. The program is a fully funded scholarship by the United States Department of State, MEPI.

The Program spans over a period of two years with the purpose of equipping graduate students with the professional experience needed to advance their academic knowledge and engage in research that furthers the professionalization of emerging leaders.

Benefits

If accepted, the program will cover the following:

• Full coverage of all applicable charges for enrollment, tuition, and fees.
• University Medical insurance coverage.
• A monthly living allowance (for food and other needs).
• One laptop for the duration of the program.
• A yearly book allowance.
• Student housing.
• Two roundtrip tickets to the student’s home country.

In addition to the above, LAU students also benefit from student discounts at many restaurants in the country. 

• Exposure to, and engagement in, different community development projects and/or internships in the host country, and/or their home countries. Through such projects and internships, TLG students learn about different forms of public and civic- engagement actions, to apply such learning back in their respective countries.
• Academic advising, mentoring services, and learning services.
• Professional training on leadership;
• Opportunity to participate in the new Tomorrow’s Leaders College-to-work Pipeline as a part of the consortium between LAU and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The Community Service & Engagement (CSE) at LAU aims to provide LAU students and student recipients of USAID scholarship grants with the tools, opportunities, and guidance needed to not only excel academically but also become active, compassionate, and socially responsible leaders within their communities and the world at large.

CSE serves as the driving force behind fostering a culture of community engagement throughout the LAU community. We provide innovative and immersive programming that encourages LAU students to explore the diverse landscapes of their nation while contributing to meaningful causes. This experiential learning is not just an addendum; it’s a vital facet of the LAU academic journey.

How will CSE transform my experience?

• Aptitude Development: Participating in CSE programs allows you to hone your core competencies through practical experiences, workshops, and interactions with mentors, empowering you to become a more effective and influential changemaker.
• Community Impact: CSE offers chances to engage in community service and public service initiatives, enabling you to make a positive impact on society and develop a sense of social responsibility that goes beyond the classroom.
• Personal Growth: Beyond academic excellence, CSE promotes personal growth by encouraging self-discovery, resilience, and adaptability, preparing you to face challenges and seize opportunities with confidence.

Capacity Building

Soft Skills Series (SSS)

In collaboration with the Offices of the Dean of Students, CSE introduced the Soft Skills Series (SSS) workshops to all LAU students in 2017. These workshops serve as a platform for students to enhance their soft skills through engaging and informative sessions aimed at refining their abilities. Led by professional trainers and entrepreneurs, the workshops offer interactive forums for skill development. As of December 2022, the SSS program has conducted 50 workshops, benefiting 1,378 LAU students. Topics covered include Conscientious Leadership, Unlocking Innovation: Creative Thinking, How to Define Your Purpose in Life, Smart Phones, Smart Pictures, The Art of Happiness, and others.

LEE-Leadership Empowerment Education

Cultivates vital soft and digital skills essential for personal and professional growth among youth. This immersive, hands-on, and short-term learning initiative is tailored to equip students with targeted life skills aligned with their career aspirations and academic pursuits. As of December 2022, the LEE program, conducted by LAU students for high school students and facilitated by experts for LAU students, has conducted 89 workshops benefiting 1,849 high school and LAU students.

Volunteerism, Networking, and Civic Engagement

Corporate Visit Series (CVS)

The CVS program offers LAU students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in diverse work environments, foster civic responsibility, and engage with leading companies, firms, and factories across industries such as Food and Beverage (ex: Pepsi Co), Aviation (ex: Middle East Airlines (MEA), Educational (ex: Unilever), Culture (ex: Sursock Museum), and others. Providing a direct insight into future job cultures, it also facilitates volunteering and community service experiences. Despite facing interruptions in 2020 due to the pandemic and subsequent economic challenges, the CSE unit revitalized the program in 2023, organizing 102 impactful visits to companies spanning various sectors.

Volunteer Teachers Program

The Community Service & Engagement Unit at LAU is cooperating with NGO MMKN, under the Volunteer Teacher Program for the 12th year. The program engages an estimate of 150 LAU students in enhancing the educational journey of 1,600 grade 8 and grade 9 public school students. Their objective is to provide essential academic support in scientific subjects, delivered in both English and French, to ensure these students succeed in their classes.

The USAID Higher Education Scholarship Program

The CSE unit oversees all USAID Higher Education Scholarship programs, ensuring their effective management and implementation. Within this realm, the LAU HES team excels in administering both HES Phase I & Phase II awards, collectively valued at $58M, along with overseeing the financial aid component amounting to $13M under HES Phase I.

These awards are geared towards fostering academic excellence, promoting civic engagement, and facilitating employment opportunities for academically gifted yet underprivileged scholars from both public and private educational institutions in Lebanon. This is achieved through the HES USP (University Scholarship Program) for Lebanese nationality and is extended to refugees legally residing in Lebanon via the HES RSS (Refugee Scholarship Support) program. Moreover, provisions are made to accommodate scholars with disabilities, ensuring they receive the necessary support throughout their academic journey at LAU, thus fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities for all beneficiaries of the program.

Community Service Projects (CSP)

The CSP projects are an opportunity for scholars to give back to their communities and exemplify the spirit of voluntarism and participation.  The primary goal is to allow scholars to use their gained leadership and soft skills in actual practice through formulating a brief technical concept paper, in line with USAID’s guidance, to be actually implemented in the field. Scholars are encouraged to start thinking about prospective projects in their hometowns or cities shortly after they join LAU and acclimate to the academic atmosphere. The CSP hones the scholars’ skills in teambuilding, networking, communication with peers and with vetted local community-based organizations, budgeting, and actual execution, let alone conflict resolution to mitigate challenges, respecting diversity, and thinking about gender and culturally sensitive projects.  It is worth mentioning that 353 Community Service Projects, so far, have been successfully completed as part of the scholarship programs.