Fellowships, Funding Sources, and Internships for Students
Harvard Fellowships/Funding Sources and Internships
Harvard University offers a wide range of funding opportunities for students. Some fellowships offer a full time work experience; grants and fellowships may also offer funding to help Harvard students to travel and conduct research overseas. The goal of these funding sources is to extend the academic experience beyond the classroom setting.
CARAT Database for Grants and Fellowships
CARAT offers students a single, easy-to-navigate database for grants and fellowships appropriate to graduate and postdoctoral students.
Students can search and sort opportunities by program duration, purpose, academic area, and travel area:
Examples include:
Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University – Fellowships, Research Grants, & Prizes
Joint Center for Housing Studies' Gramlich Summer Fellowship in Community and Economic Development
Joint Center for Housing Studies' Thesis Travel and Research Grants for GSD Masters Degree Students
The GSD Student Conference Attendance Fund
The GSD Student Conference Attendance Fund, administered by Student Forum, supports GSD students in attending conferences relevant to their research interests and/or coursework. Preference in determining funding is given to students who are speaking, presenting, facilitating workshops, or accepting awards at the events they seek to attend. Funding is given to students representing as broad a range of GSD academic programs as possible. Applicants to the GSD Student Conference Attendance Fund should be matriculated at the GSD in the semester in which they wish to travel, or, if seeking funds for a summer conference, returning to the GSD in the fall. In general, a student will only receive support from this fund once during the course of their GSD career.
Piloted by Student Forum in 2016-17, the fund is now generously supported by the Dean, the Dean of Students, and the Alumni Relations office. Funding decisions are made by a student committee led by the Student Forum Professional Development Chair, with oversight from Student Affairs staff. Generally applications received far exceed the amount of funds available to award. Funding takes place in two rounds, one at the start of each semester. Application procedures and deadlines are posted to the student email announcement list. Please note that the fund is generally not able to consider late applications.
Grants are awarded up to $500 per student. Students who are awarded funds commit to providing a short written report upon their return from the event. The funding is awarded to cover travel between cities, lodging, and conference registration expenses related to the proposed conference. Incidentals such as cabs and meals are not covered. Funding is dispensed solely as a reimbursement for actual expenses paid, and is distributed upon submission of receipts. Awarded funds may not be transferred from one conference to another without prior written approval from the Student Forum Professional Development Chair, which should be obtained before purchases are made.
DDes students will only be eligible for the GSD Student Conference Fund if they have not yet both passed their general exam and defended their prospectus. After meeting both of these milestones, DDes students become eligible to seek funding through the Advanced Studies Program. DDes students should note that ASP funding has additional requirements and separate application procedures; questions should be directed to the Advanced Studies Program office.
PhD students are matriculated at GSAS and are not eligible for the GSD Student Conference Fund. GSAS and its Graduate Student Council have funds for which PhD students can apply. Additionally, the GSD Advanced Studies Program office has some funding available for PhD students not yet eligible for those GSAS funds. Please inquire directly with the ASP office.
Students apply to the conference fund through an online application, which is announced over schoolwide email.
As a special note for Fall 2020, this semester's conference attendance fund will support registration for virtual conference attendance only, per Harvard's policies around travel during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Fund annually awards up to $50,000 in project funding for research proposals submitted by students at the GSD. The Call is open to all students across the Graduate School of Design, including collaborations across programs and disciplines—from graduate, postgraduate, and doctoral. In addition to the strong tradition of fieldwork, case research, and experimental intervention, the Fund will focus on and welcome projects that engage and advance the agency of landscape as activist, collaborative, and participatory medium.
The deadline for the receipt of the proposals is typically in early January each year.
For more information on eligibility please visit www.gsd.harvard.edu/pennywhite or contact the Fund Administrator in the Department of Landscape Architecture, Ryan Jacob (rjacob@gsd.harvard.edu).
Travel and Research Grants for Housing-Related Masters Theses
The Joint Center for Housing Studies is offering grants that will help offset travel and other research-related expenses for GSD students writing a master’s thesis on a topic related to housing or community development
The deadline is typically mid-November via Harvard’s CARAT system
Contact: James Chaknis, the Joint Center's Communications and Outreach Coordinator at james_chaknis@harvard.edu.
