Harvard Radcliffe Fellowships 2027–2028, USA (Fully Funded)
The Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship 2027–2028 is now open for applications from accomplished scholars, scientists, writers, journalists, and artists from around the world. Hosted by the Harvard Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University, the fellowship provides selected fellows with nine months of dedicated time to pursue an ambitious research, writing, journalistic, scientific, or creative project.
The fellowship offers a $78,000 stipend along with a $5,000 project expense allowance, bringing the direct financial support to $83,000. Depending on individual circumstances, fellows may also receive assistance with relocation, housing, childcare, and healthcare.
The fellowship will run from September 2027 through May 2028 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Applicants must apply through the appropriate disciplinary category because eligibility requirements and deadlines differ between fields.
Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship 2027–2028: Quick Facts
- Host Institution: Harvard University
- Institute: Harvard Radcliffe Institute
- Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Fellowship Duration: 9 months
- Fellowship Period: September 2027–May 2028
- Stipend: $78,000
- Project Expense Allowance: $5,000
- Total Direct Funding: $83,000
- Additional Support: Possible relocation, housing, childcare, and healthcare assistance
- Fields: Humanities, social sciences, creative arts, nonfiction, journalism, science, engineering, and mathematics
- Current Degree Students: Not eligible
- Fellows Selected: Approximately 50 annually
- Humanities, Social Sciences, Creative Arts, Nonfiction & Journalism Deadline: September 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET
- Science, Engineering & Mathematics Deadline: October 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET
- Expected Decisions: By the end of March 2027
What Is the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship?
The Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship is a residential fellowship for established scholars and professionals who need dedicated time to develop an important project.
Unlike a traditional student scholarship or postdoctoral program, Radcliffe is designed for individuals who have already built a substantial record of academic, scientific, literary, journalistic, artistic, or professional achievement.
The fellowship brings together approximately 50 fellows each year from different disciplines. The interdisciplinary environment allows scholars, scientists, writers, journalists, and artists to work independently while exchanging ideas with colleagues from other fields.
The fellowship is particularly valuable because it provides more than financial support. Fellows receive dedicated time away from their normal professional responsibilities, workspace, access to Harvard resources, and the opportunity to become part of an interdisciplinary intellectual community.
Degree Level
- Fellowship
Available Subjects
- Humanities
- Social sciences
- Creative arts
- Nonfiction
- Journalism
- Science
- Engineering
- Mathematics
Benefits
The Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship provides substantial financial support for the nine-month fellowship period.Each selected fellow receives:
- $78,000 stipend
- $5,000 project expense allowance
- Possible relocation assistance
- Possible housing assistance
- Possible childcare assistance
- Possible healthcare assistance
- Office or studio space at Byerly Hall
- Access to Harvard libraries and university facilities
- A Harvard visiting fellowship appointment
- Participation in the Radcliffe interdisciplinary community
The stipend and project allowance together provide $83,000 in direct funding.
Additional support is dependent on individual circumstances and applicable fellowship policies, so applicants should not assume that every fellow will receive identical supplementary benefits.
Eligibility Criteria
Who Can Apply for the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship?
The fellowship is open to accomplished applicants in several broad disciplines.
The four main application areas are:
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Creative Arts
- Nonfiction and Journalism
- Science, Engineering and Mathematics
Eligibility requirements vary according to the applicant's field. Applicants should therefore carefully review the requirements for their specific category before beginning the application.
Humanities and Social Sciences Eligibility
Applicants in the humanities and social sciences generally must have received a doctorate or equivalent terminal degree at least four years before the fellowship appointment.
For the 2027–2028 fellowship, the doctorate would generally need to have been awarded by December 2023.
Applicants are also expected to have an established publication record. This may include:
- A published monograph; or
- At least two refereed articles or equivalent scholarly contributions.
A PhD alone is therefore not sufficient. Applicants are expected to demonstrate meaningful achievements in their field.
Science, Engineering and Mathematics Eligibility
Applicants in science, engineering, and mathematics are also generally required to have received their doctorate at least four years before the fellowship appointment.
- STEM applicants are expected to have published at least five refereed journal articles.
