The Academy Scholars Program is one of the most prestigious research fellowship programs offered by the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies. The Harvard Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship aims to support outstanding researchers at the early stages of their academic careers, who combine excellence in the social sciences with expertise or specialization in the languages, cultures, and regions of the world outside the United States and Canada.
Scholarship Details
- Level of Study: Postdoctoral Fellowship for two years.
- Funding:
- Annual stipend of $80,000 USD.
- Annual research support of $5,000 USD.
- Annual stipend of $80,000 USD.
- Number of Fellows Selected: 5 to 6 each year.
- Duration: Two years in residence at Harvard University, to be completed within a three-year window.
- Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, USA.
- Program Start Date: August 1, 2026.
- Deferrals or postponements of the fellowship start date are not permitted.
Eligibility
- Open to researchers from all nationalities and countries.
- Eligible Fields: Social sciences only, such as:
- Anthropology, Economics, Geography, International Relations, Law, History, Political Science, Psychology, Public and Social Policy, Sociology, Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, etc.
- Anthropology, Economics, Geography, International Relations, Law, History, Political Science, Psychology, Public and Social Policy, Sociology, Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, etc.
- Also Accepted: Regional studies (e.g., Middle East Studies, Asian Studies, African Studies, Latin American Studies, European Studies), provided the research is clearly tied to one of the social science fields.
- Not Eligible: Fields such as Architecture, Philosophy, Literature, Business, Global Health, Music, Archaeology, and similar.
Additional Conditions:
- Applicants must have received their PhD (or equivalent) within two years of the program start date (i.e., after August 1, 2024).
- Doctoral candidates nearing completion must submit official PhD conferral documentation by June 30, 2026.
- Individuals who have already completed another postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible.
- Finalists must be available for an in-person interview on December 4, 2025.
Fellowship Duration and Terms
- The fellowship lasts two years in residence at Harvard.
- Fellows may apply for a one-time leave of up to 12 months between the first and second year, but only to accept or continue a tenure-track academic appointment.
- Fellows may not combine the fellowship with other funding sources or awards during the appointment period.
- Fellows must commit to participating in academic activities of the Harvard Academy (seminars, meetings, scholarly discussions).
How to Apply
- Application Deadline: September 19, 2025.
- Recommendation Letters Deadline: September 29, 2025.
- Applications are submitted online through the Academy’s official website (Apply Online).
Required Documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) including a list of publications.
- Research proposal (maximum 2000 words) outlining objectives and methodology.
- A scholarly writing sample (e.g., dissertation chapter or published article – maximum 50 pages).
- PhD program academic transcript.
- Three letters of recommendation (submitted directly by referees through the online system).
Note: Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
Selection Process and Results
- Applications are reviewed immediately after the submission deadline.
- Results will be announced in December 2025.
- Selection is based on academic excellence, the quality of the research project, future research potential, and alignment with the program’s goals.
