Funding

Self Funded

Program dates

Sep 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027

Fellowship•USA · Cambridge · Hybrid

Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Fellowship

Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights, Harvard Kennedy School

Application Deadline

Closed · February 22, 2026

Reopens ~Feb 2027

Official Page

The Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Fellowship is an annual research affiliation run by the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights at Harvard Kennedy School. It supports emerging and established researchers, practitioners, advocates, and defenders whose work advances the human rights of LGBTQI+ people worldwide.

Fellows develop an original project on LGBTQI+ people, policy, or rights, exchange feedback in a virtual cohort, and present their final work at a research symposium in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The affiliation runs from September 1 through June 30 and is primarily non-residential.

Benefits & funding

  • An academic affiliation with the Carr-Ryan Center and its Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Program.
  • Opportunities to audit classes, meet Harvard faculty and visiting experts, lead student study groups, and join public programs and other learning activities.
  • Monthly cohort meetings, structured peer feedback, and at least three work-in-progress presentations.
  • A final presentation at the Global LGBTQI+ Research Symposium in Cambridge.
  • The fellowship is unpaid; fellows normally cover their expenses through an employer, home institution, or external grant.
  • Limited shared office space may be available, but a residential placement is not guaranteed.

Eligibility

  • Open to emerging and established researchers, practitioners, advocates, and human rights defenders.
  • The proposed research and professional practice must align with the priorities of the Carr-Ryan Center and its Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Program.
  • Fellows must attend a monthly Zoom cohort meeting, share materials, give peer feedback, present their work at least three times, and attend the final symposium in Cambridge.
  • No nationality, residency, age, degree, gender, or stated minimum-experience requirement is published.
  • Applicants must identify how they will fund their participation because the affiliation is unpaid.

Can you apply?

Open to all applicants

No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.

Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.

We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

Application process

  1. 1
    Prepare a résumé or CV and a research proposal of up to three pages explaining the project, the applicant’s qualifications, and its fit with the Center’s priorities.
  2. 2
    Add a proposal summary of up to 200 words, a relevant writing sample of up to ten pages, and a list of publications or comparable professional work with links or up to three attachments.
  3. 3
    Provide contact details for two references who can assess the applicant’s ability to complete the research.
  4. 4
    Answer the application prompts about the project’s intended impact, any need for a residential appointment, and the applicant’s funding sources.
  5. 5
    Submit through the official application route when the next annual call opens.

Program timeline

  1. Application deadline for the 2026–2027 cohort

    Feb 22, 2026

  2. Most recent fellowship term begins

    Sep 1, 2026

  3. Global LGBTQI+ Research Symposium in Cambridge

    Spring 2027

  4. Most recent fellowship term ends

    Jun 30, 2027

  5. Next Carr-Ryan fellowship application cycle expected to open; no exact day is published

    December 2026

The monthly round-up

New fellowships, scholarships and programs, once a month. No account needed.