About the Emerging Leaders Program
Background
The Washington Ireland Program’s vision is for a peaceful and prosperous future for Northern Ireland and Ireland. However the legacy of division continues to impact many people across the island of Ireland. Solving these issues will take creativity and courage from committed leaders. To help develop leaders who are equipped to lead around the evolving nature of these challenges, we created our Emerging Leaders Program. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, WIP's Emerging Leaders Program is renowned as an inspiring year-long program of personal development, policy debate, community service, and public discussion.
About
Each year we select 30 emerging leaders who have shown the commitment, passion, and ability to spark change in communities across the island of Ireland. We actively seek people who have a track record of service and leadership within the community and the maturity and ability to deal with differences and diverse views in a positive way.
The Emerging Leaders Program takes place in Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Washington DC. It also includes a 5-day study visit to New York City, where participants get to learn from well-known leaders from a range of sectors.
Applications open in October of each year, assessment days and interviews are held in January, and our first orientation weekends usually take place in March/April.
What the Program Offers
Leadership development
Our Emerging Leaders Program offers a range of unique development opportunities. Our curriculum is designed to hone participants’ leadership skills through experiential learning, exposure to local and global leaders, and service components that address needs seen in many communities.Summer semester experience
Each student is offered a high-profile work placement. Aligning with their interests and skills, opportunities range from Capitol Hill Offices, businesses, PR firms, research laboratories to non-profits and advocacy organizations, offering enjoyable and challenging learning and insights.Community service insight
Each participant takes part in regular visits to service partners in Washington DC, granting an invaluable insight into service within a US setting and allowing them to learn and contribute to efforts to combat difficult issues, including homelessness and disadvantaged young people.Peer learning
We place a great emphasis on peer learning and encouraging our students to challenge perspectives, engage in debates, and collaboratively create policy papers that can deliver the peaceful and prosperous future for Ireland and Northern Ireland that we wish to see.Host family community
Living with WIP’s host families offers the opportunity for a cultural exchange, for personal growth and understanding, and the chance to make lifelong friendships.Alums
Our alum community includes over 950 people, many of whom have gone on to become well-known political, business, community, and civic figures.
They include Leo Varadkar (WIP 2000), the youngest Taoiseach in Ireland’s history; Claire Sugden (WIP 2010), who was appointed at the age of 29 as Northern Ireland’s Minister for Justice; and other rising stars including artist Adrian Margey (WIP 2005), Queen’s University Belfast Heaney Fellow Tara McEvoy (WIP 2014), and tech entrepreneur Aidan Corbett (WIP 2005).
Our diverse alum community is invited to stay connected with each other and the Washington Ireland Program.
Sign up for communications on events and opportunities by completing this form.
Who are we looking for?
We are delighted you are considering applying for the Emerging Leaders Program with the Washington Ireland Program. We value the time you put into your application and we work to ensure everyone who applies is treated with respect.
We can receive up to 500 applications each year for our Program and the selection process is highly competitive, with less than 10% of applicants securing a place.
We want to make sure you can write the best application possible, and so we encourage you to take the time to explore our website and social channels, and to chat to some of our alums.
The Application Process
Written application
The WIP application encourages you to describe your leadership experience and service track record so far. There are four questions with answers limited to 250 words or less. Applicants are asked to upload two CVs outlining their service commitments and leadership credentials (samples of these are available on the application portal).
APPLICATIONS OPEN: 8TH OCTOBER 2025
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 23RD NOVEMBER 2025 (23:59 UTC)
Applications will be reviewed in December and notifications for selection for Stage Two will be sent by December 31st.
In-person Voices & Values Workshop
If shortlisted for the second stage, you will join a cohort of 30 other potential applicants for a morning or afternoon Voices & Values Workshop which will include individual and group activities.
These will take place on January 7th or 8th in Dublin or Belfast.
Notifications for selection for Stage Three will be sent by January 18th.
Final In-person Interviews
Individual Interview: Students participate in a formal, face-to-face interview scheduled in Belfast or Dublin in January. Each student is interviewed individually by a panel.
Group Interview Task: On the same day as their individual interview, applicants complete a small group-based interview with other candidates. Each student is assessed based on their individual performance and how they performed in the group setting.
26TH-30TH JANUARY 2026 IN DUBLIN & BELFAST
Potential applicants will be notified at each stage if they have been selected to move forward and the final group of 30 for the Class of 2026 will be notified by email after the in-person interviews in January.
Top Tips
Answer all parts of the question
Answering each part of the question is important to achieve a high score. There are no trick questions. Pivoting towards something else you want to talk about actually detracts from what we need to hear about. Review what you have written to ensure your answer addresses each part of the question.
Reflect on your experience / example
While your example is important, it does not speak for itself. We want you to reflect on the significance of those experiences, share why they were meaningful to you, and how they illustrate the point that you are making.
Don’t be generic
Each year WIP receives between 300 and 500 applications and selects around 75 of those for interviews. Your immediate priority is to stand out from the crowd. The best way to do this is to highlight experiences that are both interesting and unique to you. It may somewhere you have worked, a project you have completed, an event you organized, or an organization you are associated with. Think about what you have to offer, that no one else has.
Give yourself enough time
Many applications come in on the last possible day. In previous years, it was clear that some were rushed. This could be seen in spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and short or abruptly ended essays. Plan ahead and give yourself enough time to complete the application thoroughly, allowing enough time to review and edit it.
