Harvard Radcliffe Fellowships 2027–2028: Fully Funded Fellowship at Harvard University

Harvard Radcliffe Fellowships 2027–2028 are now open for scientists, scholars, writers, artists, public intellectuals and other accomplished professionals. Learn about eligibility, application deadlines, required documents, research areas and how to apply for the prestigious Harvard fellowship.

The Harvard Radcliffe Fellowships 2027–2028 are now open for applications, offering an exceptional opportunity for scientists, writers, scholars, public intellectuals and artists to spend a full academic year pursuing an ambitious project within the interdisciplinary environment of Harvard University.

The fellowship is administered by the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard’s multidisciplinary institute for advanced study. The programme is designed to give fellows time and intellectual space to develop significant projects while engaging with researchers, artists and scholars from different fields.

For the 2027–2028 fellowship year, Radcliffe is welcoming proposals that address innovative ideas and pressing social, scientific and policy questions, particularly projects capable of reaching audiences beyond traditional academic settings.

Fellowship Detail	Information
Host institution	Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Fellowship period	Full academic year
Target applicants	Scientists, scholars, writers, artists, public intellectuals and professionals
Application status	Open
Humanities, Social Sciences, Creative Arts, Nonfiction & Journalism deadline	September 10, 2026, at 5 PM ET
Science, Engineering & Mathematics deadline	October 1, 2026, at 5 PM ET
Project proposal	1,400 words
References	Three
Previous Radcliffe fellows	Generally ineligible
Current degree students	Not eligible
Application method	Online application portal

What Are the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowships?

The Radcliffe Fellowship gives selected fellows an academic year to concentrate on a major project while benefiting from Harvard’s intellectual and research environment.

The programme welcomes applications from a wide range of disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, creative arts, nonfiction and journalism, science, engineering and mathematics.

According to the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, strong proposals should demonstrate ambitious thinking and engage with important social, scientific or policy issues. The institute is particularly interested in projects that can generate meaningful engagement beyond academia.

The fellowship also reflects Radcliffe’s interdisciplinary character. Fellows work within a diverse community rather than being limited to a single academic field or department.

2027–2028 Fellowship Research Priorities

Radcliffe does not restrict applications to one narrow subject. However, the institute identifies several areas of particular interest.

One important focus is women, gender and society, reflecting Radcliffe’s institutional history and connection to the Schlesinger Library.

The institute is also accepting proposals connected to its 2024–2029 focus area of academic freedom and connecting across difference.

Under this theme, proposals can explore subjects including intellectual virtues, free and open inquiry, diversity of thought, political polarization, inequality, religious pluralism, religion and public life, and policy questions related to higher education.

Radcliffe also welcomes projects that challenge established disciplinary assumptions or introduce potentially transformative approaches.

In addition, the institute says it welcomes proposals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics that have been directly affected by federal research funding cuts.

Applicants should therefore carefully consider how their project fits Radcliffe’s stated intellectual priorities while still presenting an original and clearly defined research or creative agenda.

Who Can Apply for the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship?

The fellowship is intended for established researchers, creators and intellectuals across different career stages.

Importantly, applicants do not need to hold academic tenure.

The programme accepts applications from individuals across career stages, provided they satisfy the discipline-specific requirements established by Radcliffe.

However, there are notable restrictions.

Applicants who are currently enrolled in a degree programme are not eligible to apply. The Radcliffe Fellowship is also not intended to serve as a postdoctoral fellowship.

Former Harvard Radcliffe Fellows from 1999 onward are also ineligible to apply again.

Because eligibility varies by discipline, applicants should review the institute’s discipline-specific requirements before beginning an application.

What Projects Is Radcliffe Looking For?

The strongest applications are expected to revolve around a clearly defined project rather than simply describing a candidate’s general research interests.

Applicants should propose work that demonstrates originality, significance and intellectual ambition.

Projects can tackle major questions in areas such as society, public policy, science, technology, culture, gender, education, history, journalism or the arts, depending on the applicant’s discipline.

The institute also encourages projects that have relevance beyond a narrow academic audience.

This means the proposal should make clear not only what the applicant wants to investigate or create, but also why the project matters and what broader conversations it could contribute to.

What Documents Are Required?

