Harvard Academy Scholars Program 2027–2028 – USA

Location: United States of America

Program: Postdoctoral Degree

Eligibility: International Students

Duration: 2-year

Deadline: September 18, 2026

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The Harvard Academy Scholars Program is one of the most prestigious postdoctoral fellowships in the social sciences, offered by The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies at Harvard University. The programme identifies and supports outstanding scholars at the very start of their academic careers whose work combines disciplinary excellence in the social sciences or law with a command of the language and knowledge or expertise of countries or regions outside the United States or Canada. Academy Scholars pursue sustained research projects that span traditional disciplinary divisions and elucidate comparative, transnational, or domestic issues past or present. They are mentored by senior Harvard faculty and are part of a select community of individuals with resourcefulness, initiative, and originality whose work shows promise as a foundation for careers in research universities or international institutions.

The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies is a centre within the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University, dedicated to promoting innovative social science combined with deepening shared knowledge of the experiences and practices of the world’s regions and countries. Harvard University, founded in 1636 and located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and one of the world’s most prestigious research universities. The Academy brings together leading scholars from across Harvard’s faculties to foster interdisciplinary research on international and area studies topics, with a deep commitment to supporting the next generation of globally oriented social scientists.

Benefits of the Programme

This programme will provide the following to its recipients:

US$80,000 annual stipend
US$6,000 annual research support
Two-year, in-residence postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University
Financial and research assistance for research projects and skills development
Mentorship from Harvard Academy Senior Scholars

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Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this programme, applicants must meet the following:

Must be a recent recipient of a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in the social sciences, with the degree granted on or after August 1, 2025; or must be an advanced doctoral candidate nearing dissertation completion, able to submit degree conferral documentation issued by their university registrar’s office by June 30, 2027 for an August 1, 2027 start date
Open to applicants from any country or citizenship — there are no nationality restrictions
Must have research that combines excellence in a social science discipline (including law) with a command of the language and knowledge or expertise of countries or regions outside the United States or Canada
Must not hold or have completed another postdoctoral fellowship — individuals who hold or have completed another Harvard postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible to apply
Must be available for a personal interview on December 4, 2026 (finalists only)
Research proposal must be a maximum of 2,000 words
Scholarly writing sample must be in English and no longer than 50 pages

Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements.

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Selection Criteria

The Harvard Academy Scholars Program is exceptionally competitive, with only 5 to 6 scholars selected annually from a global pool of applicants. The Selection Committee assesses candidates on the originality and significance of the proposed research, the strength of the research proposal and scholarly writing sample, demonstrated excellence in a social science discipline, command of the language and area expertise of the region of study, the interdisciplinary scope of the research across traditional disciplinary divisions, and the overall promise of the candidate’s work as a foundation for a career in a research university or international institution. Shortlisted finalists are invited for a personal interview on December 4, 2026, with all travel and accommodation arranged by the Harvard Academy.