Who is eligible to apply for the Academy Scholars Program?

The Academy Scholars Program is open to scholars from all countries and citizenships who have recently completed or are nearing completion of a PhD or equivalent degree program (DPhil and SJD included) in the social sciences.

The Academy Scholars Program is not a degree-granting program. If you have not recently completed or are not currently enrolled in a PhD or equivalent degree program in the social sciences, you are not eligible to apply for the Academy Scholars Program.

If you have completed a PhD program, the PhD completion date must be within two years of the August 1, 2026, start date. For applicants applying for the September 19, 2025, deadline, you must have completed your PhD on or after August 1, 2024.  

PhD candidates 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.

No postponements or deferrals of the August 1, 2026, start date will be allowed.

Individuals who hold or have completed another postdoctoral fellowship are not eligible to apply.

Finalists must be available for a personal interview on our December 4, 2025, interview date. The Harvard Academy will make all arrangements for the finalists to interview with the Selection Committee.