Fellowships

You can reach the whole Fellowships team by sending an email at: dunster-fellowships@googlegroups.com. If you have any fellowships-related questions, just send us an email and one of us will respond and accompany you through the application process. We will be sending updates and emails to the House as a whole, so also stay on the lookout for those! 

Stay in the Loop with Fellowship Opportunities – Join the URAF Mailing List!

To learn about upcoming fellowship deadlines and receive fellowship updates about workshops and info sessions direct from the Harvard Office of Research and Fellowships (URAF), email fellowships@harvard.edu or fill out this form. It’s never too early to sign up and start getting a sense of what opportunities are available!

So, where do I begin?

1. Start by visiting the Fellowships Office website, managed by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF). URAF manages the majority of fellowships available to students on campus. They provide excellent information about the background and logistics surrounding each of these funding opportunities. We recommend consulting the calendar of Harvard-sponsored fellowship application deadlines, as well as the URAF Calendar and attending the pertinent information sessions regarding specific fellowships, interviews, personal statement essay writing advice, etc.
2. Attend Dunster House Fellowship Info Sessions and stay on the lookout for our emails. Feel free to watch the recording of the latest Dunster information session, and email us if you would like a PDF of the presentation. 
3. Once you have a clearer idea of the opportunities that most interest you, fill out this Dunster Fellowships Survey and send an email to us at dunster-fellowships@googlegroups.com. A member of our team will follow up with you to help you navigate the available opportunities.  

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What do House Fellowship Advisers do?

Our mission is to help Dunster students engage with the fellowships process and help them navigate the logistics involved when applying for funding. Whether you are considering a fellowship for graduate study abroad, summer research experiences, or funding for an enrichment experience of your choice, we are available to support you by:

• Guiding you through the different fellowship opportunities available at Harvard;
• Helping you choose the appropriate fellowships that best suit your background, goals and interests;
• Reviewing drafts of your applications and essays;
• Drafting endorsement letters;
• Prepping you for interviews.

Hence, we are here to give you personalized, one-on-one advising. 

So, what questions should I bring to URAF?

You are also always welcome to reach out to URAF with questions as you prepare your applications – especially as they can offer a different type of advice from the Fellowships Team. For instance, URAF can help you:

• Sort through the logistics and technical details of application processes;
• Receive answers to highly specific questions on fellowships;
• Get the overview of opportunities and general advice in URAF info sessions;
• Keep track of timelines and deadlines with the URAF calendar;
• Follow-up on the status of ongoing processes.

However, URAF staff will not read through your drafts or give your personal preparation for interviews – this is our job at the House!

Do I need to be a senior to consider applying for fellowships?

Absolutely not!  This is a common misconception about fellowships as most people engage with the process starting their summer before their senior year.   This is not, however, a rule and, in fact, there are a series of fellowships only available to sophomores or juniors – and we don’t want you to miss out on them! We encourage more sophomores and juniors to contact us about these opportunities, and to think about how other fellowships would fit into their long-term plans. We are very happy to meet with you!

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to apply for fellowships?

Again, another misconception! There are some fellowships that require U.S. citizenship, or that are only available to the citizens of a determined number of countries – but there are many other opportunities available to international students. Moreover, there are also opportunities that do not require proof of U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency—many of which are open to individuals who don’t have DACA. For more information on these matters, we advise you to reach out to URAF at fellowships@harvard.edu.

USEFUL LINKS:

Fellowship Resources at Harvard:

• URAF Fellowships Office website
• URAF Fellowships Calendar
• URAF Calendar of Fellowships
• Committee on General Scholarships Website

Other Funding Opportunities at Harvard:

• OCS Guide to Summer Funding
• Harvard Summer Research Programs
• Public Service Fellowships
• Institute of Politics
• Harvard-Cambridge Summer Program