The Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program is now open for applications for intellectual, and talented South Africans who have shown considerable skill in their chosen fields and are expected to benefit from advanced training. Fellows should seek to model ethical leadership, and knowledge sharing, and serve as a resource to improve and transform their communities and South Africa.
Fellowships are for a year of study in one of Harvard’s Professional Schools or the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, with tuition waivers provided by the School once fellows are admitted.
Fellowship Description
Harvard University President Derek Bok established the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program in 1979 to address the needs of South Africans denied access to advanced education by the apartheid system; being a direct response to the strong movement by Harvard students and faculty during the divestment campaigns of the 1970s. The Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program continues to serve as an intellectual resource for talented South Africans, with the goal of providing a “transformational experience” at Harvard University during the fellowship year.
The program was established and is still intended, for mid-career professionals educationally disadvantaged by past laws and resource allocations in South Africa. The HSAFP seeks to expand its reach to institutions and organizations across South Africa in a continued effort to draw the broadest possible range of candidates for the program and is open to all South Africans who qualify. Priority will be extended to mid-career applicants from historically marginalized or underrepresented groups, including applicants from rural areas outside urban centers.
Alumni of the program are expected to remain involved after the completion of their fellowship and serve as ambassadors for the fellowship.
Award Benefits
- Fellows have introduced knowledge and perspectives to the Harvard campus.
- Tuition is provided by the participating School.
- Administrative funds for program management, stipends, and airfare for the fellows are provided by the Office of the President and administered by the Center for African Studies.
- Monthly stipend must also be used to pay other expenses such as medical and dental insurance, medicine.
Level and Area of Studies
Graduate degrees with careers spanning education, law, public health, the arts and humanities, business and the private sector, and a host of other professions and disciplines.
Place of Studies
Harvard University Center for African Studies, with the participating Institutions.
Also Check: Swedish Institute Study Scholarships for African Students
Eligibility Criteria
The Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program (HSAFP) was established to provide educational enrichment for educationally disadvantaged South African midcareer professionals, and is open to:
- Individuals who have shown considerable skill in their chosen fields stand to benefit from advanced training, and, it is hoped, can use that advanced training to further South African political, social, and economic progress.
- Fellows usually range from 30- to 45-years-old.
- All South Africans who qualify.
- Priority will be extended to mid-career applicants from historically marginalized or underrepresented groups, including applicants from rural areas outside urban centers.
- Ideal candidates who seek to model ethical leadership, and knowledge sharing, and serve as a resource to improve and transform their communities and South Africa.
- Fellowship applications are submitted directly to the Center for African Studies, and a committee of HSAFP alumni, Harvard University faculty, and Center staff interview short-listed applicants in South Africa.
- Successful candidates must then apply and be admitted to the specific Harvard school where they intend to study. Admission to any Harvard program, including for HSAFP finalists, remains solely within the authority of the Admissions Committee of each Harvard school or program—not with the Center for African Studies.
Application Procedures
- You can complete the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program application on Qualtrics and upload the required documents as prompted. Applicants must register to access the application.
- Candidates will be asked to enter biographical information and contact details.
- Candidates will be asked to enter academic/leadership/professional honors and detail any work or study completed outside South Africa.
- Candidates will be asked to enter their education history, including name and location of institution, dates of attendance and degree, and field of study.
- Candidates will be asked to enter their work history, including name and location of institution, phone number and website, position, and responsibilities.
Each answer should not be more than 250 words. The system does not track word limits. Candidates are responsible for ensuring their answers are 250 words or less. Responses longer than 250 words will not be considered. We recommend drafting your short answer texts in a word processor (e.g. Microsoft Word, Google Docs) to confirm word limits before entering the text (copy and paste) into the online application.
