Harvard LEAD Fellowship 2027-28 Opens Applications for US Program

Harvard opens applications for its fully funded 2027–28 LEAD Fellowship for global health professionals with a master’s degree and at least 10 years of experience. The deadline is November 15, 2026.

The Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) has opened applications for its 2027–28 LEAD Fellowship, a fully funded leadership development programme designed for experienced global health professionals from low- and middle-income countries. Offered in collaboration with the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the fellowship aims to strengthen leadership capabilities and encourage participants to mentor future women leaders in global health.

Eligible candidates must submit their applications by November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The programme runs from September 1, 2027, to August 31, 2028, combining a year-long virtual curriculum with a six-week residential experience at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, expected in April 2028.

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The fellowship offers personalised leadership coaching, mentorship from experienced professionals and Harvard faculty, executive education, leadership masterclasses, speaking opportunities and networking sessions. Participants can develop individual leadership plans aligned with their professional goals and undertake independent project work during the programme.

The residential component is financially supported by the fellowship. Benefits include international flights, accommodation, J-1 visa fees, course fees and a living stipend to cover daily expenses during the stay in the United States. Fellows must arrange leave or an equivalent break from their home institutions for the six-week residential programme.

Applicants must hold at least a master's degree in a relevant field and work full-time in global health, with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience beyond their education. Experience gained while studying at university does not count towards this requirement. Candidates must demonstrate substantial leadership experience and potential have their employer's support, and be based in a low- or middle-income country with plans to return after the fellowship.

Applicants must also be eligible for a J-1 visa and available to reside in Cambridge for the residential programme. Candidates who have participated in a full-time fellowship lasting four months or longer during the two years before arriving at Harvard are not eligible.

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Applicants must prepare a CV or résumé, a letter of intent, four essays covering career development, project planning, mentoring and expected impact, a letter of institutional commitment, a letter of mentor commitment and two additional reference letters. At least one reference must come from the candidate's current or most recent professional engagement and must be from someone other than the mentor providing the commitment letter.

Interested candidates can review the eligibility requirements and submit their applications through the official Harvard Global Health Institute website before the November 15 deadline. Selection results are expected in spring 2027.