Harvard Academy Scholars Program (Postdoctoral Fellowship)

The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies invites early career researchers to apply for the Academy Scholars Program, a fully funded, two year postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The program supports recent PhD graduates and advanced doctoral candidates in the social sciences whose research combines strong training in their discipline with deep knowledge of a country or region outside the United States and Canada.

Each year, five to six scholars join a small, close knit community and take part in seminars, dinners, and mentorship from senior Harvard faculty while carrying out their own research. Selected scholars receive an annual stipend of $80,000 plus research funding, and the program welcomes applicants from any country. Applications for the fellowship starting August 1, 2027, are due by September 18, 2026. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Host University: Harvard University
• Host Country: United States
• Degree Level: Postdoctoral
• Funding Type: Fully funded fellowship
• Language of Instruction: English
• Open to All Nationalities
• Application Deadline: September 18, 2026

Benefits:

• An annual stipend of $80,000, plus $6,000 in yearly research support
• Regular seminars, dinners, and informal gatherings with fellow Academy Scholars
• Mentorship from the Harvard Academy Senior Scholars, a group of Harvard faculty members
• The chance to explore innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to your research
• A possible invitation to teach a class at Harvard during your appointment

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Eligibility:

• Hold a PhD or equivalent degree completed on or after August 1, 2025, or be an advanced doctoral candidate close to finishing
• If still completing your PhD, be able to provide official proof of degree completion from your university by June 30, 2027
• Not currently hold, or have previously held, another postdoctoral fellowship
• Be able to start the fellowship on August 1, 2027, since no deferrals or delays are allowed
• Be available for an interview on December 4, 2026, if selected as a finalist

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Eligible Fields of Study:

The program accepts applicants from a wide range of social science disciplines, as long as the research has a regional focus outside the United States and Canada.

Core Disciplines

• Anthropology
• Economics
• Ethnic Studies
• Geography
• Government and Political Science
• History and History of Science
• International Relations
• Law
• Psychology
• Public Policy and Social Policy
• Sociology
• Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Regional Studies

Regional studies fields are welcome as long as the research is clearly framed within one of the disciplines above.

• Africa Studies
• Asia Studies (including Central, East, South, and Southeast Asia)
• Eastern Europe and Russia Studies
• Inner Asian and Altaic Studies
• Latin American and Iberian Studies
• Middle East Studies
• Slavic Languages and Civilization
• Ukraine Studies
• Western Europe Studies

Fields such as archaeology, architecture, art history, business, literature, philosophy, and religion are not accepted, along with any research focused on the United States or Canada.

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Application Requirements:

Applicants must submit the following documents online as PDF files.

• A current CV, including a list of publications
• A research proposal of no more than 2000 words (references do not count toward this limit)
• One scholarly writing sample in English, such as a dissertation chapter or journal article, up to fifty pages long
• An official copy of your PhD program transcript
• Three letters of recommendation, submitted directly by your recommenders through the online system

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Important Dates:

• Application Deadline: September 18, 2026, by 11:59 PM EDT, for all materials except recommendation letters
• Recommendation Letters Deadline: September 28, 2026, by 11:59 PM EDT
• Finalist Interviews: December 4, 2026
• Award Announcement: December 2026
• Fellowship Start Date: August 1, 2027

How to Apply:

• Visit the homepage of the Harvard Academy website
• Click the Apply Online button to begin your application.
• Submit your application first, since your recommenders will only receive their upload link after you do.
• For questions about the application, you can email [email protected].

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