Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program
Applications closed on March 31st, 2026 for the 2027-2028 Cohort
The Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program (HSAFP) was established in 1979 by Harvard President Derek Bok to address the needs of South Africans denied access to advanced education under Apartheid. The program was a direct response to the strong movement by Harvard students and faculty during the transnational divestment campaigns of the 1970s. The Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program (HSAFP) continues to serve as a powerful bridge-builder and intellectual opportunity for talented South Africans, with the goal of providing a “transformational experience” at Harvard University during recipients’ fellowship year and beyond.
Fellowships are up to one year of study at select Harvard schools, including Harvard Law School, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and Harvard Business School executive education programs (i) Program for Leadership Development (PLD), ii) General Management Program (GMP), iii) Advanced Management Program (AMP)). The recruitment and selection process for the HSAFP take place annually, with interviews facilitated by the Africa Office in Johannesburg.
Fellowships have been awarded to individuals with careers spanning education, law, public health, the arts and humanities, business and the private sector, and a host of other professions and disciplines. Through their presence in Harvard’s classrooms, seminars, research initiatives, and conferences, HSAFP fellows have introduced knowledge and perspectives to the Harvard campus, the significance of which goes well beyond numbers and publications. Upon their return to South Africa, many of the HSAFP fellows have gone on to play prominent roles in their nation and local communities while remaining engaged with the Harvard community in Cambridge, Africa, and beyond.
Fellows are selected because they have shown exceptional skill in their chosen fields and are expected to have transformative impact after benefiting from advanced training. Since the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program was established over 40 years ago, more than 220 Fellows are counted among the alumni of the program, representing leadership positions in all aspects of South African society, including leaders in the public sector and private sector, academia, civil society, a host of international organizations, cultural and health institutions, and beyond.
HSAFP APPLICATION (2027-2028 Cohort) OPENING AND CLOSING DATES
- January 31, 2026: HSAFP application OPEN
- March 31, 2026: HSAFP Application DEADLINE