Overview
PhD
Description
PhD
Eligibility
The Harvard Academy Scholars Program is open to applicants from all countries and citizenships.
Applicants must either be:
Recent recipients of a PhD or equivalent degree in the social sciences, or
Advanced doctoral candidates nearing completion of their PhD.
For the 2027-2028 fellowship, applicants who have already completed their PhD must have received their degree on or after August 1, 2025.
Doctoral candidates who are still completing their dissertations must be able to provide official degree-conferral documentation from their university registrar by June 30, 2027, for the August 1, 2027 start date.
Applicants should also note that individuals who hold or have completed another postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible.
There are no postponements or deferrals of the August 1, 2027 start date.
Additional Information
Degree Level
PhD
Available Subjects
The program accepts applicants from a range of social science disciplines, provided their research has a regional focus outside the United States or Canada.
Eligible fields include:
Anthropology
Economics
Ethnic Studies
Geography
Government
History
History of Science
International Relations
Law
Political Economy and Government
Political Science
Psychology
Public Policy
Social Policy
Social Studies
Sociology
Women, Gender, & Sexuality
Applicants from regional studies programs may also be considered when their research is clearly grounded in one or more of the eligible social science disciplines.
These include:
African Studies
Asian Studies
Central Asian Studies
East Asian Languages and Civilizations
Eastern European Studies
Inner Asian and Altaic Studies
Latin American and Iberian Studies
Middle East Studies
Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
Russia Studies
Slavic Languages and Civilization
South Asian Studies
Southeast Asian Studies
Ukraine Studies
Western European Studies
Fields Not Accepted
The Harvard Academy does not accept applications in a number of fields, including:
Research related to the United States or Canada
Archaeology
Architecture
Art History
Business
Classics
Global Health
Linguistics
Literature
Management
Medieval Studies
Musicology
Philosophy
Public Administration
Religion
Sanskrit and Indian Studies
Social Work
Urban Studies
The list is not necessarily exhaustive, so applicants should carefully review the official field requirements before applying.
Benefits
The Harvard Academy Scholars Program provides substantial financial support to selected scholars.
Each Academy Scholar receives:
$80,000 annual stipend
$6,000 annual research support
Two years of in-residence postdoctoral fellowship
Access to Harvard's academic and research environment
Mentorship from Harvard Academy Senior Scholars
Opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary seminars and academic activities
Support for developing research projects and publications
The two years of fellowship must be completed within a three-year period. Scholars may apply for a one-time leave of up to 12 months between the first and second years to accept or continue a tenure-track teaching position. Leave is not available for other professional reasons.
Academy Scholars cannot accept outside funding, awards, or professional obligations during their appointment.
Eligible Nationalities
Applicants from all countries and citizenships can apply.
Eligibility Criteria
The Harvard Academy Scholars Program is open to applicants from all countries and citizenships.
Applicants must either be:
Recent recipients of a PhD or equivalent degree in the social sciences, or
Advanced doctoral candidates nearing completion of their PhD.
For the 2027-2028 fellowship, applicants who have already completed their PhD must have received their degree on or after August 1, 2025.
Doctoral candidates who are still completing their dissertations must be able to provide official degree-conferral documentation from their university registrar by June 30, 2027, for the August 1, 2027 start date.
Applicants should also note that individuals who hold or have completed another postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible.
There are no postponements or deferrals of the August 1, 2027 start date.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit the following materials:
1 Curriculum Vitae
The CV should include the applicant's academic background and a list of publications.
2 Research Proposal
Applicants must submit a research proposal of no more than 2,000 words.
The proposal should explain:
The intellectual objectives of the research
The significance and contribution of the research
Planned methodological work
Planned disciplinary work
How the applicant intends to use the two-year fellowship
Publication plans, where applicable
Future research plans
References, footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies may be included and do not count toward the 2,000-word limit.
3 Scholarly Writing Sample
Applicants may submit one scholarly writing sample.
Examples include:
A PhD dissertation chapter
A peer-reviewed journal article
The writing sample must:
Be written in English
Be no more than 50 pages
Represent the equivalent of a single dissertation chapter or academic journal article
A co-authored paper is permitted if each author's contribution is clearly identified and the other author is not an academic advisor.
Only one writing sample should be submitted. Applicants should not upload multiple writing samples in one PDF.
4 Phd Program Transcript
Applicants must provide a copy of their PhD program transcript.
For applicants from universities outside the United States, Harvard encourages applicants to provide as much official transcript-like documentation as their university registrar can provide for their graduate studies, including Master's and PhD work where applicable.
