Overview
Program: Harpswell Leadership Residency
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Description
Program: Harpswell Leadership Residency
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Eligible applicants: International women
Degree requirement: University degree
Duration: 4 to 8 months
2027 cohorts: January and May
Monthly stipend: USD 330
Accommodation: Fully provided
Meals: Provided
Travel insurance: Provided
International airfare: Not covered
Application deadline: September 18, 2026
Eligibility
Applicants should carefully review the official requirements before applying. In general, the Leadership Residency is intended for international women who have completed a university degree and can make a substantial commitment to living and working in Phnom Penh.
Applicants should meet the following general criteria:
Additional Information
Harpswell Leadership Residency 2027 Quick Facts
Program: Harpswell Leadership Residency
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Eligible applicants: International women
Degree requirement: University degree
Duration: 4 to 8 months
2027 cohorts: January and May
Monthly stipend: USD 330
Accommodation: Fully provided
Meals: Provided
Travel insurance: Provided
International airfare: Not covered
Application deadline: September 18, 2026
What Is The Harpswell Leadership Residency
The Harpswell Leadership Residency is designed for international women who want to contribute to the development of young Cambodian women while experiencing life and work in Cambodia.
Leadership Residents live alongside participants in Harpswell’s Cambodian Women’s Leadership Program. Rather than simply attending a short-term event, residents become part of the program’s daily community and work closely with students and alumnae.
The experience combines teaching, mentoring, leadership development, cultural exchange, and community engagement.
Participants may teach Harpswell’s Core Curriculum, facilitate discussions, tutor students in English, provide guidance during office hours, and support activities that encourage leadership and personal development.
Degree Level
The Harpswell Leadership Residency is not a degree program and does not lead to a bachelor's, master's, or PhD qualification.
Instead, it is intended for women who have already completed a university degree and want to gain professional, leadership, educational, nonprofit, or international-development experience.
Therefore, applicants should view the opportunity as a professional-development and residential leadership experience , rather than as a scholarship for university tuition.
Available Subjects
There is no fixed academic major or subject list because residents are selected for a leadership and mentoring role rather than admission to a particular degree program.
Relevant areas of interest and experience may include:
Women's leadership
Education
Leadership development
Social change
International development
Nonprofit work
Community development
Gender and women's empowerment
English education
Critical thinking
Current affairs
Cross-cultural exchange
Youth development
Mentoring and teaching
Applicants from different academic backgrounds may be considered as long as they can demonstrate a strong connection to the program's mission and responsibilities.
What Will Leadership Residents Do
Selected residents become actively involved in Harpswell's leadership program. Their responsibilities can include:
Teaching Harpswell's Core Curriculum.
Leading twice-weekly discussions about current affairs and critical thinking.
Tutoring students in English.
Holding regular office hours for students.
Supporting students with leadership development.
Building meaningful relationships with students and alumnae.
Organizing cultural and community activities.
Participating in cultural exchange.
Supporting the residential community.
The role requires participants to be comfortable interacting with students, taking initiative, and adapting to a different cultural and professional environment.
Benefits
The program provides several forms of financial and professional support to selected residents.
Monthly Stipend
Leadership Residents receive a USD 330 monthly stipend during the residency.
The stipend is intended to support day-to-day living rather than function as a conventional salary.
Free Room And Board
Harpswell provides room and board for Leadership Residents. This significantly reduces the cost of living during the residency.
Meals
Residents receive fresh Khmer meals while living at the Harpswell centers.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is included as part of the program's support package.
Cultural Activities
Participants have opportunities to take part in cultural activities and experience Cambodia beyond their regular responsibilities.
The program also includes an opportunity for a provincial homestay with a Harpswell student and her family , giving residents an opportunity to experience Cambodian life and culture more closely.
International Experience
The residency provides practical experience in an international environment and may be particularly valuable for women interested in education, nonprofit organizations, international development, social impact, and women's leadership.
Leadership And Mentoring Experience
Residents work directly with Cambodian university women, allowing them to develop practical skills in mentoring, teaching, facilitation, communication, and leadership development.
What Is Not Covered
Although the residency provides room, board, meals, insurance, and a monthly stipend, applicants should understand that travel to and from Cambodia is not covered .
Applicants are responsible for arranging and paying for their own international airfare.
This is an important consideration for candidates who need to budget for flights and other personal expenses before accepting the residency.
Leadership Resident Fellowship
Harpswell also offers a longer 12-month Leadership Resident Fellowship .
The fellowship carries a higher monthly stipend of approximately USD 420 but comes with greater leadership responsibilities. Applicants for this longer role generally need at least two years of professional experience .
Candidates should therefore distinguish between the standard Leadership Residency and the longer Leadership Resident Fellowship when reviewing the available opportunities.
Eligible Nationalities
Open to international students of all nationalities.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should carefully review the official requirements before applying. In general, the Leadership Residency is intended for international women who have completed a university degree and can make a substantial commitment to living and working in Phnom Penh.
