Harvard University 2023 Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program, USA

Harvard University President Derek Bok established the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program in 1979 to address the needs of South Africans denied access to advanced education by the apartheid system. The creation of this program was a direct response to the strong movement by Harvard students and faculty during the divestment campaigns of the 1970s. The Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program continues to serve as an intellectual resource for talented South Africans, with the goal of providing a “transformational experience” at Harvard University during the fellowship year.

The program was established, and is still intended, for mid-career professionals educationally disadvantaged by past laws and resource allocations in South Africa. Today, 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. The program is open to all South Africans who qualify. Priority will be extended to mid-career applicants from historically marginalized or underrepresented groups, including applicants from rural areas outside urban centers. 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. Ideal candidates are those who seek to model ethical leadership, knowledge sharing, and serve as a resource to improve and transform their communities and South Africa. Applicants whose interest in the program is only in seeking an advanced degree or professional certification to advance their own career interests are not ideal candidates. Alumni of the program are expected to remain involved after the completion of their fellowship and serve as ambassadors for the fellowship.

Fellowships are for up to one year of study in one of Harvard’s Professional Schools or Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, with tuition provided by the participating School. General administrative funds for program management, stipends, and airfare for the fellows are provided by the Office of the President and administered by the Center for African Studies under the directorship of Professor John Mugane. The recruitment and selection interviews for the HSAFP fellows take place annually with the support of the Center for African Studies’ Africa Office in Johannesburg.

Fellowships have been awarded to men and women with careers spanning education, law, public health, the arts and humanities, business and the private sector, and a host of other professions and disciplines. Through their presence in Harvard’s classrooms, seminars, research initiatives, and conferences, HSAFP fellows have introduced knowledge and perspectives to the Harvard campus, the significance of which goes well beyond numbers and publications. Upon their return to South Africa, many of the HSAFP fellows have gone on to play prominent roles in their nation and local communities while remaining engaged with the Harvard community in Cambridge, Africa, and beyond.

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. Since the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program was established 40 years ago, more than 220 Fellows are counted among the alumni of the program, representing leadership positions in all aspects of South African society, including many professors and senior administrators at universities in South Africa, leaders in the private sector, and a host of South Africans committed to public service as officials in government and international organizations

Keep in touch with us

If you are a former Harvard South Africa Fellow join the HSAFP LinkedIn Group so that you can stay in touch with other fellows, both current and past.

• Table of Content
• About Harvard University Center for African Studies
• Harvard University Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program
• Aim and Benefits of Harvard University Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program
• Requirements for Harvard University Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Harvard University Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Harvard University Center for African Studies

The Harvard University Center for African Studies (CAS) serves as an intellectual hub, connecting students, faculty, and members of the wider Africanist community. Since its inception in 1969, the Center for African Studies has evolved from a small faculty group known as the Committee on African Studies into a robust, interdisciplinary body that has earned Harvard recognition as a National Resource Center from the U.S. Department of Education. Along with this national distinction, the most notable milestone on Harvard’s path to African Studies leadership was the generous and anonymous do... continue reading

Harvard University Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program

Application Deadline	15 Apr 2023
Country to study	United States
School to study	Harvard University
Type	Fellowship
Sponsor	Harvard University Center for African Studies
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of Harvard University Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program

• General administrative funds for program management
• Stipends
• Airfare

Requirements for Harvard University Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program Qualification

To be eligible for the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program 2022, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Applicants must show considerable skill in their chosen career and must be an educationally disadvantaged South African mid-career professional.
• Applicants must be within the age range of 30- to- 45 years old.
• Applicants who are successful as alumni of the program are expected to remain involved after the completion of their fellowship and serve as ambassadors for the fellowship.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Harvard University Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program

HSAFP APPLICATION (2023-2024 COHORT) TIMELINE

February 15, 2023	HSAFP application opens
April 15, 2023	HSAFP applications DUE (at 11:59pm EST)
May – June, 2023	Applications reviewed
June 30, 2023	Applicants notified if they have been selected for an interview
July - August, 2023	Shortlisted candidates scheduled for interviews
August 31, 2023	Interviewed candidates notified if they have been selected as a Harvard South Africa Fellow finalist
September  – December 2023	Selected finalists apply directly to the Harvard program they are interested in attending
January 2024 – April 2025	Candidates typically hear about their admissions decision from the Harvard School to which they applied
Beginning July – August 2024	Most Harvard South Africa Fellows’ academic programs at Harvard begin
May 2025	Fellows at Harvard for one-year programs complete their academic year at the University

The HSAFP 2023 Application Form is hosted and resides on the Harvard University Funding Portal in a secure, encrypted environment that requires applicants to register to access the application. The registration is a one-time event that provides a login and password to return to your saved application. Applicants who do not meet minimum requirements for HSAFP will not be able to proceed to the application stage. The system works best using Google Chrome or Firefox. The system will not function correctly when using Internet Explorer or Safari. You may preview the application here (Linked).

Documents Required for Application

• Curriculum vitae
• Transcripts
• Writing samples (Personal statements and Academic Essay)
• Letters of Recommendation

Application Deadline

April 15, 2023

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Harvard University Center for African Studies on bit.ly to apply

• Click here to access the application (Linked).
• Applicants should select 'Apply'.
• On the Login screen, select 'without Harvard Key'.
• If you are logging in for the first time, select 'Create New Account'. After you create your account, return to the link above to access the application.
• You can return to the link above to access your application using the login and password you create.

For more details visit: Harvard University website.