The Radcliffe Fellowship at Harvard is a nine-month residential fellowship in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for established scholars, scientists, writers, artists and journalists of any nationality. Harvard Radcliffe Institute supports 50 fellows a year. Each one receives a $78,000 stipend and $5,000 for project expenses, plus housing, moving and childcare help depending on family size.
Applications for the 2027-2028 class have closed. The humanities, social sciences, creative arts, nonfiction and journalism deadline was 10 September 2026, and the science, engineering and mathematics deadline was 1 October 2026, both at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants will hear by the end of March 2027. If you are preparing for the 2028-2029 class, plan on 10 September 2027 or 1 October 2027, depending on your field.
Radcliffe Fellowship 2027-2028 at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Host | Harvard Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Radcliffe Yard, Cambridge |
| Places | 50 fellows a year. Radcliffe received 1,677 applications for the 2025-2026 class. |
| Length | September 2027 to May 2028 (1 September 2027 to 31 May 2028 in Radcliffe’s recruitment notices) |
| Stipend | $78,000, taxable |
| Project funds | $5,000 on top of the stipend |
| Other support | Housing and moving allowances for relocating fellows, childcare funds, health insurance support where needed |
| Workspace | Office or studio in Byerly Hall, full-time Harvard visiting fellow appointment, Harvard Library and athletic facility access |
| Residence rule | You must live in the Cambridge or Boston area for the whole year and take part in weekly talks and events |
| Nationality | Any. Fellows from abroad usually come on a J scholar visa. |
| Application fee | None stated |
Radcliffe Fellowship deadlines
| Field | 2027-2028 deadline (closed) | Deadline (2028-2029 class) |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities and social sciences | 10 September 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET | 10 September 2027, 5:00 p.m. ET |
| Creative arts, nonfiction and journalism | 10 September 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET | 10 September 2027, 5:00 p.m. ET |
| Science, engineering and mathematics | 1 October 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET | 1 October 2027, 5:00 p.m. ET |
| Decisions | By the end of March 2027 | By the end of March 2028 |
The 2028-2029 dates are this year’s dates moved forward one year (based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens). Radcliffe says details for that round will come in spring 2027, and you can join its mailing list on the application information page to be told when the portal opens.
Is the Radcliffe Fellowship fully funded?
It pays enough to live on, but it works like a salary replacement more than a student scholarship. Some points other sites leave out:
- The $78,000 stipend is taxable income.
- If your home institution is in the US, Radcliffe pays the stipend to that institution, which must use it for your salary and benefits. If your employer is outside the US, the money is paid to you directly.
- There is one stipend. Some listings show a second “$78,000 allowance” and a total “well over $100,000”; Radcliffe publishes neither.
- Housing, moving and childcare money depends on whether you relocate and how many children come with you.
Radcliffe’s published support figures for the 2026-2027 year give a sense of the extras. Expect similar amounts for 2027-2028, and check the financial support page once you are offered a place.
| Support (per year, 2026-2027 figures) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Housing allowance, single or partnered fellow | $6,550 |
| Housing allowance, fellow with 1 child | $8,260 |
| Housing allowance, fellow with 2 or more children | $9,960 |
| Childcare, 1 child aged 12 or younger | Up to $3,570 |
| Childcare, 2 children aged 12 or younger | Up to $4,970 |
| Childcare, 3 or more children aged 12 or younger | Up to $6,390 |
| Extra for a child aged 3 or younger | Up to $9,960 |
| Extra for a child aged 4 to 6 | Up to $6,390 |
| Moving allowance | Varies with where you travel from and family size |
| Health care | Stipend to cover Radcliffe’s recommended health and dental plans for J scholar visa holders and for US fellows who cannot keep their own cover |
Who can apply for the Radcliffe Fellowship
Radcliffe is explicit that this is not a postdoctoral fellowship. Current degree students cannot apply, tenure is not required, and anyone who held a Harvard Radcliffe fellowship from 1999 onwards is excluded. For the 2027-2028 round, academic applicants needed a doctorate awarded by December 2023, which is the four-year rule. For the next round, count four years back from the appointment date.
| Field | Minimum record |
|---|---|
| Humanities and social sciences | Doctorate (PhD, MD, JD, DPhil or DEd) in the project’s area at least four years before appointment, plus a published monograph or at least two articles in refereed journals or edited collections |
| Science, engineering and mathematics | Doctorate in the project’s area at least four years before appointment, plus at least five articles in refereed journals |
| Journalism | At least five years of professional journalism |
| Nonfiction and fiction | One or more published books, a contract for a book-length manuscript, or at least three shorter published works longer than newspaper articles |
| Poetry | At least 20 poems or a poetry book published in the last five years, plus a manuscript in progress |
| Visual arts | At least five years as a professional artist, several curated group shows and at least two professional solo exhibitions |
| Film and video | A body of independent work that has been exhibited, shown at festivals or broadcast |
| Playwriting | A significant body of produced or optioned plays |
| Music composition | Strong evidence of achievement and recent performances; a PhD or DMA is desirable, not required |
What Radcliffe is looking for in proposals
Every fellow works on an individual project, and the review committee picks a class across many fields. Radcliffe currently welcomes proposals in these areas:
- Academic freedom and connecting across difference, its multiyear focus for 2024 to 2029. Related topics include free inquiry, political polarisation, peace and conflict, inequality and religious pluralism. Nine fellows in the 2026-2027 class work within this initiative.
