What is the application process for the Academy Scholars Program?

All application materials must be submitted by the deadline of September 18, 2026. We do not accept late applications.

The completed application will include:

  • Curriculum vitae (CV); including list of publications
  • Research proposal (2000 words maximum); including intellectual objectives and planned methodological and disciplinary work
  • One scholarly writing sample, for example, a PhD dissertation chapter or peer-reviewed journal article. Co-authored texts are acceptable provided each author’s contribution is clearly specified and authorship is not shared with an academic advisor. This should be in English and no longer than fifty pages.
  • A copy of your PhD program transcript
  • Three letters of recommendation (uploaded directly and confidentially by the recommender through the online application—please note you will need to submit your application before an upload link is sent to your recommender, so plan accordingly)

All parts of the application, including the three letters of recommendation, are submitted online as .pdf documents.

Access the online application through the homepage of The Harvard Academy’s website by clicking on the APPLY ONLINE button.

All materials except for letters of recommendation must be received by September 18, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT (please ensure letters of recommendation arrive no later than September 28, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT). The selection process begins immediately thereafter. Applicants whose materials are incomplete are at a disadvantage when considered by the Selection Committee. We anticipate awards will be announced in December 2026.

Questions should be emailed to: applicationinquiries@wcfia.harvard.edu.

You may include footnotes, endnotes, and/or bibliographies in your proposed research statement, but they are not required. If you do give references, they will not count towards the 2000-word maximum for the research statement.

Regarding transcripts from foreign universities: our reviewers read many applications from those at foreign universities and request as much transcript-like official documentation as the Registrar at your university can provide, for all graduate work—both for the Master's and PhD programs in which you have been or are currently enrolled. Your institution most likely gets these requests often and can provide the required paperwork to you upon request.