Program Overview

The Academy Scholars Program supports early-career social scientists whose work combines disciplinary excellence with deep regional or country expertise outside the United States or Canada. Scholars are based at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and participate in the intellectual community of The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies.

The fellowship begins on August 1, 2027. The two fellowship years must be completed within a three-year window. Year 1 cannot be deferred, although scholars may request a one-time leave of up to 12 months between Years 1 and 2 for a tenure-track teaching appointment.

Who Can Apply?

• Applicants may be from any country or citizenship.
• Applicants must be recent recipients of a PhD or equivalent degree, or advanced doctoral candidates, in an eligible social science discipline.
• If the PhD is already completed, it must have been awarded on or after August 1, 2025.
• Advanced doctoral candidates must be able to provide official degree-conferral documentation by June 30, 2027.
• Applicants who currently hold or have already completed another postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible.
• Research must demonstrate substantial expertise on countries or regions outside the United States or Canada.

Application fee: not listed by the official Harvard Academy sources reviewed for this guide.

Standardized English-language test: not listed. However, the required scholarly writing sample must be in English.

Accepted Fields of Study

Harvard lists eligible fields including anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, geography, government, history, history of science, international relations, law, political economy and government, political science, psychology, public policy, social policy, social studies, sociology, and women, gender and sexuality.

Regional studies may also be eligible when the research is clearly grounded in one or more accepted social science disciplines. Examples listed by Harvard include Africa, Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Iberia, the Middle East, Russia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Ukraine and Western Europe.

Funding and Fellowship Terms

• US$80,000 annual stipend.
• US$6,000 annual research support.
• Two-year in-residence appointment at Harvard University.
• The two fellowship years must be completed within a three-year window.
• Scholars may be invited to teach a Harvard class during the appointment.
• Outside funding, awards or professional obligations cannot be accepted during the fellowship appointment.

Required Application Documents

• Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications.
• Research proposal of no more than 2,000 words, explaining intellectual objectives and planned methodological and disciplinary work.
• One scholarly writing sample, such as a dissertation chapter or peer-reviewed article, in English and no longer than 50 pages.
• PhD program transcript.
• Three confidential recommendation letters uploaded directly by the recommenders.

Harvard states that applicants need to submit their own application before the system sends upload links to recommenders, so referees should be registered well before the recommendation-letter deadline.

How to Apply

1. Confirm that your PhD timing, discipline and regional focus meet the Harvard Academy eligibility rules.
2. Open the official Harvard Academic Positions listing for the Academy Scholar fellowship.
3. Create or sign in to your Harvard Academic Positions applicant account.
4. Upload the CV, research proposal, transcript and one English scholarly writing sample as PDF files.
5. Submit the application by September 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT.
6. Ensure all three referees submit their confidential letters by September 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT.

Important Dates

• September 18, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT: application deadline for all materials except recommendation letters.
• September 28, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT: deadline for all three recommendation letters.
• December 4, 2026: finalist interview date.
• December 2026: awards are expected to be announced.
• June 30, 2027: latest date for advanced doctoral candidates to provide degree-conferral documentation.
• August 1, 2027: fellowship start date.

Selection Notes

The Harvard Academy seeks outstanding early-career scholars whose research combines strong social science methods with substantial knowledge of a world region or country outside the United States or Canada. The official guidance emphasizes the relevance and disciplinary contribution of the research proposal and how the applicant plans to use the two fellowship years.

Finalists must be available for the December 4, 2026 personal interview. Harvard states that the Academy will make the interview arrangements for finalists.

Official Sources

Harvard Academy Scholars Program — official eligibility, terms, fields, documents and deadlines

Harvard Academic Positions — official fellowship posting and application entry point

Related Opportunities

• Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship 2027–2028
• Princeton Fung Global Fellows 2027–28
• Princeton PIIRS Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027–28