Edward M. Gramlich Fellowship in Community and Economic Development
The Edward M. Gramlich Fellowship in Community and Economic Development is co-sponsored by NeighborWorks America and the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS). The program provides graduate level Harvard University students the opportunity to spend a summer on an analytical project suitable for publication as a working paper, while working directly with Joint Center faculty and NeighborWorks staff. Students will have the opportunity to present their research in Washington, D.C. at a policy briefing arranged by the Joint Center.
Apply through CARAT.
Rappaport Institute Public Policy Summer Fellowship
The Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston encourages graduate students to spend part of their careers in public service through a paid, 10-week summer internship in key state and local agencies in the Greater Boston area. Fellows, who represent all graduate schools in Greater Boston, participate in a weekly seminar series with leading practitioners and scholars.
Stipend: $7,000
Deadline: Typically mid-January every year
Contact: Polly O’Brien
Presidential Public Service Fellowships
Harvard University President Drew Faust, with the generous support of an anonymous donor, has established the Presidential Public Service Fellowship Program to provide funding to students interested in pursuing public service work during the summer. Ten fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis each year to a cohort of undergraduate and graduate students participating in a broad range of activities, including government and community service, non-governmental organization and non-profit work, and innovative projects that serve the common good.
Stipend: $8,000
Deadline: Typically early February every year
Contact: pres_fellowships@harvard.edu
Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center Student Initiatives and Independent Study
HKS Indonesia Student Research Grants
The HKS Indonesia Program offers student research grants to Harvard University students to support independent research or other forms of study conducted in Indonesia. Such grants allow students to compete for grant assistance for their independent projects in Indonesia. GSD students have been awarded grants in the past.
Award: Variable, based on expenses
Deadline: Early April; Annually at the end of October for J Term
Contact: Trisiawati Bantacut
Ash Center China Programs Student Research Grants
The China Programs encourage and assist students with an interest in China from Harvard Kennedy School and from across Harvard University by supporting internships, independent research, and other forms of study conducted in China.
Award: Varies
Deadline: Annually at the end of October for JTerm
Contact : Laura Ma
David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS) Travel Grants Program
Apply through CARAT
Term-Time Research Travel Grants
Supports undergraduate and graduate students completing final stage thesis, dissertation or thesis-equivalent research, related to Latin America and the Caribbean that requires travel during the academic year (winter break). Research proposals are accepted from all disciplines, but must be directly related to the region.
Award: Varies
Summer Research Travel Grants
Supports undergraduate and graduate or professional students conducting research related to Latin America and the Caribbean. Research proposals are accepted from all disciplines, but must be directly related to the region. Preference is given to advanced students conducting thesis or dissertation research.
Award: Varies
Deadline for Graduate Students: Typically Mid-February each year
Conference Travel Grants
Grants of up to $300 per year are available to graduate students traveling to conferences to present papers on Latin America.
Award: Up to $300
Deadline for Graduate Students: 1st of every month until funds last. Students are requested to submit applications at least one month before conference date.
DRCLAS contact: Lorena Gonzalez
The South Asia Initiative Graduate Funding Opportunities
Apply through CARAT
Graduate students from across Harvard University are welcome to apply for South Asia Initiative (SAI) internship and research grants. Students must be continuing at Harvard the following academic year. These internships should be a minimum of 8 weeks. Preference is given for funding for an internship at a SAI partnered organizations. SAI grants are available to Harvard Graduate Students across all disciplines for three opportunities.
Explore Language Study Grants, Research Grants, and Internship Grants.
Additionally, the Seed for Change Fund will develop a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in India through an annual competition run by the Harvard University South Asia Institute (SAI), in which grant prizes will be awarded to interdisciplinary student projects that positively impact societal, economic, and environmental issues in India.
January Term funding is also available. GSD students were among the 2014 SAI Winter Session Grant Recipients.
Awards: Vary
Deadlines: Typically mid-February each year
Contact: Nora Maginn
Center for African Studies Graduate Student Grants and Fellowships
Apply through CARAT
The Harvard University Center for African Studies offers funding to Harvard graduate students traveling to Africa for thesis research, internships, or study abroad. Grants require a minimum stay of eight weeks in Africa. January Term grants for a stay of three weeks are also available.
