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Final Round Applications close 31 May 2026

Secure your place on our competitive leadership programme

We welcome applications from ambitious 16-18 year-olds. You don’t need to want to ‘change the world’, but you should have a genuine desire to improve the way things are done in your chosen field.

Admission to the leadership programme is based on an application form, writing sample, and acedemic reference. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview to assess their suitability for the programme.

What makes a successful candidate?

Delegates will be drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds, and we are not looking for a particular profile. However, successful applicants are likely to:-

Take an active interest in current affairs, and may read a serious newspaper like the FT or the Economist
Be academic high fliers and enjoy learning for its own sake
Be aiming for a leadership role in their chosen field. (Don't worry if you haven't chosen this yet!)

How do I apply?

The first step is to submit an application form. You will be asked for:

- Your details
- Parent/ guardian details
- Academic information (including your most recent exam grades)
- The details of an academic referee (normally a teacher at your school who knows you well)
- A 600 word writing sample on a future global challenge

Final Round Applications Close 31 May 2026

Apply Now!

FAQs

Yes. All delegates stay at Cumberland Lodge. Further information is available on this page.
Cumberland Lodge is 25 minutes from Heathrow airport by taxi. We can help you book a private transfer and additional overnight accommodation on request.
A full list of speakers will be published on the website in due course.
While it is not an Oxbridge preparation programme, Future Thought Leaders allows delegates to demonstrate three key qualities sought by admissions departments in these universities: evidence of prior academic selection, capacity for independent thought, and a willingness to challenge yourself beyond the curriculum.
FTL is committed to recruiting based on academic merit rather than ability to pay, and is actively expanding its range of scholarships and bursaries. At the present time, the best route to financial aid is by entering our essay competition.
Top graduate employers are looking for far-sighted individuals who understand the wider social significance of the work they are doing. These are the people with the ability to change professional practices for the better. Future Thought Leaders will equip you with the conceptual frameworks you need to understand the challenges that will affect every single sector, and help you to confront them in your chosen field.
Future Thought Leaders draws on concepts from a wide variety of disciplines, though philosophy, political science, and economics loom large. The programme will be of interest to students applying to read any of these subjects at university, as well as students studying STEM subjects who want to better understand the ethical and social significance of advances in those fields.
Applicants should be aged 16-18 at the time of the programme.
For information about fees, please contact us. FTL is committed to recruiting based on academic merit rather than ability to pay, and is actively expanding its range of scholarships and bursaries.
Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, and will close as soon as all places are filled.