Frank Knox Memorial Fellowships 2027–28 – Harvard University
The Frank Knox Memorial Fellowships at Harvard University are now accepting applications for the 2027–28 academic year, offering an opportunity for outstanding students from the United Kingdom to pursue full-time graduate or professional degree programmes at Harvard.
The fellowship is designed to support academically excellent candidates with strong character and leadership potential who intend to use their education and experience to make an impact in their chosen fields.
Application deadline: Monday, 1 February 2027 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Who Can Apply?
The Frank Knox Fellowship is specifically available to students from the United Kingdom who normally reside in the UK and who have been wholly or mainly educated in the United Kingdom before university.
Applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Be studying toward a first or higher degree at a UK university and graduate during the 2026–27 academic year; or
- Have already completed a first or higher degree at a UK university.
Applicants who are already in the United States at the time of application are not eligible.
Students from the UK who are currently studying at, or have graduated from, a university in another Knox-eligible country may also be eligible, provided they meet the other requirements. Such applicants should apply through the country with which they have the strongest affiliation.
Applicants may submit only one Knox Fellowship application through the country portals.
Admission to Harvard Is Required
The Knox Fellowship is not a separate route into Harvard. Applicants must also apply directly for admission to an eligible Harvard graduate or professional school.
Applicants should begin communicating with the relevant Harvard admissions office as early as possible and should submit their degree application as soon as practical rather than waiting for the fellowship deadline.
Knox Fellowships are awarded only to candidates who are admitted to Harvard as full-time degree-program students.
For applicants seeking admission to the Harvard Law School LL.M. programme, a first law degree such as a J.D., LL.B. or equivalent is required.
What Programmes Are Eligible?
The fellowship supports full-time degree programmes at Harvard. It does not fund:
- Undergraduate study
- Non-degree programmes
- Online or part-time programmes
- Executive Education programmes
- Postdoctoral research
- Visiting fellowships
- Special student status
- Medical research appointments or other research positions
Frank Knox Fellows are normally expected to reside in the Boston/Cambridge area during the first two years of their degree programme. The fellowship will not support students whose programmes require extensive fieldwork during this period.
Application Requirements
Applicants must complete the online Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship application and provide several supporting documents.
These include a curriculum vitae and a short essay of no more than 1,000 words.
The essay should discuss the applicant’s academic interests, intellectual pursuits and extracurricular activities, while explaining why they want to study at Harvard. Applicants should also outline their proposed programme of study at Harvard and explain their future career plans.
Applicants must submit copies of their academic transcripts. Transcripts should include completed courses, grades, grading scales, duration of study and any degree or diploma awarded.
Two confidential recommendation letters are also required. One recommender must have supervised some aspect of the applicant’s academic work at university. The second recommendation may come from a non-academic referee, provided they are familiar with the applicant’s university performance and subsequent achievements.
How Are Fellows Selected?
Selection is based on three key qualities:
Academic excellence: Candidates should demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and intellectual ability.
Strength of character: The fellowship seeks individuals who demonstrate integrity, determination and a strong sense of purpose.
Leadership potential: Applicants should show the potential to become leaders in their chosen fields.
The fellowship reflects the vision of Mrs. Knox, who hoped that recipients would return to their home countries after gaining knowledge and experience in the United States and use that experience to become leaders in their respective fields.
Application Deadline
Programme: Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship
Study period: 2027–28
Study destination: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Eligibility: UK applicants meeting the fellowship’s education and residency requirements
Study mode: Full-time, degree programmes
Application deadline: 1 February 2027, 11:59 p.m. EST
How to Apply
Eligible applicants should complete the Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship application and separately submit an application for admission to their chosen Harvard graduate or professional school.
Because Harvard admission is a prerequisite for receiving the fellowship, prospective applicants should begin preparing their programme application and contacting the relevant admissions office well before the fellowship deadline.
The Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship is a particularly strong opportunity for UK graduates with outstanding academic records, leadership ambitions and a clear vision for how advanced study at Harvard will contribute to their future careers and impact.
