Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program (HSAFP) 2025

Under the current presidency of Drew Gilpin Faust, 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. In addition, the University – reflecting the current South African constitution – has expanded its applicant pool to extend to all South Africans, regardless of ethnicity or race.

Fellows are selected because they have shown considerable skill in their chosen fields, and are expected to benefit from advanced training.  Fellowships are for a year of study in one of Harvard’s Professional Schools or Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, with tuition waivers provided by the School once fellows are admitted.

ADMISSION TO HARVARD

Candidates who are selected as finalists must apply and receive admission to their specific Harvard program for the following year. For example, if you apply for a fellowship during the 2025 application cycle and you are selected as a finalist, you must then apply for admission to your program for the following academic year of 2026-2027. If admitted to the program, your fellowship will be awarded for 2026-2027.

If candidates who are selected as finalists do not apply and receive admission to a specific Harvard program, the fellowship is void. While the relevant admission offices are consulted when reviewing applicants to be invited for interview, applicants are advised to consult program websites (see below) to ensure that the program to which they apply matches their academic and professional qualifications as well as career aspirations.

Admission to a formal Harvard degree or other program remains solely within the authority of the Admissions Committee of the particular Harvard school or program and not with the Center for African Studies. Harvard’s Law School, School of Public Health, and Kennedy School of Government all offer one-year master’s degree programs open to holders of the relevant bachelor’s degree. Admissions committees for master’s degrees may require candidates to take the Graduate Records Examination or the equivalent professional test.  The deadlines for submission of all admission materials to Harvard vary from mid-December to early January.

Unlike most South African universities, Harvard’s MBA is a two-year degree program and, therefore, not available through this fellowship program. Harvard Business School offers Executive Education programs that candidates may wish to consider. It should also be noted that Harvard offers no programs, degree or otherwise, in several areas commonly taught at other institutions (e.g. nursing, library science, social work). Furthermore, the largest Harvard school, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, does not offer a one-year Master’s degree. However, the Graduate School or Arts and Sciences (GSAS) does offer fellowship-eligible non-degree programs: Special Students or Visiting Fellows status.  Applicants for either of these programs should submit a well-developed plan that illustrates how access to Harvard faculty, courses and research resources will further their studies or research.