Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program 2026/2027 for Mid-Career Professionals (Fully-Funded to Study in Harvard, USA)

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About Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program

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.  

 

• School: Harvard University

Benefits of Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program

The fellowship provides for payment of all tuition for the full period of enrollment at Harvard. The fellowship also funds round-trip airfare between the fellow’s city of residence and Boston. A monthly stipend is provided to fellows, with the exception of those enrolled in the Executive Education Programs, to cover the cost of housing and other living expenses. Housing is usually in university graduate dormitories. Please note that housing costs in the Boston/Cambridge area are extremely high, and the stipend only covers bare necessities. The monthly stipend must also be used to pay other expenses such as medical and dental insurance, medicine, taxes, food, winter clothing, books, and supplies. Fellows are held personally responsible for the payment of all bills other than tuition fees and airfare. Fellows should also be aware that their stipends will have a significant amount of taxes taken out before they receive the funds.

Please be advised that Harvard will require fellows to purchase American medical insurance. This insurance does not cover the range of services covered in South Africa. Separate insurance must be purchased for dental coverage. Charges for non-covered expenses and prescription drugs are very high.

A full monthly check is provided for each month or partial month during which the fellow is officially registered at Harvard. The fellow will have higher “start-up” expenses in September and substantial expenses at the end of the period of study. Fellowship funds do not allow for family support, whether or not family members join the fellow at Harvard.

Fellows are strongly discouraged from bringing their family with them to Harvard. The cost of housing a family in Boston or Cambridge is considerably in excess of the rental charge for one individual in a graduate dormitory, the rate used in calculating the monthly stipend. Applicants for the fellowship must therefore consider seriously whether they are prepared to spend an academic year at Harvard apart from their families. The Executive Education Programs, in particular, will not allow a student to live with his or her family during the several months of the programs.

Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program Requirements

• Applicants must hold a bachelors degree or four-year equivalent. 
• Applicants must be able to conduct spoken and written academic work of the highest standard in Harvard’s language of instruction (English). 
• Applicants must be South African citizens (or legal permanent residents of South Africa); priority will be given to those currently working in Africa.  
• Applicants must have at least five years of postgraduate work experience; priority will be given to those with a demonstrated commitment to the public good.

Considerations and Expectations 

• Ideal candidates are those who seek to model ethical leadership, knowledge sharing, and serve as a resource to improve and transform their communities and South Africa. 
• Priority will be extended to mid-career applicants who have been educationally disadvantaged by past laws and resource allocations in South Africa, or whose families were harmed by discriminatory laws and exclusionary policies under apartheid.  
• Applicants whose interest in the program is only in seeking an advanced degree or professional certification to advance their own career interests are not ideal candidates.  
• Alumni of the program are expected to remain involved after the completion of their fellowship and serve as ambassadors for the fellowship and resources to one another. 

Application Date and Process

The HSAFP Application Form is hosted and resides on the Harvard University Funding Portal in a secure, encrypted environment that requires applicants to register to access the application. The registration is a one-time event that provides a login and password to return to your saved application. The system works best using Google Chrome or Firefox. The system will not function correctly when using Internet Explorer or Safari. 

TO APPLY

• Click here to access the application on or after February 15, 2025.
• Applicants should select 'Apply'.
• On the Login screen, select 'without Harvard Key'.
• If you are logging in for the first time, select 'Create New Account'. After you create your account, return to the link above to access the application.
• You can return to the link above to access your application using the login and password you create.

APPLICATION

The application includes the following categories: 

• General Information 
• Contact Details 
• Education 
• Employment History 
• Upload of files: CV, transcripts, personal statement, and academic essay 
• Recommendation Letters 
• Consent & Electronic Signature

FILES TO UPLOAD

Please Note: After each file upload you must select "Save" before uploading the next document.

CURRICULUM VITAE
Upload a copy of your most recent CV

TRANSCRIPTS
Upload transcripts for each post-secondary institution you have attended, including all your post-secondary educational degrees. Transcripts must show the grades and course titles for all your post-secondary coursework.
**DO NOT upload copies of diplomas/certificates.  

WRITING SAMPLES
An academic essay and a personal statement must be submitted.

