The Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship 2027–2028 offers an exceptional opportunity for scientists, writers, scholars, public intellectuals, and artists to spend a full academic year pursuing ambitious projects at Harvard University. The fellowship provides an interdisciplinary environment where selected fellows can develop innovative work addressing important social, scientific, cultural, and policy issues.
The program welcomes proposals that seek to reach audiences beyond academia and encourages projects that offer new perspectives on major challenges facing society. Applicants from a wide range of disciplines and career stages are encouraged to apply, subject to the specific eligibility requirements for their field.
Background & Fellowship Description
The Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program brings together a diverse community of scholars, scientists, artists, writers, and other accomplished professionals for an academic year of independent project development.
Fellows benefit from being part of an interdisciplinary environment connected to the resources of Harvard University. The program is particularly interested in ambitious projects that can contribute to public discussion and engage audiences beyond traditional academic communities.
Applicants may propose projects addressing pressing social, scientific, and policy questions. The Institute also welcomes projects related to women, gender, and society, including research that draws on the collections of Harvard’s Schlesinger Library.
For the 2024–2029 period, one of the Institute’s major focus areas is academic freedom and connecting across difference. Relevant proposals may explore free and open inquiry, diversity of thought, political polarization, inequality, religious pluralism, religion and public life, and policy questions affecting higher education.
The Institute also welcomes proposals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that have been directly affected by federal research funding cuts.
Fellowship Activities
During the fellowship year, selected fellows have the opportunity to concentrate on their proposed projects within an interdisciplinary academic environment.
Depending on their discipline and project, fellows may:
- Develop an ambitious research, creative, or scholarly project.
- Conduct independent research.
- Produce new scholarly or creative work.
- Explore pressing social, scientific, and policy issues.
- Engage with scholars and practitioners from different disciplines.
- Draw on Harvard University resources.
- Develop work intended to reach audiences beyond academia.
- Contribute new perspectives to important public conversations.
The fellowship is intended to provide fellows with dedicated time and an environment in which they can advance significant projects.
Qualifications
The fellowship is open to applicants working across a broad range of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, creative arts, nonfiction and journalism, and science, engineering, and mathematics.
Applicants must satisfy the eligibility requirements applicable to their particular discipline.
The program accepts individuals at different career stages and does not require academics to hold tenure.
However, the fellowship is not intended to function as a postdoctoral fellowship, and individuals who are currently enrolled in a degree program are not eligible to apply.
Former Harvard Radcliffe fellows from 1999 onward are also ineligible.
Application Materials
Applicants must submit their materials through the online fellowship application portal.
The application consists of:
- Completed application form.
- Curriculum vitae (CV).
- A 1,400-word project proposal.
- Bibliography where appropriate.
- Writing or work sample.
- Contact information for three references.
The three references will receive instructions by email to submit letters of recommendation supporting the application.
Applicants should ensure that all required materials are submitted through the official online application system.
Application Deadlines
The 2027–2028 fellowship application is currently available.
There are different deadlines depending on the applicant’s discipline:
Humanities, Social Sciences, Creative Arts, Nonfiction and Journalism
Deadline: September 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Science, Engineering and Mathematics
Deadline: October 1, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Applicants should pay close attention to the relevant deadline for their chosen application area.
How to Apply
Applicants can begin by creating an account through the Harvard Radcliffe Institute’s online application system.
The application process involves:
- Creating a new account.
- Logging into the fellowship application portal.
- Selecting the appropriate application area.
- Completing the application form.
- Preparing the project proposal and required work sample.
- Providing information for three references.
- Uploading all required materials.
- Submitting the completed application before the relevant deadline.
Applicants are encouraged to review the discipline-specific eligibility requirements and application instructions before submitting their materials.
Why Apply for the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship?
The Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship offers selected fellows an opportunity to dedicate an entire academic year to developing significant projects in an interdisciplinary environment.
The program is particularly suitable for accomplished professionals who have an ambitious project they want to advance while engaging with ideas and perspectives from outside their own discipline.
Its broad scope means that proposals can address subjects ranging from the humanities and creative arts to social sciences, journalism, science, engineering, and mathematics.
The Institute’s emphasis on innovative ideas, public engagement, academic freedom, and interdisciplinary collaboration makes the fellowship particularly relevant to applicants whose work seeks to influence broader conversations.
Important Note About Funding
The supplied fellowship information confirms that the Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program provides a fellowship opportunity for a full academic year, but the source text provided here does not specify the fellowship stipend or a detailed funding package. Therefore, applicants should review the official fellowship information and FAQ for the current benefits and financial terms rather than relying on an unspecified “fully funded” claim.
Final Application Advice
Because the fellowship requires a substantial project proposal, writing or work sample, CV, and three references, prospective applicants should begin preparing well before the deadline.
A strong application should clearly communicate the project’s importance, originality, feasibility, and potential contribution to audiences beyond the applicant’s immediate academic or professional field.
Applicants should also select the correct application category and carefully review the discipline-specific eligibility requirements before submission.
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