Harvard Emirates Leadership Initiative Fellowship 2027: $55,000 to $75,000 Stipend for Policy Scholars

Applications are open for the Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship at Harvard's Middle East Initiative. The fellowship is for junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars and faculty. It gives them time and Harvard's resources to pursue an independent research project on important public policy issues, especially in the Gulf and the wider Arab world. The programme runs from September 1 to June 30, and fellows must be physically present at Harvard throughout. Each fellow produces a deliverable, such as a book manuscript, journal article, working paper or policy brief.

Stipend

The stipend covers ten months, and the amount depends on your career stage:

• $55,000: Predoctoral fellows and mid-career practitioners without a PhD.
• $65,000: Postdoctoral fellows whose PhD was awarded less than five years before the start date.
• $75,000: Fellows whose PhD was awarded more than five years before the start date.

Fellows also get access to Harvard's libraries and other resources, and can collaborate with other Harvard fellows and faculty.

Key Eligibility Criteria

• Career Stage: Be a junior or mid-career policy-oriented scholar or faculty member. Policy analysts, public servants and social scientists can also apply.
• Nationality: The fellowship is open to all nationalities. Priority goes to scholars who are from, and plan to return to, the UAE, the Gulf and the Arab world.
• Research: Propose research with strong potential for real-world impact. Priority areas are governance, economic dynamism, human capital, and public policy design and delivery.
• Presence: Be physically present at Harvard for the whole fellowship.

What You Need to Apply

• CV or resume.
• Research proposal of 3 to 5 pages.
• Unofficial transcript, if you don't hold a PhD.
• Contact details for 3 recommenders.
• Writing sample of fewer than 50 pages in English, with an abstract of 300 words or less. It must be written without generative AI.
• The names of 2 to 3 Harvard faculty members you would like to work with.
• Whether you want full or partial funding, and any other funding sources you have.

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: December 1, 2026.
• Recommendation Letters Due: December 15, 2026.
• Decisions Announced: By February 27, 2027.

How to Apply

Apply through the Belfer Center fellowship page before December 1, 2026.

Disclaimer

Edfrica shares opportunities for informational purposes only. Results and funding outcomes are not guaranteed.