5 Three Letters Of Recommendation
Applicants need three letters of recommendation.
The recommendation letters must be uploaded directly and confidentially by the recommenders through the online application system.
Applicants should plan ahead because the recommendation upload link is sent to recommenders after the application is submitted.
Harvard Academy Scholars Application Deadline
The application deadline is:
September 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT
All application materials other than recommendation letters must be received by this deadline.
Recommendation letters must arrive no later than:
September 28, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT
Late applications are not accepted.
The selection process begins after the application deadline, and the Harvard Academy anticipates announcing awards in December 2026.
Finalists must also be available for a personal interview on December 4, 2026.
How To Apply For The Harvard Academy Scholars Program
Applicants must complete the online application and submit the required documents in PDF format.
The application includes:
CV with publications
Research proposal of up to 2,000 words
One scholarly writing sample of up to 50 pages
PhD program transcript
Three confidential recommendation letters
Applicants should begin requesting recommendation letters well before the deadline because recommenders have a separate deadline of September 28, 2026.
Apply Online: Harvard Academy Scholars Program Application
Important Research Proposal Advice
The Harvard Academy Selection Committee emphasizes the relevance and contribution of the proposed research to the applicant's discipline.
Applicants should therefore avoid treating the research proposal simply as a description of their dissertation. The proposal should clearly communicate why the research matters and what contribution it can make.
Applicants may also explain how they intend to use the fellowship's two years. For example, the first year could focus on transforming dissertation research into a book or journal articles, while the second year could be devoted to developing a new research project.
If the proposed future project differs substantially from the PhD dissertation, applicants should explain how the new project connects to, expands upon, or moves beyond their doctoral research.
Can Academy Scholars Conduct Fieldwork Outside Harvard
Yes, but scholars are expected to remain in residence and participate fully in the Harvard Academy's scholarly community during the formal programming period, which generally runs from late August through the end of April.
Extensive fieldwork away from Cambridge is expected to be conducted during the winter, spring, or summer breaks.
Short trips for conferences and other academic activities may be permitted when they do not interfere with Harvard Academy obligations.
How Competitive Is The Harvard Academy Scholars Program
The program is highly competitive.
According to the Academy's published statistics, the number of completed applications has generally ranged from several hundred to more than 700 in recent years, while only around 4–6 scholars have typically been selected each year.
For example, the Fall 2025 cohort received 522 completed applications and selected 5 scholars.
This makes the fellowship a particularly selective opportunity, and applicants should devote significant attention to their research proposal, writing sample, academic record, and recommendation letters.
Who Can Apply For The Harvard Academy Scholars Program
The program welcomes applicants from all nationalities and citizenships. However, applicants must be recent or near-completion PhD scholars in eligible social science fields, with research focused on regions outside the United States or Canada.
Applicants who have already completed another postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible.
When Does The Harvard Academy Fellowship Start
The fellowship is scheduled to begin on August 1, 2027. The start date cannot be postponed or deferred.
Doctoral candidates who have not yet received their PhD must be able to provide degree-conferral documentation from their university registrar by June 30, 2027.
Is The Harvard Academy Scholars Program Fully Funded
The fellowship provides an $80,000 annual stipend plus $6,000 in annual research support for each of the two years. It is therefore a substantially funded postdoctoral opportunity, although applicants should review the official fellowship terms carefully for details about permitted funding and expenses.
Final Thoughts
The Harvard Academy Scholars Program 2027-2028 is an exceptionally competitive opportunity for early-career social scientists conducting research on regions outside the United States and Canada. With an $80,000 annual stipend, $6,000 in research support, two years of residence at Harvard, and access to an interdisciplinary scholarly community, it offers strong support for researchers preparing for academic and international careers.
Prospective applicants should begin preparing well before the deadline, particularly because the research proposal, writing sample, transcript, CV, and three recommendation letters all play important roles in the application.
Application Deadline: September 18, 2026 Recommendation Letter Deadline: September 28, 2026 Program Start: August 1, 2027 Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Frequently Asked Questions Faqs
What is the deadline for the Harvard Academy Scholars Program 2027-2028? The deadline is September 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT. Recommendation letters can be submitted until September 28, 2026.
How much is the Harvard Academy Scholars stipend? Selected scholars receive an annual stipend of $80,000, plus $6,000 in annual research support.
How long is the Harvard Academy fellowship? The fellowship is a two-year, in-residence postdoctoral appointment at Harvard University.
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PhD
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