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 2022 application cycle and you are selected as a finalist, you must then apply for admission to your program for the following academic year of 2023-2024. If admitted to the program, your fellowship will be awarded for 2023-2024.

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.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend HSAFP information sessions towards the end of February and in early March. The first information session will feature CAS program managers and program alumni while the second session will feature program directors of participating Harvard programs to which HSAFP candidates can apply. Both are an opportunity to learn more about the program and application process as well as to ask questions before you apply. To be informed of the information session dates, sign-up for the CAS weekly newsletter HERE, or check the CAS website regularly.

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions page with any questions. Further inquiries about the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program should be addressed to  Nthatisi Quella, Africa Office Director.

HSAFP APPLICATION (2023-2024 COHORT) TIMELINE

The HSAFP 2022 Application Form is hosted by Qualtrics and resides in a secure, encrypted environment that requires applicants to register to access the application. The registration is a one-time event with the application link sent to your inbox. Be advised that your application should be done on your regularly used computer to be able to save and return to your application. We strongly recommend that you use current generation browsers whenever possible. Applicants who do not meet minimum requirements for HSAFP will not be able to proceed to the application stage. Google Chrome is the preferred browser for this application. You may preview the application here (Linked).

INFORMATION SESSION

2022 HSAFP Information Sessions to be hosted in the last week of February and first week of March. Sign-up for CAS weekly newsletter to be informed of session dates and time. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at anytime.

TO APPLY

• Complete the application on Qualtrics and upload required documents as prompted. Applicants must register to access the application: HSAFP 2022 Application Registration (Linked)

APPLICATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Candidates will be asked to enter biographical information and contact details.
• Candidates will be asked to enter academic/leadership/professional honors and detail any work or study completed outside South Africa.

EDUCATION HISTORY

• Candidates will be asked to enter their education history, including name and location of institution, dates of attendance and degree,and field of study.

WORK HISTORY

• Candidates will be asked to enter their work history, including name and location of institution, phone number and website,position, and responsibilities.

SHORT ANSWERS

• Each answer should not be more than 250 words. The system does not track word limits. Candidates are responsible for ensuring their answers are 250 words or less. Responses longer than 250 words will not be considered. We recommend drafting your short answer texts in a word processor (e.g. Microsoft Word, Google Docs) to confirm word limits before entering the text (copy and paste) into the online application.Questions:
  • Ideal candidates for the HSAFP fellowship are those who seek to model ethical leadership, knowledge sharing and serve as a resource to improve and transform their communities and South Africa. Describe what ethical leadership means to you and why ethical leadership is important in the context of South Africa.
  • Comment on a time when you have demonstrated ethical leadership.
  • Describe a time in which you have demonstrated resilience in your education or professional life.
  • Describe your motivation and rationale for applying to this Fellowship.
  • Describe your financial need for the program.

UPLOADS

CURRICULUM VITAE

• Upload a copy of your most recent CV.

TRANSCRIPTS

• Upload transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended. Transcripts must show the grades and course titles for all your post-secondary coursework. DO NOT upload copies of diplomas/certificates.

WRITING SAMPLES

• An academic essay and a personal statement must be submitted.
  • Personal Statement: Tell us about yourself – in particular, your background, your academic and career trajectory, and why you wish to pursue this program of your choice at Harvard University. Candidates may consider the following questions in preparing their Personal Statement: Where do you come from, and what is your background? What are some of the major inflection points in your life that have shaped who you are? Have you had to overcome disadvantages or hardships? What accomplishments and achievements are you most proud of? What do you strive for, personally, professionally, and in your community? What work do you do in your wider community, and how will you contribute to community development when you get back? Personal statements should demonstrate that the candidate has researched the program to which they are applying and understand how the program will advance their career goals. Maximum 1000 words.
  • Academic Essay:Candidates are asked to submit an academic essay reflective of innovative ideas that propose solutions to issues facing contemporary South Africa in your field of interest. Include references cited. References do not count towards the word limit. Successful candidates typically provide an essay that explores an opportunity or challenge facing South Africa, engaging with the relevant literature in their field to propose a theoretical framework or strategy to address this issue. Essays should not read as an op-ed or opinion piece. Maximum 2000 words.Applicants seeking admission into the Special Student or Visiting Fellow GSAS Programs should use this academic essay to describe their research and attach a description of their relevant coursework. Applicants seeking admission to the HSPH MPH program should tell us about a public health problem or challenge that you seek to address as part of your studies in the program and/or upon completion of your MPH degree program. Applicants to the HLS program should provide a cogent legal essay that describes either an important issue in your field of interest or a current legal problem facing a particular country, region, or the world, and then propose a theoretical framework or a legal analysis or strategy to address this issue.
  • The Academic Essay and the Personal Statement should be typed in a standard font and font size (10 to 12 point).  Essays should also be double-spaced.
  • Include your full name on the top of each page and your signature at the end of the Academic Essay and the Personal Statement.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

