Harvard University Academy Scholars Program

About the scholarship

The Academy Scholars Program of The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies identifies and supports outstanding scholars at the start of their academic careers whose work combines excellence in a social science discipline with a command of the language and knowledge or expertise of countries or regions outside of the United States or Canada. Their scholarship should span traditional disciplinary divisions and elucidate comparative, transnational, or domestic issues, past or present. The Academy Scholars are a select community of individuals possessed of resourcefulness, initiative, and originality whose work shows promise as a foundation for careers in research universities or international institutions.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Harvard University Academy Scholars Program, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• These awards are open to recipients of PhD or comparable doctoral degrees (within two years of the August 1, 2026, start date) and advanced doctoral candidates in the social sciences.
• Scholars nearing dissertation completion must be able to submit degree conferral documentation issued by their university registrar’s office by June 30, 2026, for an August 1, 2026, start date.
• Individuals who hold or have completed another Harvard postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible to apply.