Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health 2027–2028

Applications are open for the Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health 2027–2028, a professional development opportunity for experienced global health leaders.

The programme is offered by the Harvard Global Health Institute, working with the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It combines personalised leadership training, coaching and mentorship. 

Published application deadline: 15 November 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. See the deadline note below about conflicting information on Harvard’s homepage.

Programme dates and format

The fellowship runs from 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2028.

You will participate in virtual activities throughout the year, including six weeks in residence at Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during spring 2028, expected around April.

Activities include individual leadership coaching, faculty mentorship, an executive education course, leadership masterclasses, public speaking and networking. Programme overview.

Funding and benefits

For the residential period, Harvard provides:

• Visa fees.
• Flights.
• Housing.
• A living stipend.

These benefits apply to the time spent in the United States. Official application portal.

The programme page also lists course fees and daily allowances for food and transportation. It does not publish a stipend amount. Funding details.

Number of fellowships available

Harvard has not published a 2027–2028 cohort size in the current application information. Fellowship details.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants of all genders and gender identities are welcome.

You must:

• Hold at least a relevant master’s degree.
• Work full-time in global health.
• Have at least 10 years of professional experience beyond your education. Work undertaken as a university student does not count.
• Demonstrate substantial leadership experience and potential for further growth.
• Be able to obtain a J-1 visa.
• Be available to live in Cambridge for six weeks and take leave from work for that period.
• Have avoided participation in a full-time fellowship lasting four months or longer during the two years preceding your fellowship at Harvard. Application eligibility rules.

You should currently be based or working in a low- or middle-income country, with plans to return there. You also need your employer’s full support and an organisational champion who can provide a reference. Additional eligibility requirements.

Required application documents

Prepare the following:

• CV or résumé.
• Letter of Intent — maximum 1.5 pages: Explain your global health career and the anticipated benefits for your organisation and country.
• Four essays — maximum 2,000 characters each: Address career development and training, your proposed project, mentoring plans, and expected impact on your organisation, field and home country.
• Letter of Institutional Commitment: Confirm institutional support and permission for leave during the residential component.
• Letter of Mentor Commitment: From someone in your organisation or professional network supporting your development.
• Two additional reference letters: At least one must come from your current or most recent professional engagement and be distinct from the mentor-commitment letter.

Read the full prompts before drafting. Official application requirements.

How to apply

1. Check your eligibility and discuss the six-week absence with your employer.
2. Prepare your documents, observing the page and character limits.
3. Open Harvard’s application portal through the Apply link on the fellowship page.
4. Create an account or sign in. Choose an email address you can continue using; the portal warns that it cannot be changed after the application is started.
5. Complete and submit your application, following the portal’s instructions for supporting letters and other materials.

Use the official Reviewr application portal linked by Harvard.

Application deadline

Sunday, 15 November 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.

Harvard’s detailed announcement states that all application materials are due by this time. Published deadline.

Deadline clarification: The HGHI homepage preview lists 8 November 2026, while the detailed announcement and fellowship page give 15 November 2026. Submit early and contact hghi_fellowships@harvard.edu to confirm the applicable deadline.

Selection and notification

Selected applicants will be notified in spring 2027. Harvard has not published specific interview dates or an exact notification day in the current announcement. Selection timetable.

Official information and application

• Announcement: 2027–2028 Harvard LEAD Fellowship call.
• Requirements and programme details: Harvard LEAD Fellowship.
• Apply online: Official application portal.
• Enquiries: hghi_fellowships@harvard.edu.