Award: Cost of round-trip travel and a modest stipend
Deadline: Typically mid-February each year
Contact: Center for African Studies
Additional Travel Fellowships and Travel Funding Resources
Hart Howerton Fellowship (Urban Planning, Landscape Architecure & Architecture)
Each summer, Fellowships allow the firm to employ several students in planning, architecture and/or landscape architecture under a single program, mirroring our firm’s dedication to the working integration of those disciplines in how and what we design. The Fellowship also provides a component of funded travel for research on a topic that each Fellow selects. As a result of the Fellowships, schools have had the ability to graduate students with the added advantages of professional office experience, collaborative, interdisciplinary design, and worldwide travel and research. Locations in San Francisco and New York.
Deadline: Typically in early January each year
Compensation: $10,000 Compensation for the 11-week Fellowship office internship and travel period / $5,000 to cover travel expenses during the 3-week travel period / $2,500 for housing assistance in New York or San Francisco during the 8-week Fellowship / Round trip travel to SF or NY at start/end of the program
Eligibility: Available to undergraduate and graduate students in planning, architecture, landscape architecture or urban design who will be entering their final year of study in September 2018
Contact: fellowship@harthowerton.com
National Fellowship / Internship Opportunities of Special Interest to Planning Students
The Mayor's Office Fellowship Program is a wonderful opportunity for graduate students in any concentration who will be enrolled during the summer and are interested in local government and public policy. Fellows have the opportunity to learn about municipal government and participate in a unique, hands-on experience in the development of new policy and program initiatives. Participants research policies and evaluate their potential benefit to Chicago, draft memoranda for Mayor’s Office senior staff on upcoming issues and new initiatives, and participate in a variety of talks and tours that provide insight into how City government operates.
Selection Process
Each year, the Mayor’s Office participates in the two-step application process. Prospective Fellows should visit www.cityofchicago.org/mayorfellowship to begin the application process. Initial applications will be screened for qualification; the deadline to apply is in early November.
Applicants who are selected to move on to the Second Step of the application process will need to submit a written response to a policy problem and a personal statement to the Mayor’s Office directly. Applicants who reach the Second Step will also be interviewed and based upon the results of the interview process and written documents, a final selection of fellows will be made.
Candidates are selected on a nationwide basis from public and private colleges and universities and must be current students. Fellows are not classified as full-time employees. Residency in the City of Chicago is required upon starting the fellowship program. Relocation is at the applicant’s expense. Fellows are paid at a rate of $20 per hour.
International students must have an F-1 Student Visa and must be a full-time student.
For further information, please contact Margaret Gach, Director of the Fellowship Program at 312-744-5855 or margaret.gach@cityofchicago.org
San Francisco Planning Department Internships
The San Francisco Planning Department seeks Planning Interns to work with Planning Staff on a variety of planning projects. Specific internships vary as needed and are not yet announced. Typically three paid and eight unpaid internships. No information is available yet for 2019.
URL for 2018 : https://dpla.wisc.edu/career/jobboard/san-francisco-planning-department-summer-2018-internship-program
Applications are due mid-February each year.
Compensation: $26.25 per hour, 40 hours per week
Contact: CPC.InternshipProgram@sfgov.org
Education Pioneers Graduate School Fellowship
Summer Fellowship connects Fellows with a high-impact placement opportunity at a leading education organization, where you can drive critical work on a defined project over 10 consecutive weeks.
Program: Early June to August
Application Due: mid-December for priority round, mid-February for final round
Stipend: $7,200
Contact: recruiting@educationpioneers.org
New York City Department of City Planning Summer Internship Program
The NYC Department of City Planning (DCP) is responsible for New York City's physical and socioeconomic planning, including land use and environmental review; preparation of plans and policies; and provision of technical assistance and planning information to government agencies, public officials, and community boards. The Department seeks talented undergraduate and graduate students with a focus on planning, urban design, technology or related fields for summer internships. Interns may work in the borough planning offices as well as in functional planning departments including Transportation, GIS/Internet Technology, Strategic Planning, Planning Coordination, Zoning and Urban Design, Land Use Review and Technical Review.
