HKS Center for Public Leadership - Zuckerman Fellowship: Students Applying to the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Grant

HKS Center for Public Leadership - Zuckerman Fellowship: Students Applying to the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) - Harvard University
Last Updated: November 28, 2025

Summary

The Zuckerman Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School supports students pursuing an additional master’s degree while demonstrating exceptional leadership potential and commitment to public service. Eligible candidates include those enrolled in or accepted to accredited M.B.A., J.D., M.D., or D.D.S. programs. This prestigious fellowship provides financial support, leadership development, and mentorship opportunities, aiming to cultivate leaders who will address complex societal challenges. The program emphasizes the importance of high-quality professional training for impactful public leadership.

Overview

Note: The Zuckerman Fellowship is for students seeking an additional master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, or Harvard Kennedy School. The Fellowship application is separate from the candidate’s application for admission to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Kennedy School, or the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Applications for admission must be submitted to the appropriate school according to the deadlines established at that school. Fellows must be admitted to their programs at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Kennedy School, or the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in order to receive the Fellowship. The Fellowship application deadline above is for students applying to the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). Here are the Fellowship application deadlines for other applicants: For students applying to the T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) and for students applying to the Graduate School of Education (GSE). Fellowship applicants who are applying to more than one school must submit one fellowship application by the earlier of the two or three school deadlines. Harvard Kennedy School’s mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. By combining cutting-edge research, the teaching of outstanding students, and direct interaction with practitioners, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match. The Center for Public Leadership’s mission is to inspire and enhance the capacity for principled, effective public leadership in government, politics, civil society, and business. We bring together faculty, students, and practitioners to bridge theory and practice in scholarship, education, and community. Zuckerman Fellowship The challenges we face in our public schools and public health systems, as well as in government at all levels, are too complicated to be solved without the insight and commitment of leaders with the highest-quality professional training. But for many who have a strong aptitude for public service, the opportunity costs associated with acquiring the necessary training are too high. In response to this problem, the Zuckerman Fellows Program equips people from the fields of medicine, law, and business to provide leadership for the common good by making it possible for them to pursue public service degrees. The Zuckerman Fellowship is for first-year students at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Graduate School of Education, or Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. What We Offer seeking an additional master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, or Harvard Kennedy School. are selected on the basis of outstanding leadership ability with potential for significant impact to advance the public good, commitment to public service, and intellectual distinction and academic achievement. The fellowship provides: Financial Support toward a master’s degree program at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Graduate School of Education, or Harvard School of Public Health A comprehensive co-curricular leadership development program set within the Harvard ecosystem—a robust network of faculty, students, and opportunity Engagement with mentors and highly accomplished leaders who will enhance your ability to impact the communities you serve Recipients of the Zuckerman Fellowship will receive a scholarship that covers their tuition, health fees, and provides a generous stipend for one academic year.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Candidates for the Zuckerman Fellows Program are individuals who have completed, are currently enrolled in, or are accepted and will enroll in an M.B.A., J.D., M.D., or D.M.D./D.D.S. degree from an accredited U.S. institution and are seeking an additional master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, or Harvard Kennedy School. Eligibility Criteria Candidates who have completed their M.B.A., J.D., M.D., or D.M.D./D.D.S. degree from an accredited US institution.Candidates who are currently enrolled in an approved M.B.A., J.D., M.D., or D.M.D./D.D.S. degree from an accredited US institution.Candidates who are applying to approved joint or concurrent degree programs in these fields in academic year 2026–27 are eligible, provided they receive an offer of admission from both schools by April 10, 2026, and intend to enroll in the joint/concurrent program. Applicants who are applying to concurrent degree programs at schools with rolling admissions cycles are strongly encouraged to apply for admissions as early as possible in order to be considered. Students who have been awarded a Zuckerman Fellowship in this category will need to obtain a deferral to the business, law, or medical school in order to take up the fellowship so that they can enroll for their first year at HKS or HSPH.Candidates must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.Fellows must be in their first year at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Kennedy School, or the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health during their fellowship year.Fellows are required to be enrolled full time and in residence for the entire academic year at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Kennedy School, or the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health during their Fellowship year. There are NO exceptions to this policy.The fellowship application is separate from the candidate’s application for admission to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Kennedy School, or the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Applications for admission must be submitted to the appropriate school according to the deadlines established at that school. Fellows must be admitted to their programs at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Kennedy School, or the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in order to receive the Fellowship.Zuckerman Fellowships may not be deferred.

Ineligibility

Applicants who are waitlisted for admission cannot be considered for the fellowship.This is a one-time award. Recipients of the Zuckerman Fellowship are not eligible to reapply to pursue an additional degree.