The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies has opened applications for the 2027–2028 Academy Scholars Program, a prestigious fully funded postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
Designed for exceptional recent PhD recipients and advanced doctoral candidates in the social sciences, the Academy Scholars Program supports early-career researchers whose scholarship combines rigorous social science research with deep expertise in the languages, cultures, histories or contemporary realities of countries and regions outside the United States and Canada.
Each year, only five to six scholars are selected for this highly competitive two-year residential fellowship, making it one of the world’s leading opportunities for emerging international scholars pursuing academic careers in research universities and global institutions.
About the Harvard Academy Scholars Program
The Harvard Academy promotes innovative interdisciplinary research that bridges traditional social science disciplines with international and area studies. Scholars are selected based on their originality, intellectual promise and ability to produce research that advances understanding of comparative, transnational and domestic issues across diverse regions of the world.
Throughout the fellowship, Academy Scholars become part of a vibrant academic community within Harvard University. They participate in seminars, workshops, research discussions, informal gatherings and mentorship activities led by distinguished Harvard faculty serving as Academy Senior Scholars.
The programme provides scholars with the intellectual freedom, financial support and collaborative environment needed to undertake ambitious research projects while developing as future academic leaders.
Fellowship Benefits
Selected Academy Scholars receive comprehensive financial and research support during their appointment.
Key benefits include:
- Annual stipend: US$80,000
- Annual research funding: US$6,000
- Duration: Two-year in-residence fellowship
- Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Mentorship: Individual guidance from Harvard faculty and Academy Senior Scholars
- Academic community: Access to interdisciplinary seminars, networking and collaborative research opportunities
Scholars may also be invited to teach a course at Harvard during their fellowship, providing valuable teaching experience alongside their research activities.
Eligibility Criteria
The programme is open to outstanding scholars in the social sciences who meet one of the following eligibility pathways:
- Recent recipients of a PhD or equivalent degree awarded within two years of the 1 August 2027 fellowship start date.
- Advanced doctoral candidates who are nearing completion of their dissertation and can provide official degree conferral documentation from their university registrar by 30 June 2027.
A key restriction is that individuals who currently hold or have previously completed another postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible to apply.
Applicants should demonstrate exceptional academic achievement together with substantial regional or country expertise beyond North America.
Research Focus
The Academy welcomes research across the social sciences, provided it combines disciplinary excellence with meaningful international or regional knowledge.
Successful projects often examine topics such as:
- Comparative politics and governance
- International relations
- Political economy
- Sociology and social change
- History and historical institutions
- Anthropology and cultural studies
- Migration, development and transnational processes
- Regional and area studies informed by language expertise
The programme particularly values scholarship that crosses disciplinary boundaries and contributes fresh perspectives on global challenges.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a complete online application containing the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV), including publications
- Research proposal of up to 2,000 words
- One scholarly writing sample in English, with a maximum length of 50 pages
- Official PhD programme transcript
- Three confidential letters of recommendation submitted directly by referees through the online system
The research proposal should clearly explain the project’s intellectual objectives, methodology, disciplinary contribution and expected scholarly impact. References and bibliographies may be included without counting toward the 2,000-word limit.
Important Dates
Prospective applicants should carefully note the following deadlines:
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 2026 |
| Application deadline | 18 September 2026 |
| Time | 11:59 PM EDT |
| Recommendation letters due | 28 September 2026 |
| Fellowship notifications | December 2026 |
| Fellowship start | 1 August 2027 |
Harvard does not accept late applications, and incomplete applications may be disadvantaged during the selection process.
Fellowship Terms
The Academy Scholars Program is a two-year residential appointment, and scholars are expected to undertake their fellowship in residence at Harvard University.
Year One must begin immediately following the fellowship offer, with no deferrals or delayed start dates permitted. Between the first and second year, scholars may request a one-time leave of up to twelve months solely for the purpose of accepting or continuing a tenure-track academic appointment.
During the fellowship, Academy Scholars may not accept outside funding, awards or professional obligations that conflict with the programme’s terms.
Why Apply?
The Harvard Academy Scholars Program offers far more than financial support. It provides emerging researchers with access to one of the world’s leading intellectual environments, extensive faculty mentorship and an international network of exceptional scholars committed to advancing innovative social science research.
For doctoral candidates and recent PhD graduates whose work combines rigorous disciplinary scholarship with deep regional expertise, this fellowship represents an outstanding opportunity to strengthen their research, expand their academic profile and launch a successful international academic career.
Application Deadline: 18 September 2026 (11:59 PM EDT)