Applicants should meet the following general criteria:
1 Be An International Woman
The opportunity is intended for women from outside Cambodia who want to participate in Harpswell's international leadership and cultural-exchange environment.
2 Hold A University Degree
Applicants should have completed a university degree. The program is not designed for applicants seeking their first undergraduate degree.
3 Have Strong English Skills
Strong written and spoken English is important because residents teach, communicate with students, facilitate discussions, and participate in the program's activities.
4 Demonstrate Interest In Social Change
Harpswell is particularly interested in applicants who have a genuine interest in areas such as women's leadership, education, social change, and community development.
5 Be Comfortable With Cross Cultural Experiences
Residents live and work closely with Cambodian students and communities. Applicants should therefore be open-minded and comfortable learning from a different cultural environment.
6 Be Able To Work Independently
Leadership Residents are expected to take responsibility for their work and adapt to unfamiliar situations. Independence, initiative, and flexibility are important qualities for the role.
7 Be Available For The Required Commitment
Applicants should be able to commit to approximately four to eight months in Cambodia. The residency requires meaningful participation in the program rather than occasional volunteering.
8 Teaching Experience Is Helpful
Teaching experience can be useful for Leadership Residents because the role involves teaching and tutoring. Teaching experience is particularly important for applicants interested in the longer Leadership Resident Fellowship.
Application Procedure
Interested applicants can follow these steps to apply:
Step 1 Check Your Eligibility
First, make sure you meet the basic requirements. You should be an international woman with a university degree, strong English communication skills, and an interest in education, women's leadership, social change, or related areas.
Step 2 Decide Whether You Can Commit
The residency requires living in Phnom Penh for approximately four to eight months. Consider your professional, family, financial, and personal commitments before applying.
Step 3 Prepare Your Application
Complete the official Harpswell Leadership Resident application and provide the requested information about your education, experience, interests, and motivation.
Your application should clearly explain why you want to participate and what you can contribute to Cambodian students.
Step 4 Highlight Relevant Experience
If you have experience in teaching, mentoring, leadership, volunteering, community development, nonprofit work, education, or social-impact projects, explain how that experience relates to the Leadership Resident role.
Avoid simply listing activities. Show what you learned and how you could use those skills to support Harpswell students.
Step 5 Explain Your Motivation
A strong application should demonstrate that you understand the purpose of the residency.
Explain why you are interested in:
Working with Cambodian university women
Women's leadership
Education and mentoring
Cross-cultural learning
Social change
Living and working in Cambodia
Step 6 Submit Before The Deadline
Applications for the January and May 2027 cohorts must be submitted by September 18, 2026 .
Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day because they may need additional time to complete the application and prepare supporting information.
How To Make Your Application Stronger
Applicants should focus on the connection between their previous experience and the work they would perform as a Leadership Resident.
For example, someone with teaching experience could discuss how they have helped students become more confident or develop critical-thinking skills. Someone with nonprofit or community-development experience could explain how they have worked with communities or supported social-impact projects.
The key is to show what you can contribute , not simply why you want to travel to Cambodia.
It is also useful to demonstrate that you understand cultural exchange as a two-way experience. Harpswell is not only an opportunity to teach; residents are also expected to learn from Cambodian students and communities.
Who Should Consider Applying
The Harpswell Leadership Residency may be a strong fit for women who want to build experience in:
International development
Education
Women's empowerment
Leadership development
Nonprofit organizations
Social impact
Community development
Mentoring
Cross-cultural programs
It may be less suitable for someone who is primarily looking for a fully funded university degree because the residency does not provide a formal academic qualification.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Harpswell Leadership Residency 2027 is September 18, 2026 .
The 2027 opportunity includes January and May cohorts , so eligible applicants should prepare their applications before the deadline.
Final Thoughts
The Harpswell Leadership Residency 2027 offers international women an opportunity to spend several months in Cambodia while mentoring university women, teaching leadership and critical-thinking skills, participating in cultural exchange, and developing international professional experience.
The financial package includes room and board, meals, travel insurance, and a USD 330 monthly stipend , although applicants must pay for their own travel to and from Cambodia.
For women interested in education, women's leadership, international development, or social impact, the residency can provide a practical alternative to a traditional academic scholarship.
Frequently Asked Questions Faqs
Is the Harpswell Leadership Residency a degree scholarship? No. The Harpswell Leadership Residency is a professional-development and volunteer experience rather than a university degree scholarship. Applicants should already hold a university degree.
Does Harpswell pay for flights to Cambodia? No. Selected residents receive room and board, meals, travel insurance, and a monthly stipend, but they are responsible for arranging and paying for their travel to and from Cambodia.
How much is the Harpswell Leadership Residency stipend? The standard Leadership Residency provides a monthly stipend of USD 330 . Harpswell also has a 12-month Leadership Resident Fellowship with a higher stipend of approximately USD 420 per month and additional responsibilities.
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