- The program also notes that successful STEM fellows often have publication records considerably stronger than the minimum requirement.
- Applicants should therefore consider both the formal eligibility criteria and the competitiveness of their overall academic record.
Writers and Journalists
- Writers and journalists are assessed primarily on the strength of their professional work rather than solely on academic qualifications.
- Applicants should demonstrate a substantial body of published work and submit appropriate samples that represent the quality of their professional achievements.
- The proposed project should also be ambitious enough to benefit from nine months of dedicated fellowship time.
Creative Artists
Creative artists are assessed according to the requirements of their particular artistic discipline.
Applicants may need to submit appropriate examples of their creative work, such as:
- Fiction
- Poetry
- Film
- Music
- Visual art
- Other discipline-specific work
A strong portfolio and established professional record can be important factors in demonstrating readiness for the fellowship.
Who Is Not Eligible for the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship?
- One of the most important eligibility conditions is that current degree students cannot apply.
- The Radcliffe Fellowship is not intended to fund individuals who are currently completing a degree.
- Instead, the program is designed for established professionals who have already developed a significant body of scholarship, scientific research, creative work, journalism, or other professional achievement.
Therefore, students looking for undergraduate, master's, PhD, or conventional postdoctoral funding should look for programs specifically designed for those stages.
What Kind of Projects Does Harvard Radcliffe Support?
The proposed project is one of the most important elements of the application.
Radcliffe seeks ambitious projects that can benefit from concentrated time and an interdisciplinary environment.
Projects may address significant:
- Social questions
- Scientific problems
- Policy challenges
- Historical questions
- Cultural issues
- Literary subjects
- Artistic themes
- Emerging research areas
The institute has also highlighted several areas of interest, including:
- Women, gender, and society
- Academic freedom
- Political polarization
- Connections across differences
- Projects involving Schlesinger Library collections
Applicants are not limited to these themes.
For the 2027–2028 cycle, STEM applicants may also propose research related to the effects of federal research-funding cuts.
The strongest projects should demonstrate not only academic or professional value but also broader significance.
Application Procedure
Applicants can follow these six major steps to prepare their applications.
Step 1: Select the Correct Application Area
First, determine which application category best matches your professional background and proposed project.
The available areas are:
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Creative Arts
- Nonfiction and Journalism
- Science, Engineering and Mathematics
Applicants then register through the online fellowship application portal.
Choosing the correct category is important because eligibility criteria, deadlines, and work-sample requirements vary between fields.
Step 2: Prepare a Focused CV
Applicants must submit a curriculum vitae of no more than six pages.
Rather than including every professional activity, focus on achievements that demonstrate your expertise and readiness for the fellowship.
Your CV can highlight:
- Major publications
- Research achievements
- Academic positions
- Awards
- Exhibitions
- Creative accomplishments
- Journalism experience
- Professional achievements
- Other work relevant to the proposed project
The purpose of the CV is to demonstrate that you have already established yourself as an accomplished professional in your field.
Step 3: Write the 1,400-Word Project Proposal
The project proposal is a central part of the application.
The proposal has a strict maximum of 1,400 words, including a 150-word abstract.
Your proposal should explain:
- What you want to accomplish
- Why the project matters
- The project's significance
- Your methodology or approach
- How the project relates to existing work
- Your expected contribution
- Why Radcliffe is the right environment for the project
The abstract should be understandable to an informed reader outside your immediate discipline.
This is particularly important because Radcliffe's selection process is interdisciplinary.
Avoid filling the proposal with unnecessary technical terminology. Instead, demonstrate your expertise while making the importance of your project accessible to a broad audience.
Step 4: Select the Right Work Samples
Work-sample requirements depend on your application category.
Examples include:
- Humanities and Social Sciences: Relevant academic writing
- Science, Engineering and Mathematics: Three published articles
- Journalism: Three substantial published pieces
- Creative Arts: Discipline-specific creative work
Choose work samples that demonstrate the highest quality of your professional achievements.
Where possible, select samples that help the reviewers understand your ability to successfully complete the proposed fellowship project.
