Applications for the Millennium Fellowship Scheme 2023–24 are now open

For the past three years, UCL has secured the most Millennium Fellows of any UK university. Last year, ten undergraduates (pictured) were awarded global fellowships to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The selective Fellowship is a semester-long leadership development program that convenes, challenges and celebrates student leadership for the SDGs. As part of the application process, students are asked to propose a project they will undertake during the scheme, which runs annually from August to December. Successful applicants form cohorts on their campus, meeting throughout their tenure to share best practice on their individual projects or work together on larger initiatives.

“I’d strongly encourage students to apply for this exciting global opportunity to develop their leadership skills while helping to address the challenges framed by the SDGs,” said Simon Knowles, UCL’s Head of Coordination (SDGs).

Last year, David Simon (UCL Science & Technology Studies) and Laura Ionescu (UCL Political Science), were selected by the scheme as Campus Directors to coordinate efforts of UCL’s ten Fellows on campus.

Projects being undertaken by last year’s cohort include: Glass2Sand, which aimed to reduce the number of glass bottles dumped in landfill in India by crushing them into silica sand; a student-to-student text service to help UCL students feel safer walking home from campus to their accommodation in the evenings; a device to clean and sanitise pedestrian walkways around UCL’s campus and the local community; and a civic-education programme aimed at high school and university students in Eastern Europe.

Discussing the scheme, David said: “Watching the growth of peer-led social-impact projects is inspiring and provides hope for a sustainable and equitable future. I found the experience helped me grow in confidence of my own abilities, build a valuable social-impact knowledge base and network with like-minded peers, both at UCL and globally.

“Students who are interested in the SDGs or even just helping improve their community should apply to this program. It's exceptional as an entry into the sustainable development space.”

Run by the Millennium Campus Network and United Nations Academic Impact, the Millennium Fellowship Scheme is an international leadership development programme through which undergraduate students help to further the SDGs in their communities.

Related links

• Millennium Fellowship Scheme
• UCL SDGs Initiative