The Academy Scholars Program, offered by The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies within the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University, is a prestigious two-year postdoctoral fellowship. It supports recent PhD recipients and near-completion doctoral candidates in the social sciences whose research focuses on regions outside the United States or Canada.
Scholars receive an annual stipend of $80,000 and mentorship, become part of a vibrant intellectual community, and contribute through seminars, workshops, and Harvard-sponsored events.
Eligibility Criteria
- Recent PhD recipients: Ideally completed on or after August 2024 for the 2026 cycle.
- Advanced doctoral candidates: Must submit official degree confirmation (transcript or conferral certificate) before June 30, 2026.
- Research Focus:
- Must be within the social sciences, such as Anthropology, Economics, Government, History, Psychology, Sociology, Law, Public Policy, IR, etc.
- Must focus on regions outside the US or Canada and include relevant knowledge of language, culture, and context.
- Ineligible:
- Applicants who have already held a Harvard postdoctoral fellowship
Benefits
- Each year, five or six individuals are selected as Academy Scholars for two-year in-residence appointments, offering an annual stipend of $80,000. The two-year term must be completed within a three-year timeframe.
- Year 1 of the fellowship should commence no later than the fall following the postdoctoral fellowship offer, and postponements or deferrals for the start of Year 1 are not allowed.
- During the period between Years 1 and 2, Academy Scholars may request a one-time leave of up to 12 months to accept or continue a tenure-track teaching position; this is the only allowable reason for a leave.
- It is important to note that Academy Scholars cannot accept any other sources of funding, awards, or obligations during their tenure.
Application Components
Applicants for the 2026 cycle should prepare:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV), including publications
- Research Proposal (max of 2,000 words) outlining objectives, methods, and contribution
- Scholarly Writing Sample (e.g., dissertation chapter or journal article, up to 50 pages in English)
- PhD Program Transcript
- Three Letters of Recommendation, submitted confidentially by the recommender by September 20, 2025)
Finalists may be invited for an interview around December 2025.
How to Apply
To apply for the Academy Scholars Program, qualified applicants should follow these steps:
- CLICK HERE to access the Academy Scholars Program page.
- Go to The Harvard Academy’s website homepage and click the APPLY ONLINE button to access the online application.
- Submit all application components, including three letters of recommendation, as PDF documents online. Incomplete materials may disadvantage applicants during the Selection Committee review.
- Award announcements will take place in December 2024. For any questions, please reach out via email at: [email protected].
DEADLINE: 19th September, 2025
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