Candidates who are selected as finalists must apply and receive admission to their specific Harvard program for the following year. For example, if you apply for a fellowship during the 2023 application cycle and you are selected as a finalist, you must then apply for admission to your program for the following academic year of 2023-2024. If admitted to the program, your fellowship will be awarded for 2024-2025.
If candidates who are selected as finalists do not apply and receive admission to a specific Harvard program, the fellowship is void. While the relevant admission offices are consulted when reviewing applicants to be invited for interview, applicants are advised to consult program websites (see below) to ensure that the program to which they apply matches their academic and professional qualifications as well as career aspirations.
Admission to a formal Harvard degree or other program remains solely within the authority of the Admissions Committee of the particular Harvard school or program and not with the Center for African Studies. Harvard’s Law School, School of Public Health, and Kennedy School of Government all offer one-year master’s degree programs open to holders of the relevant bachelor’s degree. Admissions committees for master’s degrees may require candidates to take the Graduate Records Examination or the equivalent professional test. The deadlines for submission of all admission materials to Harvard vary from mid-December to early January.
Unlike most South African universities, Harvard’s MBA is a two-year degree program and, therefore, not available through this fellowship program. Harvard Business School offers Executive Education programs that candidates may wish to consider. It should also be noted that Harvard offers no programs, degree or otherwise, in several areas commonly taught at other institutions (e.g. nursing, library science, social work). Furthermore, the largest Harvard school, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, does not offer a one-year Master’s degree. However, the Graduate School or Arts and Sciences (GSAS) does offer fellowship-eligible non-degree programs: Special Students or Visiting Fellows status. Applicants for either of these programs should submit a well-developed plan that illustrates how access to Harvard faculty, courses, and research resources will further their studies or research.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend HSAFP information sessions towards the end of February and in early March. The first information session will feature CAS program managers and program alumni while the second session will feature program directors of participating Harvard programs to which HSAFP candidates can apply. Both are an opportunity to learn more about the program and application process as well as to ask questions before you apply. To be informed of the information session dates, sign-up for the CAS weekly newsletter HERE, or check the CAS website regularly.
Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions page with any questions. Further inquiries about the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program should be addressed to Nthatisi Quella, Africa Office Director.