Application Deadline: September 10, 2026 (5:00 PM ET) – Humanities, Social Sciences, Creative Arts, Nonfiction and Journalism; October 1, 2026 (5:00 PM ET) – Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.
The Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship 2027 offers exceptional thinkers, creators, and innovators the opportunity to dedicate an academic year to advancing bold ideas at one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Hosted by the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, this fully funded fellowship brings together scholars, scientists, writers, journalists, public intellectuals, and artists in an interdisciplinary community designed to spark collaboration and transformative impact.
For individuals with ambitious projects capable of shaping conversations within and beyond academia, this fellowship provides the time, resources, and intellectual environment needed to take their work to the next level.
The Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program invites applications for its 2027–2028 cohort from individuals pursuing innovative projects across a broad range of disciplines. Fellows spend a full academic year immersed in Harvard University’s vibrant intellectual ecosystem, engaging with peers from different fields while advancing independent work of significant scholarly, scientific, artistic, or social value.
The Institute particularly welcomes proposals that address pressing social, scientific, and policy challenges and demonstrate the potential to reach audiences beyond traditional academic circles. Reflecting Radcliffe’s longstanding commitment to advancing knowledge and dialogue, applicants may also explore themes related to women, gender, and society or make use of the rich collections housed within the Schlesinger Library.
In line with its 2024–2029 focus area, the Institute encourages projects that engage with questions surrounding academic freedom and connecting across difference. Topics may include free inquiry, diversity of thought, political polarization, inequality, peace and conflict, religious pluralism, and the evolving role of higher education institutions. Proposals that challenge conventional perspectives and introduce fresh approaches to complex issues are especially valued.
More than a prestigious residency, the fellowship offers a rare opportunity to step away from everyday professional demands and invest deeply in work that can influence disciplines, communities, and public discourse.
Eligibility
Applicants from diverse professional and academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. However, candidates must satisfy discipline-specific criteria.
Eligible applicants include individuals working in:
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
- Creative Arts
- Nonfiction and Journalism
- Science
- Engineering
- Mathematics
Applicants should note that:
- They must meet the eligibility requirements specific to their chosen discipline.
- Individuals currently enrolled in a degree-granting program are not eligible to apply.
- The fellowship is not intended to serve as a postdoctoral fellowship.
- Applicants at various career stages are welcome.
- Academic applicants do not need to hold tenure.
- Former Harvard Radcliffe fellows from 1999 to the present are ineligible.
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Benefits
Selected fellows will receive the opportunity to:
- Spend a full academic year at Harvard University pursuing an independent project.
- Join a distinguished interdisciplinary community of scholars, artists, scientists, and thought leaders.
- Access Harvard University’s extensive academic resources and libraries.
- Engage in meaningful exchanges that foster new ideas and collaborations.
- Develop work with the potential to create lasting academic, cultural, scientific, or societal impact.
- Benefit from a fully funded fellowship experience, enabling focused and uninterrupted project development.
Application
Applications must be submitted through the Harvard Radcliffe Institute’s online application portal. After creating an account, applicants should select the category that aligns with their field of work.
The application package includes:
- A completed application form
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- A 1,400-word project proposal (including a bibliography where appropriate)
- A writing sample or work sample
- Contact details for three referees, who will be invited to submit recommendation letters electronically
All application materials must be submitted before the relevant deadline.
How to Apply
For more details, visit Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship.