The Harvard Radcliffe fellowship application requires several core materials.

Applicants must submit an online application form together with a curriculum vitae.

A central component is the 1,400-word project proposal. A bibliography may be included when appropriate.

Applicants must also provide a writing or work sample that demonstrates the quality and relevance of their previous work.

In addition, applicants must provide the contact information for three references. These referees will subsequently receive instructions by email to upload letters of recommendation supporting the application.

All required materials must be submitted through Radcliffe’s online application portal.

Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship Application Deadlines 2027–2028

There are two major deadlines for the 2027–2028 fellowship competition.

Applicants in the humanities, social sciences, creative arts, nonfiction and journalism must submit their applications by:

September 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

Applicants in science, engineering and mathematics have a later deadline:

October 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

These deadlines are strict, so prospective fellows should account for the time needed to prepare the proposal, upload supporting documents and ensure that referees are able to submit their recommendations.

How to Apply for the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship 2027–2028

The application process is completed online.

First, applicants must create an account using their name, email address and password.

After registration, applicants can access the Online Fellowship Application Portal and select the relevant application area:

Humanities and Social Sciences

Creative Arts

Nonfiction and Journalism

Science, Engineering and Mathematics

Applicants should then complete the application form, upload their CV, prepare the 1,400-word project proposal, provide a writing or creative work sample and submit contact details for three referees.

Because the fellowship is highly competitive, applicants should avoid treating the proposal as a general personal statement. The project description should clearly communicate the problem or idea being addressed, the proposed approach and the significance of the work.

Why the Fellowship Is Highly Attractive

One of the strongest features of the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship is the opportunity to spend a full academic year focused on an ambitious project within Harvard’s broader intellectual ecosystem.

Rather than being tied to a conventional degree programme, fellows are selected because of the promise and quality of their proposed work.

The interdisciplinary environment can also provide opportunities to exchange ideas across academic and creative fields. This can be particularly valuable for projects that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.

The institute’s interest in work that reaches beyond academia also makes the fellowship relevant to applicants whose research, writing or creative practice has a strong public dimension.

How Applicants Can Strengthen Their Applications

A competitive application should begin with a project that is specific, ambitious and intellectually convincing.

The 1,400-word proposal should be treated as the centrepiece of the application. Applicants need to communicate why the project is important, what makes the proposed approach distinctive and what they hope to accomplish during the fellowship year.

The work sample should also be chosen strategically. Rather than submitting a piece simply because it is recent, applicants should select material that demonstrates the skills and quality most relevant to the proposed project.

References are another important element. Applicants should approach individuals who understand their work well enough to provide meaningful evidence of their accomplishments, intellectual contribution and potential.

Finally, candidates should carefully verify the discipline-specific eligibility rules before submitting.

Important Note for Applicants

The Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship should not be confused with a standard Harvard degree scholarship.

The fellowship is intended for individuals pursuing a significant project during a dedicated fellowship year, and applicants who are currently enrolled in a degree programme are not eligible under the stated rules.

Applicants should also remember that the deadline differs by academic area. The September 10 deadline applies to humanities, social sciences, creative arts, nonfiction and journalism, while science, engineering and mathematics applicants have until October 1, 2026.

Final Thoughts

The Harvard Radcliffe Fellowships 2027–2028 represent a prestigious opportunity for accomplished scholars, scientists, writers, artists and public intellectuals seeking dedicated time to develop ambitious work at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute.

The fellowship welcomes interdisciplinary proposals addressing important questions across academia, culture, science and society, while also encouraging projects with relevance beyond traditional academic audiences.

For the 2027–2028 cycle, applicants in the humanities, social sciences, creative arts, nonfiction and journalism must apply by September 10, 2026, at 5 PM ET, while applicants in science, engineering and mathematics have until October 1, 2026, at 5 PM ET.

Before applying, candidates should carefully review the applicable discipline requirements, prepare a compelling 1,400-word project proposal and secure three appropriate referees. Since current degree students and former Radcliffe fellows are ineligible, checking eligibility before investing substantial time in the application is particularly important.

The official Harvard Radcliffe Institute application portal should be used for submission, and applicants should rely on the institute’s published requirements for the most current application instructions.

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