Applications for the 2027 cohort will open in January 2027. 

The McCain Institute seeks applicants who: 

• Are mid-level professionals 

• Are based in Ukraine 

• Have at least basic English language proficiency 

• Have a minimum of three (3) years of professional experience 

• Have demonstrated a commitment to democracy and human rights 

• Can commit to an eight-month hybrid program with up to three (3) international convenings and up to three (3) convenings in Ukraine 

The McCain Institute welcomes applications from all sectors including, but not limited to: 

• Policy 

• Civil Society 

• Business  

• Science and Technology 

• Environment  

• Media 

• Culture and Heritage  

• Legal 

The McCain Institute strongly encourages veterans working in any sector to apply. 

The first step of the application process requires applicants to complete a comprehensive MULI application form that will ask you to share: 

• Name, age, contact details  

• Your current role and affiliation 

• Veteran status 

• Your employment history 

• Your educational history 

• Any academic or professional awards you have received 

• Responses to essay questions 

• A letter of recommendation from a professional contact   

• Reference contact details  

Applicants who pass the first round of reviews will proceed to a virtual interview. The McCain Institute anticipates two (2) rounds of interviews, depending on the number and quality of applications received. 

The McCain Institute will decide which applicants will receive provisional offers following the completion of the final round of interviews. 

The call for applications, along with detailed application instructions, will be released in early 2027. 

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of McCain Institute staff, as well as external partners and experts. 

The composition of this year’s selection committee will be made available closer to the call for applications. 

The application review process may take up to three (3) months. 

The McCain Institute will select 15-20 applicants per cohort. 

Applicants who are successful in the second-round interview stage will receive a provisional offer to participate in the program. 

The offer remains provisional until the participant has successfully passed a background check and agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct (see below for further information regarding the Code). 

Only after an applicant passes the background check and signs the Code of Conduct will the offer become final. 

The McCain Institute contracts with a third-party provider to conduct background checks. The time it takes to complete a background check will depend on how long an applicant takes to provide the necessary information. On average, the process can take up to three (3) weeks. 

The overarching themes of the MULI program are reconstruction and recovery, democratic consolidation, and transatlantic cooperation. Depending on the global political context each year, the program may focus on specific sub-themes that fall within these overall categories. 

The first McCain Ukraine Leadership program will begin in April 2027 and conclude at the end of November 2027. 

The MULI program is hybrid, comprised of both online and in-person sessions. The names and affiliations of speakers for each session will be communicated with successful applicants closer to the start date. 

Successful applicants should anticipate participating in up to 6 in-person convenings occurring both in Ukraine and abroad. 

The in-person components will be enhanced by online learning, including interactive sessions with a leadership trainer and world-class experts, as well as conversations with the McCain Institute’s extensive Washington, D.C. policy network. 

The exact dates and times of the online welcome ceremony and the in-person close-out session will be communicated with successful applicants at a later date. 

Please note that the number, locations, and timings of both the in-person and online sessions are subject to change depending on the security situation both within Ukraine and globally, visa processes, and other logistical factors. Successful candidates will be notified of any such changes by McCain Institute staff. 

The McCain Institute anticipates that two of the international convenings will take place in Europe, and that one will take place outside of the region. Locations will be selected based on thematic relevance and logistical feasibility. 

The exact locations will be communicated with successful applicants closer to the start date. 

Selected applicants should plan to set aside at least five (5) full days for each convening to account for both program activities and travel time. 

The McCain Institute will cover participants’ hotel, flight costs, and group meals. 

Each selected applicant will also receive one-time stipend of $600 to cover incidental travel costs (i.e., those not mentioned in the answer above) such as taxis, baggage fees, meals, and SIM cards. 

The McCain Institute reserves the right to reduce the stipend amount in the event of non-attendance or violation of the MULI Code of Conduct. 

Yes, all selected participants are solely responsible for applying for, and obtaining, their own visas for any locations where they are required. 

No, the McCain Institute cannot obtain an exemption on a participant’s behalf. While we can provide supporting documentation to assist in your application for an exemption, it is your responsibility to undertake the process.

The MULI Code of Conduct is a document that all applicants in receipt of a provisional offer are required to read and sign before being admitted to the program. The document outlines expectations for behavior and attendance, as well as steps that will be taken if the Code of Conduct is violated. 

The McCain Institute reserves the right to remove any participant from the program at any time in the event of repeated non-compliance with the Code of Conduct. 

Yes, you are encouraged to reapply if your leadership experience or impact has grown since your last application.   

Leaders who complete the program will join the MULI alumni network, gaining ongoing access to the McCain Institute’s network, alumni events, and collaboration opportunities.