Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center is accepting applications for its 2027–2028 academic-year fellowships. Opportunities cover international security, artificial intelligence, energy policy, nuclear policy and geopolitics. Applications close December 1, 2026, with recommendation letters due December 15.
Background & Fellowship Description
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School is inviting applications for its 2027–2028 academic-year fellowship programmes. These opportunities bring together researchers, scholars, students and experienced professionals working on major challenges in science, technology, international affairs and public policy.
The centre offers academic and professional fellowship tracks, giving selected fellows access to Harvard faculty members, affiliated experts and a community of researchers working across science and international affairs.
There are 14 fellowship opportunities listed on the centre’s fellowship page. Research areas include international security, nuclear policy, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, energy and climate policy, geopolitics, leadership and history.
The general application deadline for the 2027–2028 cycle is December 1, 2026, while recommendation letters are due December 15, 2026. However, applicants should check the individual fellowship page for specific eligibility conditions, application documents and funding arrangements.
Fellowship Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Institution | Harvard Kennedy School |
| Centre | Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs |
| Academic year | 2027–2028 |
| Opportunity type | Academic, research and professional fellowships |
| Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
| Research areas | Security, technology, energy, climate, nuclear policy and international affairs |
| Eligible applicants | Vary by fellowship |
| Funding | Stipends or other support may be available for selected fellowships; arrangements vary |
| Application deadline | December 1, 2026 |
| Recommendation letters deadline | December 15, 2026 |
| Official fellowship portal | Belfer Center Fellowships |
Available Fellowship Opportunities
The Belfer Center lists several programmes targeting different academic and professional backgrounds.
| Fellowship | Main focus | Intended applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Recanati-Kaplan Foundation Fellowship | Intelligence studies and national security | Intelligence officers entering or holding leadership roles |
| Technology and Geopolitics Fellowship | Emerging technologies and global policy | Doctoral students writing dissertations and recent PhD recipients |
| Managing the Atom Fellowship | Nuclear policy, arms control and nonproliferation | Doctoral researchers, recent PhD recipients, faculty and experienced professionals |
| International Security Program Fellowship | International security and strategic studies | Predoctoral candidates and recent PhD recipients |
| Energy, Climate, and Technology Policy | Energy, climate finance and technological innovation | Researchers, scholars and junior faculty, depending on the applicable track |
| Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship | Public policy in the UAE, Gulf and Arab world | Junior and mid-career policy scholars and faculty |
| Kuwait Program Research Fellowship | Policy challenges affecting Kuwait and the Gulf | Junior and mid-career scholars and faculty meeting the programme’s regional criteria |
| Kuwait Program Visiting Scholar Fellowship | Research and academic engagement concerning Kuwait and the Gulf | Senior policy-oriented scholars and faculty from Kuwait |
| Belfer Young Leaders Student Fellowship | Global affairs and leadership development | Eligible Harvard Kennedy School MPP and MPA students |
| Arctic Initiative | Arctic policy, governance and environmental challenges | Researchers, scholars and experienced practitioners |
| Ernest May Fellowship in History and Policy | History and strategic policy studies | History doctoral candidates and PhD recipients |
| Nova Fellowship | Emerging technologies, including AI and biotechnology | Senior technologists, scientists and engineers |
| Israel Program Research Fellowship | Policy research concerning Israel and the wider region | Mid-career and senior scholars and practitioners |
| Geopolitics of Energy Fellowship | Energy, security and international politics | Predoctoral candidates and recent PhD recipients |
These opportunities do not share identical eligibility rules. Applicants should select a fellowship aligned with their research interests, career stage and professional background.
What the Fellowship Experience Offers
Access to Harvard Faculty and Experts
Fellows benefit from opportunities to engage with Harvard faculty members and other experts affiliated with the Belfer Center. This academic environment supports research, policy discussion and professional exchange.
Research and Policy Development
Many fellowships provide time and resources to pursue research addressing real-world policy challenges. Depending on the programme, research may cover security, nuclear weapons policy, energy systems, international relations, emerging technologies or regional public policy.
Academic and Professional Networks
Fellows join a cohort of people working across science and international affairs. This provides opportunities to exchange ideas, develop professional relationships and engage with interdisciplinary perspectives.
Stipends and Other Support
Funding arrangements depend on the individual fellowship. Some programmes provide stipends and access to Harvard resources, while some may offer non-stipendiary appointments or other funding arrangements.
Applicants should read the funding section of their chosen fellowship carefully rather than assume that every programme offers the same financial package.
Qualifications (Education and Certification, Experience)
Academic and Professional Requirements
The Belfer Center fellowship portfolio accommodates different career stages. Depending on the programme, eligible applicants may include:
- Doctoral students who have progressed to the dissertation-writing stage.
