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?

See our Scholarship Opportunities Here

Award Amount

2021-2022 Academic Year Amount Due Date
Incoming Cal Students
Includes: first-year and junior transfer students		 $2,000 Applications for 2021-2022 are closed (Deadline May 16, 2021)
Current Cal Students
Includes: second-year, third-year, fourth-year, and fifth-year students		 $2,000 Applications for 2021-2022 are closed (Deadline June 1, 2021)
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
  • Virtual Interview in June/July 2021
  • Submit a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to UC Berkeley by May 1, 2021
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
  • Virtual Interview in June/July 2021
  • Submit a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to UC Berkeley by June 1, 2021
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 2022
  • Virtual Interview in September 2021