Harvard University Du Bois Fellows Program 2027–2028: Fully Funded Research Fellowship in African & African American Studies

The Harvard University Du Bois Fellows Program 2027–2028 is a prestigious fellowship opportunity offered through the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University.

The fellowship program is part of the W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute and supports scholars whose research contributes to the interdisciplinary study of African and African American experiences, histories, cultures, societies, and related fields.

The Du Bois Fellows Program has a long history at the Institute. According to the fellowship information, the Fellows Program is the oldest of the W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute’s activities and has appointed Fellows since the Institute was founded in 1975.

For the 2027–2028 academic year, the program is accepting applications and may invite up to 20 scholars to be in residence.

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Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program 2027–2028

The Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program 2027–2028 is designed for scholars working across the broad and interdisciplinary areas of African and African American Studies.

The program supports research at both the predoctoral and postdoctoral levels, providing an opportunity for selected Fellows to pursue their research while being part of the intellectual environment of Harvard University’s Hutchins Center.

The interdisciplinary nature of the fellowship means that applicants may come from different academic and research backgrounds connected to African and African American Studies.

Fellowship Highlights

• Fellowship: Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program
• Academic year: 2027–2028
• Institution: Harvard University
• Host: Hutchins Center for African & African American Research
• Research institute: W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute
• Fellowship type: Residential research fellowship
• Number of Fellows: Up to 20 scholars
• Research levels: Predoctoral and postdoctoral
• Application fee: No application fee
• Application platform: SlideRoom
• Application deadline: December 14, 2026
• Recommendation letter deadline: December 21, 2026

Who Is the Harvard Du Bois Fellowship Suitable For?

The Harvard Du Bois Fellowship is intended for scholars whose research relates to the broad interdisciplinary field of African and African American Studies.

The program explicitly supports researchers at both the predoctoral and postdoctoral levels. This makes the fellowship relevant to scholars at different stages of an academic research career.

Applicants should carefully review the official eligibility and application requirements before submitting an application because the information provided on the application page does not reproduce all detailed requirements.

What Does the Harvard Du Bois Fellowship Support?

The Du Bois Fellows Program supports academic research within the broad field of African and African American Studies.

The fellowship reflects the interdisciplinary approach of the Hutchins Center and the W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute.

Research may therefore be connected to different academic disciplines and approaches, provided that it fits within the intellectual scope of African and African American Studies.

The program has supported Fellows since 1975, making it a long-running research fellowship within the Institute.

Fellowship Benefits and Financial Support

The information supplied for the 2027–2028 Du Bois Fellows application confirms that the program is a fellowship and that selected scholars are invited to be in residence.

However, the provided application page does not state a specific fellowship salary, stipend, grant amount, housing allowance, travel allowance, health insurance package, or other monetary benefit.

Therefore, applicants should not assume a specific dollar value or describe the fellowship as offering a particular financial package unless that information is confirmed by the official fellowship terms.

What is clearly stated is that the program provides a residential research opportunity at the Hutchins Center, with the Fellows Program supporting research at both predoctoral and postdoctoral levels.

Harvard Du Bois Fellowship Eligibility

The Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program welcomes scholars working within the interdisciplinary scope of African and African American Studies.

The official information specifically states that the Institute supports research at:

• Predoctoral level
• Postdoctoral level

Because the complete eligibility details are contained within the fellowship’s application sections, prospective applicants should consult the official application carefully before determining whether they meet all requirements.

Applicants should also ensure that their proposed research clearly connects with the intellectual scope of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research.

Application Requirements

Applicants for the 2027–2028 Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program apply through SlideRoom.

If an applicant does not already have a SlideRoom account, they will be asked to create one during the application process.

Importantly, the official application page states that there is no application fee.

Applicants should prepare their materials carefully and follow the instructions provided through the official SlideRoom application.

Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters have a separate deadline.

The main fellowship application deadline is:

December 14, 2026

The deadline for letters of recommendation is:

December 21, 2026

Applicants should therefore contact potential recommenders well before the application deadline and allow sufficient time for their letters to be submitted.

How Competitive Is the Harvard Du Bois Fellowship?

The Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program is a selective residential research fellowship with up to 20 scholars invited to participate each year.

The program’s long history and interdisciplinary research focus make careful preparation important for applicants.

