The International Security Program (ISP), the oldest research program of Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, hosts predoctoral, postdoctoral, and advanced research fellows in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for one academic year.
Fellows work on a dissertation, book, or other major publication and join Center research. The fellowships hub lists the 2027–2028 round as open until December 1, 2026, though the program page’s banner still reads “closed.”
Benefits & funding
- Annual stipend: US$56,000 for postdoctoral fellows, US$46,000 for predoctoral fellows; funded places are limited, and nonstipendiary appointments are also offered.
- Postdocs within five years of the Ph.D. get benefits; other fellows get full or partial health-insurance premium reimbursement.
- Office space in most cases and access to most Harvard libraries and facilities; no housing.
Eligibility
- Predoctoral: enrolled in a doctoral program, general exams passed before appointment, and significant dissertation progress.
- Postdoctoral/advanced: recent Ph.D. or equivalent (D.Phil. accepted), university faculty, or staff of government, military, international, humanitarian, or private research institutions with appropriate professional experience.
- Open to citizens of all countries; visa sponsorship is available.
- Fellows must be in residence for the full term and spend at least four-fifths of their time on Center research; offers cannot be deferred.
Can you apply?
Check who can apply
No nationality, residency, education, experience, gender or age limit is listed. The other conditions are under Eligibility.
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
- 1Prepare a CV, a 3–5-page research statement, and one single-authored English writing sample under 50 pages; predoctoral applicants add an unofficial transcript.
- 2State whether you seek full or partial ISP funding and list other potential funding sources.
- 3Submit online by December 1, 2026, naming three recommenders.
- 4Recommenders upload confidential letters by December 15, 2026.
Program timeline
October 1, 2026
2027–2028 applications open
Application deadline
December 1, 2026
Recommendation letters due
December 15, 2026
Applicants notified
February 15, 2027
Typical fellowship term
September–June