• Two letters of recommendation must be submitted by recommenders through Qualtrics. You will be required to enter the names, affiliations, and contact details of your referees. After you submit your application, referees will recieve an e-mail to the address provided to submit their letters of recommendation. Note that recommenders will only receive a prompt email once you submit your application. Reach out to your recommenders and notify them as soon as you decide to apply and notify them once you submit your application. Please confirm with your recommenders that they have recieved this communication. Alternatively, recommenders can e-mail the letters directly to Nthatisi Quella, Africa Office Director. All emailed letters should contain HSAFP Recommendation and full name of applicant in the subject line.
• Letters should be written by people who know you well or by people whom you have worked in a professional capacity—not family or friends. Applicants for programs at HSPH, HKS, and HLS are strongly encouraged to include at least one reference from a professor or faculty member who is familiar with your academic work. Applicants seeking admission into an Executive Education program should include a reference from a current employer.  Applicants seeking admission into the GSAS programs should include a letter from their supervising professor or dean.
• Make sure you provide plenty of time for your references to write your letters. Ask them in advance so that they review all instructions, including the deadline (April 30, 2022), on the website before completing their letter. Please ensure the e-mail address of your recommender is correct. After submitting your application, a RECOMMENDATION FORM AND LETTER will be sent as a link to your reference for submission of your letter of recommendation.
• You can send the following link to your recommender to submit your recommendation here: HSAFP Recommendation Form and Letter (Linked)

QUESTIONS?

• Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions page.
• Further queries about the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program should be addressed to Nthatisi Quella, Africa Office Director. All e-mails should contain ‘HSAFP Query” in the subject line.

HSAFP was established to provide educational enrichment for educationally disadvantaged South African midcareer professionals. Individuals who have shown considerable skill in their chosen fields stand to benefit from advanced training, and, it is hoped, can use that advanced training to further South African political, social, and economic progress. Thus, candidates who have just completed, or who have not yet completed, a first degree are not selected unless this degree is being pursued concurrently with, or subsequent to, experience in the workplace. Fellows usually range from 30- to 45-years-old.

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. 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. 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.

Fellowship applications are submitted directly to the Center for African Studies, and a committee of HSAFP alumni, Harvard University faculty, and Center staff interview short-listed applicants in South Africa. Successful candidates must then apply and be admitted to the specific Harvard school where they intend to study. Admission to any Harvard program, including for HSAFP finalists, remains solely within the authority of the Admissions Committee of each Harvard school or program—not with the Center for African Studies.

Applicants must determine well in advance whether, if awarded a fellowship, they can be granted leave by their employers to study at Harvard for the duration of their intended program dates. Most graduate programs run from August until May; however, some programs require fellows to begin residence as early as the end of June. Executive education programs at Harvard Business School can require a mix of both on-campus and off-campus modules over the course of several months. No candidate should accept an interview unless they have been assured that such leave will be granted.

Applications are opened annually in January to citizens and permanent residents of South Africa, with applications due in April. The Center for African Studies conducts an administrative review to ensure candidates have submitted a complete application; applications that are missing required components, have circumvented word limits, and/or otherwise failed to follow application instructions are disqualified. Following administrative review, candidate applications are shared with the portfolio/program directors of the participating schools. In consult with the portfolio/program directors, the Center for African Studies Oppenheimer Faculty Director, CAS Executive Director, and HSAFP Program Director identify a short-list of candidates to be interviewed.

