Harvard Kennedy School Equity Fellowship 2027
Overview
The Harvard Kennedy School Equity Fellowship 2027 is offered by the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The fellowship supports incoming students who are dedicated to understanding and dismantling barriers to equity. The programme focuses on reducing disparities and improving outcomes for the Black and African American community in the United States, the Latino community in the United States, and marginalized populations around the world. The 2026-2027 academic year marks the final time the fellowship will be available.
What you get
The fellowship provides financial support toward the cost of attending a master's degree programme at Harvard Kennedy School. For students pursuing joint or concurrent degrees, support applies during the period when Harvard Kennedy School serves as the school in residence, as determined by the financial aid office. In addition to funding, fellows participate in a yearlong, non-credit co-curricular leadership programme that includes dinner seminars, an annual retreat, experiential learning, discussions with visionary leaders, personal reflection, mentorship, and membership in an interdisciplinary network of peers and mentors.
Who can apply
The fellowship is open to newly admitted degree-program students at Harvard Kennedy School, though the 2026-2027 cycle restricts consideration exclusively to applicants to the MC/MPA programme. Students from all backgrounds may apply, and applicants from underrepresented groups are encouraged. Candidates must demonstrate leadership promise, academic credentials, and a genuine commitment to reducing disparities within one of the designated focus areas.
Requirements
Fellows are required to maintain good academic standing, attend the entire programme, participate in all scheduled activities, and contribute to programme sessions and service activities, which include a field experience trip. Participants must also represent the Center for Public Leadership and Harvard in a responsible manner.
How to apply
Candidates must first apply for admission to the eligible master's programme by December 1, 2026, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. Next, applicants must submit the CPL Equity Fellowship application through the Harvard Kennedy School financial aid application by January 15, 2027. Applicants must select only one focus area and submit a biographical profile of no more than 150 words written in the third person, detailing their name, intended degree, joint or concurrent degree status, place of origin, current residence, professional experience, leadership achievements, awards, certifications, and educational background. Additionally, candidates must answer two essay prompts: a response of up to 500 words addressing an issue they care about regarding disparities within their chosen focus area with specific examples, and a 200-word response describing how they hope to develop and contribute as leaders while at Harvard Kennedy School.
Key dates
The deadline to apply for admission to the eligible Harvard Kennedy School master's programme is December 1, 2026, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. The deadline to submit the financial aid application and fellowship materials is January 15, 2027. Finalists are expected to be interviewed by the selection committee in late February, with fellowship selection notifications issued after admission decisions.