Harvard Berenson Fellowship 2027-28 in Italy

The Harvard Berenson Fellowship is a funded residential fellowship for scholars interested in Renaissance studies. It is hosted at the Harvard Center for Italian Renaissance Studies at Villa I Tatti in Florence, Italy. The fellowship supports research exploring “Italy in the World,” focusing on transnational dialogues between Italy and other cultures (such as Latin American, Mediterranean, African, and Asian) during the Renaissance, broadly understood from the 14th to the 17th century. Scholars working in architecture and the arts, history, philosophy, literature, music, and history of science are encouraged to apply. The fellowship duration is 4 or 6 months.

Fellows receive a monthly grant of USD 5,200 and a one-time relocation supplement of up to USD 1,800. While fellows are responsible for living in the Florence area and spending at least three days a week at the center, the Harvard Center may provide a rent-free apartment (fellows cover utility charges) when available. If an apartment is not available, a housing subsidy will be provided to help with rental costs. Fellows gain access to the Harvard Center’s extensive scholarly resources, including seven-day-a-week access to the Biblioteca Berenson, lunch with other appointees from Monday to Friday, and their own desk or carrel in the Library. The fellowship also offers opportunities to participate in conferences, lectures, concerts, and other academic activities, fostering international networking.

This fellowship is open to scholars from all nations. Applicants must hold a PhD at the time of application and upload a scan of their PhD certificate; they cannot be working on a second PhD. Applicants must commit to working solely on their proposed research project during the fellowship period. They must be conversant in English and have familiarity with Italian. Priority is given to early and mid-career scholars. Applicants must be able to carry out most of their research in Florence. Special consideration is given to candidates who do not have regular access to research materials and facilities in Italy. Applicants should not have previously held a Term Fellowship at I Tatti, with the exception of Graduate Fellows. The fellowship cannot be deferred and can only be held once.

Required documents include a scan of your PhD certificate, a research project proposal, and a Curriculum Vitae. Applicants must demonstrate a strong research project with the potential to produce original results. Proficiency in English and familiarity with Italian are also required. Two letters of recommendation from scholars are necessary.

Applications must be completed electronically and can be submitted in either English or Italian. Applicants should submit their application before the deadline. It is important to note that applicants can apply for only one type of I Tatti fellowship per academic year. You will need to indicate your preference for either the fall term (September through December) or the winter-spring term (January through June). Register two scholars as referees through the reference tab in the application system, informing them about your research project and the submission deadline for their letters. Ensure both recommendation letters are submitted online by their required deadline.

Up to four Berenson Fellowships are awarded each year. The application deadline for the Harvard Berenson Fellowship 2027-28 is November 16, 2026, by midnight Cambridge, MA time. The two letters of recommendation must be submitted online by November 21, 2026. Applicants are advised to register their referees as early as possible to allow sufficient time for recommendation submission. The fellowship encourages a broad geographical view of the Renaissance, including connections with Latin American, Mediterranean, African, and Asian cultures.