Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) Now Accepting Applications

Attention: This opportunity is open to students pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree at the time of application. Student teams of three or fewer are welcome.

Each year the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) invites undergraduate and graduate students to apply to participate in CGI U’s unique community of learning, leadership and action. At the CGI U annual meeting that kicks off the year-round program, participants develop their Commitment to Action projects, which address important social, economic and environmental challenges. At the Clinton Global Initiative 2022 meeting in New York City in September, Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton announced that Vanderbilt University will serve as the host campus for the Clinton Global Initiative University annual meeting on March 3–5, 2023. The gathering is an opportunity for students from around the world to collaborate with influential leaders, experts and innovators on solving humanity’s most pressing problems.

According to Clinton, “We are so excited to bring student leaders from around the world to Vanderbilt next year, and to support their efforts to improve lives and experiences on their college campuses, in their communities, and across the globe,” said Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton.

Commitments developed from the CGI U 2022 meeting include a commitment to build software that predicts and manages the fluctuating health conditions of COVID “long haulers” to regain a semblance of normalcy and better health, a commitment to develop a water delivery system by using new methods of water delivery and water purification for a community in Bukonko, Uganda, and a commitment to help address the current substance abuse epidemic by providing harm reduction information and services in Madison, Wisconsin.

The program’s year-round engagement model includes a social impact curriculum, training and mentorship opportunities and a wide range of networking opportunities with CGI U partners, peers, alumni, staff and leaders in the field. President Bill Clinton founded CGI U in 2007, and more than 11,800 students from over 1,800 schools, over 160 countries and all 50 states have participated.

Applications are open now, and the deadline to apply is Friday, December 16. Students pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree at the time of application are eligible to apply, and student teams of three or fewer are also welcome.

APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY: You are eligible to apply to the CGI U Class of 2023 student cohort if:

You are pursuing an associate, vocational, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree at the time of application
You are enrolled in an institution of higher learning at the time of application
You have never previously been accepted to CGI U

BEFORE YOU APPLY: Please refer to the CGI U 2023 Rubric, as well as cgiu.org/apply for additional resources. You will also be able to save drafts of your answers in the application platform.

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION: The application submission deadline is December 16. Bennett College students accepted into the cohort will receive travel assistance to the CGI U Annual Meeting.

CGI U does not allow groups of more than three students to apply, and they reserve the right to not invite all members of each group that applies. If your group has more than three students, they ask that you select the three students who can best represent your project to apply.

Once you submit your application, you will receive an email to confirm that your application was submitted successfully. Please add cgiu@clintonglobalinitiative.org to your safe senders list. If you have any questions or technical difficulties during the application process, please email cgiu@clintonglobalinitiative.org.

Last year’s student cohort video

Application link