Applications are now open for the Harvard Academy Scholars Program, a wonderful two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University for early-career researchers in the social sciences. This fully funded program supports innovative research combining disciplinary excellence with expertise in regions or countries outside the United States and Canada. Open to recent PhD recipients (completed on or after August 1, 2024) and advanced doctoral candidates worldwide, the program offers a $80,000 annual stipend plus $5,000 for research. The application deadline is September 19, 2025, with no application fee required. You can check out more postdoc positions here.Â
Key Details
- Program: Harvard Academy Scholars Program
- Type: Postdoctoral fellowship
- Duration: 2 years (to be completed within 3 years, starting August 1, 2026)
- Funding: Fully funded ($80,000 annual stipend + $5,000 research support)
- Nationality: Open to all nationalities
- Application Deadline: September 19, 2025
- Application Fee: None
- Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Interested in More Fellowships? Follow links below
Program Overview
The Academy Scholars Program identifies and nurtures outstanding scholars whose work bridges social science disciplines with expertise in international or regional studies. Scholars join a vibrant community at Harvard University, where they receive mentorship, financial support, and opportunities to pursue groundbreaking research. The program is ideal for those aiming for careers in research universities or international institutions.
Who Can Apply?
The program is open to scholars worldwide who meet the following criteria:
Postdoc in Austria: Vienna Center for Advanced Studies (ViCAS) Early-Career Fellowship
Eligibility Requirements
- Academic Status:
- Recent PhD recipients (degree completed on or after August 1, 2024) or equivalent (e.g., DPhil, SJD).
- Advanced doctoral candidates in the social sciences nearing dissertation completion (must provide degree conferral documentation by June 30, 2026, for an August 1, 2026, start date).
- Fields of Study: Social sciences, including:
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Ethnic Studies
- Geography
- Government
- History
- History of Science
- International Relations
- Law
- Political Economy and Government
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Policy
- Social Policy
- Social Studies
- Sociology
- Women, Gender, & S*xuality
- Regional studies (e.g., Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East, etc.), excluding the United States and Canada.
- Citizenship: Open to all nationalities, with research typically conducted in English.
Best opportunity: St John’s College Research Fellowship in UK
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online by September 19, 2025. Late submissions are not accepted. The selection process is highly competitive, with only 5–6 scholars selected annually from hundreds of applicants.
Application Materials
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Include a list of publications.
- Research Proposal: Maximum 2,000 words, outlining intellectual objectives, methodology, and disciplinary contributions. References do not count toward the word limit.
- Scholarly Writing Sample: A PhD dissertation chapter or peer-reviewed journal article (50 pages maximum, in English).
- PhD Program Transcript: For foreign universities, provide official transcript-like documentation for all graduate work.
- Three Letters of Recommendation: Uploaded confidentially by recommenders by September 29, 2025.
Also check: AUS Postdoctoral Fellowship AwardÂ
Application Process
- Submit all materials (except recommendation letters) as PDFs via the Harvard Academy official website by clicking the APPLY ONLINE button or using the buttons below.
- Ensure recommendation letters are submitted by September 29, 2025.
- Finalists must be available for a personal interview on December 4, 2025.
- Awards are announced in December 2025.
