How to Apply

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Application Deadlines | Eligibility | Length of Fellowship and Funding | Application Materials | Letters of Recommendation | Troubleshooting the Application Portal | Selection Process | Program Details


Thank you for your interest in the Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship Program.

Application Deadlines
Humanities, Social Sciences, and Creative Arts: September 8, 2022 (11:59 PM EST)
Science, Engineering, and Mathematics: September 29, 2022 (11:59 PM EST)



An application consists of:
  • Application form
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Project proposal, with bibliography when appropriate
  • Writing or work sample
  • Three letters of recommendation
All application materials must be submitted online.



Quick Guide to Beginning a Harvard Radcliffe Fellowship Application
  • Determine if you meet the eligibility requirements for your selected discipline.
  • Make note of the application deadline above.
  • Begin an application by clicking on the tab above and registering as a new user.
  • Reach out to recommenders well in advance of the deadline. You will be asked to provide the contact information for three references, who will be prompted, via email, to upload a letter in support of your application.
  • Consult evaluation criteria below and review the detailed application material guidelines in our FAQs.



Program Details

Harvard Radcliffe Institute fellows are in residence for a period of nine months from September 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024 and receive a stipend of $78,000 plus an additional $5,000 to cover project expenses. Fellows are expected to be free of their regular commitments so that they may fully devote themselves to the work outlined in their proposal.

As this is a residential fellowship, fellows are expected to reside in the Greater Boston area for the duration of their fellowship. Fellows may be eligible to receive additional funds for moving expenses, childcare, and housing to aid them in making a smooth transition. Healthcare options are made available as needed.

Harvard Radcliffe Fellows receive office or studio space in Byerly Hall and full-time Harvard appointments as visiting fellows, granting them access to Harvard University's various resources, including libraries, housing, and athletic facilities. If fellows would like to hire Harvard undergraduate students as Research Partners, we will cover their hourly wages.

Fellows are expected to engage actively with the colleagues in their cohort and to participate fully as a member of the Harvard Radcliffe community. To this end, all fellows present their work-in-progress, either in the form of a private talk for their cohort or a public lecture, in addition to attending the presentations of all other fellows during that academic year (up to two talks per week). We offer group lunches and other opportunities to connect with members of your cohort, but attendance at these is optional.

The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard's Vaccine & Booster Requirements. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information”


Evaluation Criteria

Applications are evaluated on the quality and significance of the proposed project and the applicant's intellectual and creative capacity, as evidenced by a strong record of achievement or extraordinary promise. We seek diversity along every dimension, including geography, ethnicity and race, stage in career, and ideological perspective.

Each application is reviewed in a two-tiered process–first by experts in the relevant field, then by a multidisciplinary committee charged with selecting a diverse class of fellows of the highest achievement and potential.

Project proposals should be original, well-conceived and developed, accurately described, and feasible.

As a uniquely multidisciplinary community, we highly value collegiality and openness to cross-disciplinary conversation. Evidence of collaborative and/or multidisciplinary work is a valued addition to the application.

Applicants will be notified of the results of the selection process by the end of March 2023.