Step 5: Secure Three Recommendation Letters
Applicants are required to submit three recommendation letters.
Choose referees who can provide specific information about your:
- Academic achievements
- Professional accomplishments
- Research or creative ability
- Independence
- Ability to complete the proposed project
- Intellectual contribution
- Ability to work with others
Ideally, your recommenders should understand both your previous work and the project you intend to pursue at Radcliffe.
Contact your referees well before the deadline so they have enough time to prepare strong and detailed recommendations.
Step 6: Submit Before Your Deadline
The final step is submitting your completed application before the deadline for your field.
For the 2027–2028 cycle:
Humanities, Social Sciences, Creative Arts, Nonfiction and Journalism
September 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Science, Engineering and Mathematics
October 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Applicants should avoid waiting until the final hours to submit. Technical problems, missing recommendation letters, or upload issues can create unnecessary complications.
Submitting several days early gives you time to resolve unexpected problems.
How Competitive Is the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship?
The Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship is highly competitive.
The program is not simply looking for applicants who meet the minimum eligibility requirements. It seeks accomplished individuals with a compelling project and a strong record of achievement.
Competitive applicants generally demonstrate a combination of:
- Strong academic or professional achievements
- Significant publications or creative accomplishments
- An ambitious and clearly defined project
- Excellent work samples
- Strong recommendations
- A convincing explanation of the project's broader importance
A PhD or impressive CV alone does not guarantee selection.
The proposed project must also explain why the fellowship is the right opportunity for the applicant at this particular stage of their career.
Why Do Strong Applicants Get Rejected?
One possible weakness is failing to communicate the project's importance to a broad audience.
Applicants sometimes write their proposals like highly specialized research grants intended only for experts in their own field.
However, Radcliffe is an interdisciplinary community.
A reviewer may understand research methodology without being an expert in your specific subfield. Your proposal should therefore make the significance of the project immediately understandable.
A strong application should demonstrate three things:
1. Expertise
Show that you have the knowledge, experience, and professional record required to complete the project.
2. Ambition
Explain why the project is important and why it deserves nine months of concentrated work.
3. Accessibility
Make the project's importance understandable to intelligent readers outside your specific discipline.
Ask yourself:
- Why should someone outside my field care about this project?
A clear answer to that question can strengthen your application considerably.
Where Will Harvard Radcliffe Fellows Live?
- The Radcliffe Fellowship is residential.
- Fellows are expected to live in the Cambridge/Boston area from September through May and actively participate in the Radcliffe community.
- Fellows receive office or studio space at Byerly Hall and have access to Harvard's academic resources, including libraries and university facilities.
- The residential structure is an important part of the fellowship because it encourages interaction among fellows working in different disciplines.
When Will Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship Results Be Announced?
For the 2027–2028 Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship, application decisions are expected to be announced by the end of March 2027.
Successful fellows will then prepare to begin their nine-month fellowship in September 2027.
Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship 2027–2028 Deadline
The deadline depends on the applicant's field.
Application Field Deadline
- Humanities and Social Sciences September 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET
- Creative Arts September 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET
- Nonfiction and Journalism September 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET
- Science, Engineering and Mathematics October 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET
Applicants should verify the requirements and deadline for their specific application category before submitting.
Final Thoughts
The Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship 2027–2028 is a prestigious opportunity for established scholars, scientists, writers, journalists, and artists seeking dedicated time to pursue an ambitious project.
The fellowship provides $78,000 in stipend funding and $5,000 for project expenses, as well as possible additional support depending on individual circumstances. Fellows also gain access to Harvard resources, workspace, and an interdisciplinary community.
However, this is not a conventional student scholarship. The fellowship is intended for applicants who have already established themselves through significant academic, scientific, artistic, literary, journalistic, or professional achievements.
If you are eligible, begin your preparation early. Select the appropriate fellowship category, create a focused six-page CV, develop a strong 1,400-word proposal, choose your best work samples, and secure three detailed recommendation letters.
Most importantly, do not focus only on explaining what you want to do. Your application should clearly demonstrate why the project matters and why you are the right person to carry it out.
