Harvard-Cambridge Scholarship

Applicants must be graduating Harvard College seniors of any citizenship/residency status.

The Harvard-Cambridge Scholarships provide:

• Full tuition;
• Paid single-occupancy accommodation in the assigned residential College;
• $18,000 stipend for living expenses, travel, and other incidentals; and
• Lifelong engagement with the active Harvard-Cambridge Scholars alumni community.

Applications for this opportunity are assessed on the following metrics:

• Promise of further learning and growth; sense of adventure and willingness to take risks
• Active engagement in passions; no specific extracurricular activities or positions are more valuable
• Letters of recommendation

Applications are first read by a subcommittee of Harvard-Cambridge alumni. Approximately twenty-two semi-finalists are invited to interview with a subcommittee in late January. Twelve finalists are invited to interview with the full selection committee in early February. Awards are made shortly thereafter. 

This is a very competitive application process. Typically, less than 5% of applications are successful.
 

Apply via CARAT. 

Prepare in advance the following materials:

• Resume: Indicate significant activities, achievements, and experiences in college that demonstrate your values and trajectory. Do not exceed one page.
• Unofficial transcript: Download your unofficial transcript from my.harvard.edu, it should include your spring course grades and fall course registration.
• Proposal (750 word maximum): Explain your reasons for seeking this fellowship and how it may aid in your personal growth. The selection committee is most interested in reading about matters that interest you. Anything is welcome, whether it concerns studies, activities, jobs, travel, or personal concerns and broader issues. The essay should devote greater attention to the applicant’s background and interests than to a program of study. The selection committee is looking for a sense of the person behind the application.
• UK program application proof: You must begin an application to the proposed UK academic program before submitting this application. Screenshot your UK university application portal for proof that you have begun your application to the university. The screenshot should show the name of the graduate program to which you are applying, and that program should match your Harvard-UK study plan.
• Three letters of recommendation: The selection committee advises that all three letters should not be from professors or instructors in the same department. At least one letter should be from an instructor, but taken together, all three letters should give the committee a balanced and multi-faceted perspective on you. All should comment on how you might benefit from the year of growth the scholarships offer. Letters should be addressed to “The Harvard-Cambridge Scholarship Selection Committee.” Letters are due at the same time as all other application components.
   

If you or your recommenders have questions about this application or the online submission process, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships via fellowships@fas.harvard.edu