• Personal Statement: Tell us about yourself – in particular, your background, your academic and career trajectory, and why you wish to pursue this program of your choice at Harvard University. Candidates may consider the following questions in preparing their personal statement: 
  • What is your motivation and rationale for applying to your intended program of study? How will it transform your impact on the world (especially considering prior qualifications and training you have received); and how will you contribute to the broader South Africa Fellowship cohort and community?  
  • What is your financial need for this program?  
  • How has your life been shaped by the legal discrimination of Apartheid policies and history? What are some of the major inflection points in your life that have shaped who you are.  

**Personal statements should demonstrate that the candidate has researched the program to which they are applying and understands how the program will advance their career goals.  Maximum 1000 words.  

• Academic Essay: Candidates are asked to submit an academic essay reflective of innovative ideas that propose solutions to issues facing contemporary South Africa in their field of interest. Include references cited. While your topic of interest might align with your previous academic projects, we require you to present original work with current data. Successful candidates typically provide an essay that explores an opportunity or challenge facing South Africa, engaging with the relevant literature in their field to propose a theoretical framework or strategy to address this issue. Essays should not read as an op-ed or opinion piece.
  • Applicants seeking admission into the Special Student or Visiting Fellow GSAS Programs should use this academic essay to describe their research and attach a description of their relevant coursework.  
  • Applicants seeking admission to the HSPH program should tell us about a public health problem or challenge that they seek to address as part of their studies in the program and/or upon completion of their MPH program.
  • Applicants to the Harvard Kennedy School MC/MPA program should describe a policy problem or challenge they are committed to addressing, describe a compelling solution they have pursued or seek to pursue, and convey how their career aspirations and professional goals align with their commitment to public leadership and community service.  
  • Applicants to the HLS program should provide a cogent legal essay that describes either an important issue in their field of interest or a current legal problem facing a particular country, region, or the world, and then propose a theoretical framework or a legal analysis or strategy to address this issue.   
  • Applicants to HBS Executive Education programs (GMP/PLD/AMP) should address a complex business, management, or leadership challenge they have faced and demonstrate how they overcame it and how they would apply their training to affect future change.  

**References do not count towards the word limit. Maximum 1000 words.  

Additional instructions: 

• The academic essay and the personal statement should be typed in a standard font and font size (10 to 12 point).  The essays should also be double-spaced. 
• Include your full name on the top of each page and your signature at the end of the academic essay and the personal statement. 

TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

• Two letters of recommendation must be submitted by recommenders through the online application system.  
• Before you begin your application notify your recommenders of the expected deadline.  
• You will be required to enter the names and contact details of your recommenders in your application. Note that recommenders will only receive a prompt email once you submit your application. 
• After you submit your application, recommenders will receive an e-mail to the address provided to submit their letters.  Reach out to your recommenders and notify them as soon as you decide to apply and notify them once you submit your application.  
• Please confirm with your recommenders that they have received this communication. Alternatively, recommenders can e-mail the letters directly to Africa Office Director,  Nthatisi Quella at ([email protected]). All emailed letters should contain HSAFP Recommendation and full name of applicant in the subject line. 
• Letters should be written by people who know you well in an educational setting or by people whom you have worked with in a professional capacity—not family nor friends. Applicants for programs at HSPH, HKS, and HLS are strongly encouraged to include at least one reference from a professor or faculty member who is familiar with your academic work. Applicants seeking admission into HBS executive education programs should include a reference from a current employer.  Applicants seeking admission into the GSAS programs should include a letter from their supervising faculty or dean. 
• Make sure you provide plenty of time for your recommenders to write your letters. Ask them in advance so that they review all instructions, including the deadline (April 15, 2025), on the website before completing their letter. Please ensure the e-mail address of your recommender is correct. After submitting your application, a request will be sent as a link to your reference for submission of your recommendation.

 

HSAFP APPLICATION (2026-2027 Cohort) OPENING AND CLOSING DATES 
February 15, 2025: HSAFP application OPEN 
April 15, 2025: HSAFP Application DEADLINE 

 

QUESTIONS?

• Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions page.
• Further queries about the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program should be addressed to the Harvard Center for African Studies, Africa Office at [email protected]. All e-mails should contain 'HSAFP Query - [LAST NAME]" in the subject line.

Application Deadline

15 April, 2025

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