- Recent recipients of a PhD or equivalent degree.
- University faculty members and junior researchers.
- Mid-career and senior policy professionals.
- Intelligence officers and other experienced security practitioners.
- Senior scientists, engineers and technology-sector innovators.
- Eligible Harvard Kennedy School MPP and MPA students applying for the Belfer Young Leaders Student Fellowship.
The academic qualifications, experience requirements and professional background expected vary substantially between programmes.
Research Interests
Applicants should identify a fellowship that matches their expertise and proposed research. Examples of subject areas include international security, emerging technology governance, nuclear policy, climate policy, energy systems, Arctic governance and regional geopolitics.
For research fellowships, applicants should review the specific programme’s policy priorities and determine whether their proposed work aligns with the centre’s objectives.
International Applicants
The overall fellowship portfolio includes programmes with different regional and professional eligibility criteria. Some are designed for international or US intelligence officers, while others focus on particular regions or groups of professionals.
International applicants should not assume that all 14 fellowships are open to every nationality. Check the individual fellowship page to confirm country-specific conditions, residency expectations and any other restrictions.
Application Documents
Required documents vary by fellowship. Applicants should consult the official page for their chosen programme to establish which materials are required and how recommendation letters must be submitted.
Where applicable, candidates should allow sufficient time for recommenders to prepare and submit their letters before the December 15, 2026 deadline.
Additional Information
Application Deadlines
The Belfer Center’s general fellowship page lists the following dates for the 2027–2028 academic-year cycle:
| Application requirement | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fellowship application | December 1, 2026 |
| Recommendation letters | December 15, 2026 |
These dates are published on the official Belfer Center fellowship portal. Applicants should also check their selected programme’s page for its decision timetable and any additional requirements.
How to Apply
Step 1: Visit the official fellowship portal.
Go to the Belfer Center Fellowships page and review the available programmes.
Step 2: Choose the most appropriate fellowship.
Compare the fellowship descriptions and select an option that fits your academic background, professional experience and research interests.
Step 3: Review the individual eligibility criteria.
Check the required qualifications, research focus, regional eligibility restrictions and any residency or employment conditions.
Step 4: Prepare the required documents.
Follow the instructions on the individual fellowship page. Do not assume that the documents required for one programme are identical to those for another.
Step 5: Arrange recommendation letters.
Contact your recommenders early and confirm that they understand the submission process and December 15, 2026 deadline.
Step 6: Submit your application.
Complete the relevant online application by December 1, 2026, following the instructions provided by the Belfer Center.
Explore and Apply for Belfer Center Fellowships
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center Fellowships?
They are academic and professional fellowship opportunities hosted by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School. The programmes cover research and policy topics including security, emerging technologies, energy and international affairs.
2. What is the application deadline for 2027–2028?
The general fellowship page lists December 1, 2026, as the application deadline.
3. When are recommendation letters due?
The listed deadline for recommendation letters is December 15, 2026.
4. Are the fellowships fully funded?
Not all fellowships have the same funding arrangements. Some offer stipends and other support, while non-stipendiary appointments may also be available. Applicants should check the details of their chosen programme.
5. Can international applicants apply?
Some programmes accommodate international applicants, while others have specific professional, regional or institutional eligibility requirements. Applicants must verify the rules for their chosen fellowship.
6. Which research fields are covered?
The fellowship portfolio includes international security, nuclear policy, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, climate policy, energy, geopolitics, Arctic affairs and history and policy.
7. Can current doctoral students apply?
Yes. Several fellowships are intended for doctoral students who have reached the dissertation-writing stage. Specific academic progress and eligibility requirements vary by programme.
8. Are recent PhD graduates eligible?
Yes. Several programmes accept recent PhD recipients or candidates with equivalent qualifications, depending on the fellowship’s criteria.
9. Do applicants need to submit a research proposal?
Requirements vary between programmes. Applicants should consult the individual fellowship page to determine whether a research proposal, statement of research, writing sample or additional material is required.
10. Where can I apply?
Visit the official Belfer Center Fellowships portal to review the opportunities and follow the application instructions.
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The Belfer Center fellowship portfolio may be particularly valuable for researchers, doctoral candidates, scholars and experienced professionals interested in international affairs and policy-relevant research.
Its range of programmes covers subjects from artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to nuclear policy, energy, climate and international security. However, eligibility and funding differ by fellowship, so choosing the correct programme is essential.
Applicants should review the individual criteria, prepare their supporting documents and contact recommenders well ahead of the December 2026 deadlines.
Disclaimer: Opportunities Feed shares external fellowship opportunities for informational purposes and is not affiliated with Harvard University or the Belfer Center. Applicants should confirm eligibility, funding arrangements, application dates and requirements directly through the official fellowship website.
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