StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health is offered by the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) together with the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It is designed for individuals from low- and middle-income countries who are building leadership careers in global health — applicants of all genders, disciplines and regions may apply.
The fellowship year runs 1 September 2027 – 31 August 2028, combining a virtual curriculum with a six-week in-person residency in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in April 2028. The residency component is fully funded: visa fees, housing and flights are covered, and fellows receive a living stipend for their time in the United States.
Eligibility
- Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field.
- Work full-time in global health, with at least 10 years of professional experience beyond education (work done while a student does not count).
- Substantial leadership experience and demonstrated further leadership potential.
- Able to take a leave of absence (or equivalent) for the six-week April 2028 residency.
- Eligible for a US J-1 visa and available to live in Cambridge, MA for the six weeks.
- Have not participated in any full-time fellowship lasting four months or longer in the two years prior.
Benefits
- Visa fees covered for the US stay.
- Housing in Cambridge for the six-week residency.
- Flights to and from the United States.
- Living stipend for the residency period.
- A year of virtual leadership curriculum alongside a cohort of global-health fellows, plus the HGHI network.
Note: the award funds the residency component — the virtual fellowship year is not a salaried position.
Documents required
The official HGHI announcement page does not publish a full document checklist. A third-party listing mentions a CV/resume and a letter of intent of max. 1.5 pages describing the applicant’s global-health journey and what the fellowship would change for them — this list is not confirmed on the official page, so verify the requirements inside the official application portal before submitting.
How to apply
- Open the official announcement pageConfirm the current 2027-28 cycle and follow its link to the Harvard LEAD Fellowship application microsite (hosted on the reviewr platform).
- Create an account and submitComplete the application and upload all materials before 15 November 2026, 11:59 PM EST.
- Watch for spring 2027 notificationsSelection results are communicated in spring 2027; questions go to hghi_fellowships@harvard.edu.
FAQs
The Harvard Global Health Institute, in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Yes — applicants of all genders, regions and disciplines may apply; the programme is designed for leaders from low- and middle-income countries.
Visa fees, housing, flights and a living stipend for the six-week Cambridge residency in April 2028. The virtual fellowship year is not salaried.
At least 10 years of full-time professional experience in global health beyond education, plus a master’s degree and demonstrable leadership.
No — the 2026–27 application page shows the cycle closed. This article covers the live 2027–28 cycle, deadline 15 November 2026.
Verified 20 Oct 2026 via the official Harvard Global Health Institute announcement page (2027-28 cycle; 15 Nov 2026 11:59 PM EST deadline; Sep 2027–Aug 2028; six-week Apr 2028 Cambridge residency; eligibility incl. master’s + 10 yrs, J-1, leave of absence) + the official reviewr application microsite + HGHI programme wording on funding. Document list per OpportunityDesk (third-party) is flagged as unconfirmed.