However, the official information provided does not publish an acceptance rate or percentage of applicants selected. Career Global Connect therefore does not assign an acceptance probability or claim that applicants have a particular chance of receiving the fellowship.

Instead, applicants should focus on presenting a strong research proposal and demonstrating a clear connection between their research and the intellectual mission of the fellowship.

How to Prepare Your Application

A strong application for the Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program 2027–2028 should clearly communicate the significance of the proposed research.

1. Clearly explain your research

Explain what you intend to investigate and why the research matters.

Your application should allow reviewers to understand the central research question, the academic context and the contribution your project aims to make.

2. Demonstrate relevance to African and African American Studies

Because the fellowship is connected to the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, applicants should clearly explain how their research fits within the interdisciplinary scope of the Center.

3. Prepare your academic CV carefully

Your CV should present your academic background, research experience, publications and other relevant scholarly work clearly and accurately.

Prioritize information that demonstrates your ability to undertake the proposed research.

4. Give your recommendation writers enough time

Since recommendation letters have a later deadline of December 21, 2026, applicants should approach potential recommenders early.

Provide them with relevant information about your research project and fellowship application so they can prepare appropriate letters.

5. Check every application requirement

Before submitting, review the SlideRoom application carefully and ensure that all requested materials have been uploaded in the correct format.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants for the Harvard Du Bois Fellowship should avoid submitting an application without carefully checking the official instructions.

Common problems can include:

• Submitting after the December 14, 2026 deadline
• Failing to arrange recommendation letters early
• Providing an unclear research proposal
• Not explaining the relevance of the research to African and African American Studies
• Uploading incomplete application materials
• Assuming financial benefits that are not stated in the official information
• Waiting until the final day to create a SlideRoom account and submit materials

Career and Academic Opportunities After the Fellowship

A research fellowship at Harvard’s Hutchins Center can form part of a scholar’s broader academic and research career development.

Depending on an individual’s career path, research experience can contribute to future opportunities in areas such as:

• University research
• Higher education
• Academic publishing
• African Studies
• African American Studies
• History and cultural research
• Social sciences
• Humanities
• Research institutions
• Public scholarship

The fellowship itself does not guarantee employment or a future academic position. Applicants should view it as a research opportunity within the W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute.

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Similar Fellowship Opportunities

Researchers interested in the Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program 2027–2028 may also wish to explore other fellowship opportunities related to:

• African Studies
• African American Studies
• History
• Humanities
• Social sciences
• Cultural studies
• International research
• Postdoctoral research
• Predoctoral research

When comparing fellowships, applicants should check the academic level, research field, residency requirements, funding structure, application materials and deadlines for each individual opportunity.

Important Deadline for Harvard Du Bois Fellows 2027–2028

The application deadline for the 2027–2028 Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program is:

December 14, 2026

The deadline for recommendation letters is:

December 21, 2026

Applicants should submit their fellowship application before the main deadline and communicate with recommenders early enough to ensure their letters are submitted by the separate recommendation deadline.

How to Apply for the Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program

Applications for the Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program 2027–2028 are submitted through SlideRoom.

The official application page states that applicants who do not have a SlideRoom account will be required to create one.

There is no application fee for the fellowship application.

The Black Film Project Fellowship is a separate program and has a separate application process. Applicants interested in that fellowship should follow the instructions provided specifically for the Black Film Project.

Official Application Information

The Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program 2027–2028 is offered by the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University.

Applicants should use the official application instructions to confirm the complete eligibility criteria, required documents, fellowship terms and submission requirements before applying.

Application deadline: December 14, 2026
Recommendation letters deadline: December 21, 2026
Application fee: None
Application platform: SlideRoom
Fellowship location: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Final Thoughts

The Harvard Du Bois Fellows Program 2027–2028 provides a residential research opportunity for scholars working in the interdisciplinary field of African and African American Studies.

With support for both predoctoral and postdoctoral research, the fellowship is relevant to scholars at different stages of their academic careers. The program may select up to 20 scholars for residence each year, continuing a fellowship tradition that dates back to the founding of the W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute in 1975.

If you are preparing an application, pay particular attention to your research project, its connection to African and African American Studies, the application requirements and the separate deadlines for the application and recommendation letters.

Deadline: December 14, 2026.