The Leadership Award

Established in 1934, The Leadership Award is a one-year, merit-based scholarship that recognizes undergraduate students at UC Berkeley who demonstrate innovative, initiative-driven leadership impacting their academic, work, or community environments. Students compete for the scholarship every year, ensuring a diverse and dynamic annual cohort of leaders whose work is relevant and newly inspiring.

As a Leadership Award scholar, how are you going to make your mark at UC Berkeley?

Applications for the 2019-2020 academic year are now closed. Please come back in March for applications for the 2020-2021 season.

Award Amount

2020-2021 academic year Amount Length
Lower Division
Includes: first-year, second-year students		 $2,000 1 year
Upper Division
Includes: junior transfer, third-year, fourth-year, and fifth-year students		 $2,000 1 year
Award amounts shown are for in-state and out-of-state/international residents    

Eligibility Requirements

Student status Requirements
Incoming Freshman
  • Demonstrate innovative, motivational leadership impacting academic, work, or community environments
  • Be admitted and enroll at UC Berkeley
  • Interview in June/July 2020
  • Submit a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to UC Berkeley by May 1, 2020
Incoming Junior Transfer
  • Demonstrate innovative, motivational leadership impacting academic, work, or community environments for previous academic year
  • Be admitted to and enroll at UC Berkeley
  • Interview in June/July 2020
  • Submit a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to UC Berkeley by June 1, 2020
Current Cal Student
  • Demonstrate innovative, motivational leadership impacting academic, work, or community environments for previous academic year
  • Registration and enrollment as UC Berkeley undergraduate student in at least the minimum number of units approved by major college or school for Spring 2021
  • Interview in-person on campus in September 2020