Short-listed candidates are invited to participate in an interview with a Selection Committee comprised of the HSAFP Faculty Director,  the CAS Faculty Director, the CAS Executive Director, the HBS Africa Research Center Executive Director, and HSAFP program alumni. Interviews are typically 30 to 45 minutes in length and provide an opportunity for the Selection Committee to learn more about the candidate beyond his or her application as well as for the candidate to ask any questions they have about the program and Harvard. Beginning with the 2020 application cycle, interviews were moved to a virtual format (Zoom) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate that 2022 interviews will also be conducted virtually.

The Selection Committee, under the direction of the HSAFP Faculty Director John Mugane, makes the final deliberation on which candidates will be offered a fellowship. The Selection Committee evaluates its decisions based on a candidate’s academic strengths, disadvantages faced or adversity overcome, financial need, chances of admission and ability to succeed in the program, and the expected impact a candidate will have on South Africa upon his or her return. Candidates are evaluated in their entirety; that is, there is no single factor or distinction by which decisions are made.

Following selection, candidates who are awarded a fellowship will be invited to apply for admission to the graduate or professional school. Candidates who are not awarded a fellowship but who are shortlisted for interviews will be provided with summary feedback from the Selection Committee. Candidates who were not selected are eligible to reapply to future cohorts. Beginning with the 2021 application cycle, CAS will also share summary candidate profiles and review comments with members of our Africa Advisory Board and Leadership Council, who serve a role in promoting the fellowship and recruiting applicants.

For the 2020 application cycle, a total of 71 applications were received, 12 candidates were shortlisted for interviews, and five candidates were awarded fellowship slots, pending their admission to the participating graduate and professional schools. For the 2021 application cycle, we anticipate awarding one fellowship for HKS-MC/MPA, one fellowship for the GSAS (either Special Student or Visiting Fellow), one fellowship for HSPH-MPH, one fellowship for HLS-LLM, and two fellowships for HBS (either HBS-AMP, HBS-GMP, or HBS-PLD).

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions page with any questions. Further inquiries about the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program should be addressed to Nthatisi Quella, Africa Office Director with the subject line “HSAFP Query.”

The fellowship provides for payment of all tuition for the full period of enrollment at Harvard. The fellowship also funds round-trip airfare between the fellow’s city of residence and Boston. A monthly stipend is provided to fellows, with the exception of those enrolled in the Executive Education Programs, to cover the cost of housing and other living expenses. Housing is usually in university graduate dormitories. Please note that housing costs in the Boston/Cambridge area are extremely high, and the stipend only covers bare necessities. The monthly stipend must also be used to pay other expenses such as medical and dental insurance, medicine, taxes, food, winter clothing, books, and supplies. Fellows are held personally responsible for the payment of all bills other than tuition fees and airfare. Fellows should also be aware that their stipends will have a significant amount of taxes taken out before they receive the funds.

Please be advised that Harvard will require fellows to purchase American medical insurance. This insurance does not cover the range of services covered in South Africa. Separate insurance must be purchased for dental coverage. Charges for non-covered expenses and prescription drugs are very high.

A full monthly check is provided for each month or partial month during which the fellow is officially registered at Harvard. The fellow will have higher “start-up” expenses in September and substantial expenses at the end of the period of study. Fellowship funds do not allow for family support, whether or not family members join the fellow at Harvard.

Fellows are strongly discouraged from bringing their family with them to Harvard. The cost of housing a family in Boston or Cambridge is considerably in excess of the rental charge for one individual in a graduate dormitory, the rate used in calculating the monthly stipend. Applicants for the fellowship must therefore consider seriously whether they are prepared to spend an academic year at Harvard apart from their families. The Executive Education Programs, in particular, will not allow a student to live with his or her family during the several months of the programs.

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions page with any questions. Further inquiries about the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program should be addressed to Nthatisi Quella, Program Manager in the Africa Office.