Speak from your own experience
The examples used are an important part of strong essay responses. Consider whether your example speaks to the skill, experience, or characteristic you are trying to demonstrate. Also, consider how recent and how common your example is. Is this an experience shared by most of your peers? Was it a long-term commitment?
Don’t be afraid to expand on the experiences and skills you’ve outlined in your leadership and service resumes in essay questions. This can help build a clearer picture of the substantial and important roles you have taken on. It also helps build a common thread of commitment throughout your application and makes sure that your answers are consistent in quality.
Don’t be afraid to talk about your weaknesses and failures
WIP doesn’t aim to find a group of perfect students, rather we seek out individuals who are willing to try new things and learn from others. We are interested in people who are willing to embrace their weaknesses and learn how to improve on them. A perfect way of doing this is talking about a time when you didn’t succeed or things didn’t go your way. Write about the experience, explain where you went wrong, and if you were to do it again, what you would do differently.
Get in contact!
Contact application@wiprogram.org if you have any questions about your application.
Good luck!
And if you have any questions about your application please email application@wiprogram.org
Do I need to be in a particular year or level of Higher Education study to apply?
No. Previous WIP classes have included people from many different stages of their studies. Undergraduates of all years (including final year), Masters, and PhD students are permitted and encouraged to apply. Applicants are judged solely on the quality of their application and their experience.
Do I have to study a particular degree to be eligible to apply?
No. WIP invites applications from all academic disciplines. The problems facing Northern Ireland and Ireland span all sectors of society and require creativity and leadership from people of all backgrounds and interests. WIP seeks emerging leaders from diverse academic, socio-economic, and political backgrounds to join our community. The WIP Class is made up of people studying a wide range of subjects and this diversity strengthens the class greatly.
I am studying for a part-time degree, can I still apply to WIP?
Unfortunately, due to US visa requirements, this is not possible. To be eligible to apply, you must be in full-time third-level education as of the 1st June 2025. You can find out more about visa requirements here.
Do you have to organize your Work Placement and how are they assigned?
No. WIP matches our students to work placements based on the needs of the work placements as well as the interests and experience of the students.
Are the work placements paid?
No. The work placements are part of our learning curriculum and make up 40 per cent of the summer semester. While in the US students have their accommodation provided, most meals are provided for and they receive a stipend for transport costs.
If I have been on an exchange program to America before, can I still apply
Yes.
If I was not successful with my application in the past, can I reapply?
Yes. Even if a previous application was unsuccessful, we encourage you to apply again. By re-applying to the Program you demonstrate perseverance and enthusiasm which are valuable attributes for a WIP class member.
Many WIP alumni applied multiple times before they were successful. WIP endeavors to treat all applicants with respect and we will offer general feedback for those unsuccessful at the application stage and individual feedback for those who reach the interview stage.
What kind of things do I need to be involved in to apply for the program?
The three main criteria WIP looks for in prospective applicants are: leadership potential; a long-standing commitment to service, and a desire to deal with the differences that divide our society. Leadership potential and experience can be expressed in many different forms. It can range from leading a society or taking part in a sports team, to managing other people in your part-time job. Informal leadership experience can be shown through encouraging others and participation in group work. Similarly, a commitment to service can be demonstrated formally through volunteering for an organization or charity, but can equally be shown through caring for a relative or helping out family or friends.
Are there any costs associated with applying and taking part in the WIP?
WIP is a registered charity and thanks to our generous supporters we invest $20,000 in the development of each student who comes on the Emerging Leaders Program.
While the Program is heavily subsidized by our generous supporters, WIP asks that our students make a $1,550 contribution which will be used towards their flights, health insurance, a day trip to Philadelphia and a 5-day trip to New York City.
Students will receive $175 per week for their travel and groceries plus $40 per month towards their phone data plan during the program.
Students will also contribute $500 towards their visa processing fee and a final interview fee of $160 to the US Embassy to secure their visa interview appointment.
Are there scholarships available?
We also believe financial barriers should not stop students from participating in our Programs.
To support this, WIP provides several scholarships to students each year who are not in a position to make a financial contribution towards their costs.
Scholarships would be available to:
NI students in receipt of a Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant.
NI students who received EMA in their final two years of secondary school.
RoI students in receipt of a SUSI grant and qualifying under the HEAR scheme.
Students in receipt of an All-Ireland Scholarship.
Over the past three years, over one-half of students who participated in our Emerging Leaders Program received a scholarship.
Where do you stay while in America?
Students stay with a host family in the DC area. In some cases, two class members may stay with one host family. WIP matches the students with the host families based on a personality match, mutual interests, distance from work placements, pet preferences, and allergy requirements. Staying with an American family is part of the cultural immersion aspect of the Program and WIP alumni often regard the host family experience as one of the highlights of their time on the Program.
- 8th October: Applications open
- 2nd November: Early bird application deadline
- 23rd November: Final closing date for applications
- 7th-8th January: Voices & Values Workshop in Dublin and Belfast
- 26th-30th January: Interviews in Dublin and Belfast
- 20th-22nd March: Orientation
- 16th May: Pre-Departure training
- 30th May: Departure for US
- 26th July: Depart US to Dublin
- September: Debrief & Graduation
