Deadline 2026-09-18
Country USA
Level phd, postdoc
Organization Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies at Harvard University
Field Anthropology, Asia Studies, Africa Studies, Central Asia Studies, Ethnic Studies, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Economics, Eastern Europe Studies, Government, Geography, History of Science, History, Inner Asian and Altaic Studies, International Relations, Latin American and Iberian Studies, Law, Middle East Studies, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Political Science, Political Economy and Government, Psychology, Public Policy, Russia Studies, Social Policy, Slavic Languages and Civilization, Southeast Asia Studies, Sociology, South Asia Studies, Social Studies, Ukraine Studies, Western Europe Studies, Women, Gender, & Sexuality—outside of the US and/or Canada
Funding fully funded Overview
The Harvard Academy Scholars Program is a highly competitive, fully funded postdoctoral fellowship offered by the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies at Harvard University. It is designed for recent PhD scholars and doctoral candidates to conduct advanced research and technical training in social sciences and law, with a focus on international and area studies. Five to six scholars are selected annually.
Coverage
This is a fully funded fellowship. Scholars receive an annual stipend of $80,000 and annual research support of $6,000. The program also covers travel expenses and hotel accommodation for finalists attending interviews in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Additional benefits include financial support for research, coverage of research-relevant travel costs, funds for educational conferences, and provision of health insurance. The appointment is in-residence for two years.
Eligibility
This program is open to applicants from any part of the world, including Ethiopian students. Candidates must have recently completed or be near to completing a PhD or equivalent doctoral program (SJD and DPhil included) in the social sciences or law. If the PhD program is completed, the degree conferral date must be within two years of the August 1, 2027 start date (i.e., on or after August 1, 2025, for the September 18, 2026 deadline). Doctoral candidates near dissertation completion must submit degree conferral documentation by June 30, 2027, for an August 1, 2027 start. Applicants must demonstrate promise in their careers. Preference may be given to those with knowledge of foreign languages, history, and culture of different countries. Individuals who currently hold or have completed another postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible to apply. Finalists must be available for a personal interview on December 4, 2026.
Requirements
Applicants must submit the following documents in PDF format:
- An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- A Cover Letter, which should include your academic field, country or region of specialization, and a proposed research topic. It should also list your publications.
- A Research Proposal, no more than 2000 words, outlining your intellectual objectives and planned methodological and disciplinary work. References and citations do not count towards the word limit.
- A copy of your PhD transcript.
- One scholarly writing sample.
- Three Recommendation Letters.
How to apply
The application process is entirely online. Applicants must submit all required documents and the application form in PDF format before the specified deadline. Finalists will be invited for an interview with the Selection Committee, with all arrangements made by the Harvard Academy.
Notes
The in-residence appointment will be at the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Postponements or deferrals of the fellowship start date are not permitted. While fellows can teach, it is optional.
