Postgraduate Public Service Fellowship: Richardson Fellowships Grant

Postgraduate Public Service Fellowship: Richardson Fellowships Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Harvard University
Last Updated: January 08, 2026

Summary

The Postgraduate Public Service Fellowships at Harvard University support meaningful public service projects lasting between 3 to 12 months for graduating seniors. These fellowships aim to empower students to gain practical experience in public service, addressing vital issues such as food security, education, and environmental protection. Candidates are selected based on their potential for service in the public or non-profit sectors and must demonstrate a commitment to the public good. Applications are considered for all available funding.

Overview

General Information Postgraduate Public Service Fellowships support meaningful public service projects undertaken after graduation. Projects may be of any length between 3 and 12 months. Candidates should present one proposal; a single application will put you into consideration for all available funding. Please note: these opportunities are subject to the Harvard travel regulations and may need to be altered according to current travel guidance. For Harvard fellowships and grants, a “public service project” is defined as work that: Helps people meet their needs for food, shelter, and/or healthImproves educational and/or employment opportunitiesEducates people about their legal and/or civil rightsProtects the environment and/or wildlifeAnd/or otherwise supports the general welfare Richardson Fellowships The Richardson Fellowships are intended for students contemplating a career in public service and provide the opportunity to spend a year gaining concrete experience with the issues that their public service career would address. The tenure of each Richardson Fellowship must be between ten and twelve months, depending upon the nature of the project and the living expenses necessary to pursue it. Selection Criteria The Richardson Fellowships are to be awarded to students who show outstanding promise of being of service in the public or non-profit sectors. Successful candidates will demonstrate a ready empathetic understanding of the plight and position of others, an ability to lead or persuade, and commitment to the public good as distinct from merely private ambition. Each candidate should also show that they are seriously contemplating a career in public service, to which the experience gained in the fellowship year would make a valuable contribution.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must be graduating Harvard College seniors of any nationality.

Ineligibility

Recipients may not be enrolled as candidates for any academic degree or otherwise engaged in academic study during the period of the Fellowship.