- Climate, through the Radcliffe-Salata Climate Justice fellowships.
- Women, gender and society, and projects that use the Schlesinger Library’s collections. Radcliffe welcomes these but does not require them.
Some aggregator sites also list a priority for STEM researchers hit by US federal funding cuts. I could not find that on any Radcliffe page, so do not build your proposal around it.
Radcliffe Fellowship application documents
- Online application form
- Curriculum vitae
- Project proposal of 1,400 words, with a bibliography where appropriate
- Writing or work sample (see the table below)
- Contact details for three referees, who are emailed and upload their letters through the portal
| Field | Work sample |
|---|---|
| Humanities and social sciences | Relevant unpublished writing, or a published article or book chapter; up to 40 pages |
| Science, engineering and mathematics | Three published articles |
| Nonfiction and fiction | About 30 pages, related to the project or already published |
| Journalism | Three published articles (about 30 pages); up to 15 minutes of audio or video optional |
| Poetry | Up to 10 poems |
| Playwriting | One play or section of up to 30 pages |
| Visual arts | 12 images and up to 3 moving-image excerpts |
| Film and video | Up to 15 minutes, or timestamps for 15 minutes of a longer work |
| Music composition | One to three recent samples, with scores except for electronic or improvised work |
If you need help briefing your referees, our recommendation letter guide shows what a strong letter covers.
How to apply for the Radcliffe Fellowship
- Check the record rules for your field: count back four years from September 2028 if you are an academic applicant for the 2028-2029 class.
- Join the mailing list: sign up on Radcliffe’s application information page so you know when the 2028-2029 portal opens in 2027.
- Draft the 1,400-word proposal: say what you will finish during the nine months and why it suits an interdisciplinary group of fellows.
- Prepare your work sample and CV: follow the length limits for your field exactly.
- Ask three referees early: they upload letters themselves after the portal emails them.
- Create an account and submit: applications go through Radcliffe’s portal at radcliffe.secure-platform.com. Choose the right area (humanities and social sciences, creative arts, nonfiction and journalism, or science, engineering and mathematics), because the deadline depends on it.
- Wait for the email: all applicants are told the result by the end of March.
The portal address on some listings (radcliffe.onlineapplicationportal.com) is not the one Radcliffe gives. Use the link on Radcliffe’s own application information page.
If you are earlier in your career, a fellowship such as the KWI International Fellowships in Germany is open to recent PhDs.
FAQs about the Radcliffe Fellowship
How much does the Radcliffe Fellowship pay?
A $78,000 taxable stipend and $5,000 for project expenses. Relocating fellows can also get housing, moving and childcare funds, and fellows on J visas get help with health insurance.
Can international scholars apply for the Radcliffe Fellowship?
Yes. There is no citizenship rule, and fellows from abroad normally come on a J scholar visa. You must live in the Cambridge or Boston area for the full nine months.
Do I need a PhD for the Radcliffe Fellowship?
Academic applicants need a doctorate at least four years old and a publication record. Writers, journalists and artists qualify through professional achievement instead, such as published books or solo exhibitions.
When is the Radcliffe Fellowship deadline?
For the 2028-2029 class, 10 September 2027 for humanities, social sciences, creative arts, nonfiction and journalism, and 1 October 2027 for science, engineering and mathematics, both at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Sources and updates
Eligibility, documents, work samples, the December 2023 doctorate cut-off, the portal, the March notification and the spring 2027 notice come from Radcliffe’s application information page. Allowances and tax rules come from Radcliffe’s financial support overview for 2026-2027. The figure of 50 fellows comes from the Radcliffe Fellowship page, and the 1,677 applications from Radcliffe’s announcement of the 2025-2026 fellows. The 10 September and 1 October 2026 deadlines and the fellowship dates come from Radcliffe’s calls posted through the American Historical Association and the AAS Job Register. The multiyear focus is described in Radcliffe’s call as summarised by Opportunity Desk, and the nine academic freedom fellows come from Harvard Magazine’s report on the 2026-2027 class. Checked on 24 October 2026. I will update the dates when Radcliffe opens the 2028-2029 round.
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