Most fellowships are made for people who are just starting their careers. This one is different. The Harvard LEAD Fellowship is built for professionals who already have many years of experience in global health. They already run teams. They already shape policy. Now Harvard wants to help them take the next step.
Harvard LEAD Fellowship 2027–2028: Fully Funded Global Health Leadership Program
If you work in health in a low or middle-income country and you have led for years, this fully funded fellowship may be made for you.
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health |
| Host | Harvard Global Health Institute and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health |
| Duration | 12 months: 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2028 |
| Format | Virtual curriculum plus six-week in-person stay |
| In-person period | April 2028 in Cambridge Massachusetts |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Experience required | At least 10 years post-education in global health |
| Application deadline | 15 November 2026 11:59 PM EST |
What This Fellowship Is
The full name is the Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health. It is run by the Harvard Global Health Institute with the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
It is a leadership development program that lasts one year. It has two parts:
- A 12-month virtual program that you join from your own country
- A six-week in-person stay in Cambridge, Massachusetts in April 2028
The fellowship runs from 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2028.
How This Program Is Different
Most training programs give everyone the same lessons. This one does not. The LEAD Fellowship is highly personal. You build your own leadership goals based on your work and the areas where you want to grow.
During the year, you will take part in:
- One-on-one leadership coaching
- Personal mentorship
- An executive education course
- Speaking chances
- Private masterclasses led by Harvard faculty
- Networking chances
- Group leadership training with your cohort
- Independent project work
- Time with Harvard faculty and senior mentors
You also build long-term friendships with other leaders. This professional network can stay with you long after the year ends.
What the Fellowship Pays For
This is a fully funded fellowship for the six-week stay in the United States. The fellowship covers:
- International flight costs
- Housing in Cambridge, Massachusetts
- J-1 visa fees
- A living stipend during your stay in the US
This means you can join the Harvard experience without paying for the big costs like travel and housing yourself.
Who Can Apply
The fellowship welcomes people from many regions and many parts of health work. This includes research, clinical care, public health, advocacy, health policy and administration. Applicants of all genders and gender identities are welcome. The program is designed to promote leadership skills among professionals from low- and middle-income countries who will in turn mentor future women leaders in global health.
To apply, you must meet these eligibility requirements:
- Education: You need at least a master’s degree in a related field.
- Work experience: You must work full time in global health. You also need at least 10 years of work experience after finishing your education. Time spent working while you were a student does not count.
- Leadership: You must show strong leadership experience. You must also show that you can grow even more as a leader.
- Employer support: You must have the full support of your employer and a champion in your organization who serves as a reference.
- Time away: You must be able to take leave from your job for the six-week stay in April 2028
- US visa: You must be able to get a J-1 visa and live in Cambridge for six weeks.
- No recent long fellowship: In the two years before the Harvard fellowship you must not have joined a full-time fellowship that lasted four months or longer.
- Base: Candidates should be currently based and working in a low- or middle-income country and plan to return there after the fellowship.
Who Else Has Joined
The program has already welcomed 26 fellows from 21 countries. They come from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and South America. This tells you the program is truly global. You would join a group with very different stories and experiences.
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | 15 November 2026 at 11:59 PM EST |
| Selected fellows notified | Spring 2027 |
| Fellowship starts | 1 September 2027 |
| In-person stay in Cambridge | April 2028 |
| Fellowship ends | 31 August 2028 |
How To Make Your Application Stronger
This fellowship is for experienced leaders. So school grades alone will not be enough. Your application should tell a clear story about your leadership journey.
Try to give real examples of:
- Leadership roles you have held
- Health problems you have helped solve
- Results you can measure
- How you have changed policy or systems or communities
- Leadership challenges you face right now
- Skills you want to build
- How Harvard’s network can help your future work
Also explain why this fellowship fits your goals. The program is personal. A general answer will not work as well as a specific one.
Why This Matters
Women are still underrepresented in top leadership roles in global health. This is even more true in low and middle income countries. A program like this tries to fix that gap by giving proven leaders more tools and more connections.
For the right applicant, this is a big career step. You get coaching from experts. You get time at Harvard. You get a strong network of peers. And you get all this without paying for the main costs of the in-person component.