Graduate Fellowships

Graduate Fellows are expected to devote their time to an approved course of research and study and to participate in a weekly seminar, where they workshop papers and dissertation chapters and discuss research problems and strategies common to the study of practical and professional ethics. In addition, Graduate Fellows are expected to take part in the wider intellectual life of the Center. 

This Fellowship is residential. Fellows are expected to be in residence in the Boston area at least four working days per week during the term and work from the Center's office space at least three days per week, excluding travel for conferences and meetings.

Fellows must be (a) enrolled in a Harvard doctoral program; (b) enrolled in or a recent graduate of a Harvard professional degree program that does not require a doctoral dissertation for a career in that field (such as law or medicine); or (c) a full-time, academic year visitor to Harvard, who is hosted by a Harvard graduate program, but is still enrolled in a graduate program at another university and has no competing academic or professional commitments during the fellowship year.  Please note that to qualify under section (c), the applicant must already have an arrangement in place with a Harvard graduate program; this is not intended to accommodate those who hope to make such an arrangement at a later date. 

All course requirements and general examinations must be completed before the start of the fellowship year. Students taking a full or partial course load in either semester of the fellowship year are ineligible.   

The Center seeks applicants who have excelled in their fields of specialization, have demonstrated an interest in questions of value that cut across disciplinary boundaries, and who are likely to make significant contributions to teaching and scholarship in practical and professional ethics. Some successful applicants will have a strong background in moral philosophy or political thought; others will be grounded in public policy or professional practice.

The stipend for the 2025-26 academic year is just under $41,000; stipends for 2026-27 may be slightly higher. Fellows also receive a small allocation for research. In addition to the stipend and research allowance, Graduate Fellows are provided with a shared study space, office supplies within reason, and access to a printer/copier.

Please complete our online application form and upload the following documents in .pdf format by November 22, 2025, when prompted:   

• Statement describing your interest in practical and professional ethics and plans for a dissertation or research project (no more than 2,000 words)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Unofficial undergraduate & graduate transcripts
• Scholarly paper you have written  

Letters of Recommendation  

In addition, applicants should arrange for two letters of recommendation. Although the application is due on November 22, we offer a grace period for letters of recommendation. Recommenders must submit their letters via the online form by December 1, 2025.   

The application system will automatically request letters from the recommenders you include on your application form, using the email address you provide, but you should follow up with them as well. It is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm that you have provided the correct email address for your recommender. It is also the applicant’s responsibility to verify that both letters have been submitted before the deadline. If your recommender has difficulty submitting the letter through our application system, please have them email it to us at ethics_fellowships@fas.harvard.edu.    

Should you have any questions regarding this application process, please send an email to ethics_fellowships@fas.harvard.edu.