Stipend: Some internships are unpaid (students are eligible to apply for Community Service Fellowship (CSFP) funding)
Deadline: TBD
Contact: dcprecruit@planning.nyc.gov
URL: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/planning/about/employment-opportunities.page
2019 Summer Program Information is not yet available.
Compensation: Compensation ranges are determined by the individual agencies. Some internship positions are unpaid and some offer volunteer, work study, or academic credit for work experience at their agency. Others may provide a ‘Travel Stipend’ for participants with the program. Please refer to the specific internship description for details.
New York City Urban Fellows Program
The Urban Fellows Program is sponsored by The City of New York and administered by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). The program is designed to introduce America's finest college students and graduates to local government and public service.
URL: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcas/html/work/program_info.shtml
Program: 9 months from September to May
Compensation: a stipend of $30,000 (health insurance excluding dental and vision is included)
Application Deadline: mid-January each year
Eligibility: Receive(d) their bachelor's degree prior to the start of the Fellowship (Eligibility is not based on when you achieved your Master's Degree)
NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
(212)-386-0058 or email us via the form
Phillip D. Peters Regional Planning Fellowship Program
In conjunction with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), this Chicago, IL Fellowship is awarded annually each spring to a qualified graduate student in a field related to regional planning. The objective is to open the Fellowship to a broad range of applicants representative of the full scope of regional planning. A three-month/400-hour work experience at CMAP is provided under the guidance and mentoring of a senior staff member.
Information for 2019 is not available yet
URL for 2018 Information: http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/documents/10180/0/Phillip+D+Peters+Fellowship+Announcement+2018+Revised+%282%29.pdf/79e3c0a9-b2d4-407e-daec-f5942fbb4599
Deadline: Annually in February
Compensation: $18.00 per hour
Contact: Yesenia Ambriz at 312-386-8660 or yambriz@cmap.illinois.gov
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is part of the United States Department of Transportation and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with field offices across the United States. We pursue excellence in all our endeavors. As pioneers and innovators in cutting-edge highway technologies, we provide leadership, in cooperation with our partners, to enhance the country's economic vitality, quality of life, and environment.
The FHWA Internship Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job in the civil service. Additional information about the Internship Program can be found at www.usajobs.gov/studentsandgrads/.
The FHWA Professional Development Program (PDP) is an entry-level career development program that provides an excellent opportunity to begin your professional career with the FHWA. There are exceptional careers for talented people at FHWA. We hire the best, the brightest, and the most committed people to help us carry out our mission. FHWA is looking for exceptional college graduates with a bachelors or masters degree for the PDP in a variety of disciplines.
HUD Student Interns Program
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Interns Program was created with you in mind. HUD is always interested in finding talented people who have the skills needed to meet our future employment needs. Through a variety of programs, the HUD Intern Program is designed to help recruit and attract exceptional individuals to a broad spectrum of occupations within HUD. The program offers interns professional experiences and formal training opportunities that are tailored to meet their educational and professional goals and interests. View current student opportunities.
Stipend: Varies; Paid & Unpaid
Deadline: Varies
Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups (STIPDG)
The Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups (STIPDG) provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and skills that will complement your academic pursuits. This hands-on program is designed to mentor and cultivate tomorrow's leaders, strengthen their understanding of the transportation industry and prepare them for future public service opportunities.
The STIPDG is a paid internship program open to all qualified candidates without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation or age. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
The STIPDG accepts students from any and all academic majors.
Internship Period: June – August
Application Deadline: Mid-January each year
Compensation: Stipend not-to-exceed $5,000
Greenlining Summer Associates Program
The Academy Summer Associate Program is an intensive, 10-week development program for young leaders who have completed, at minimum, their undergraduate degrees by the start of the program. Associates learn about issues impacting California and the nation and manage research and advocacy projects under the direction of a Greenlining staff member.
The learning environment is based on combining experiential learning opportunities, individual development and team participation. Each Summer Associate experience is unique and is shaped by the current policy focus of their program area. Associates present their findings and projects in both a written and oral report at the end of the program.
Compensation: $5500 total stipend
Eligibility: Completed undergraduate degree by program start date
Application opens in mid-November