How To Apply

CES Visiting Scholars have the opportunity to:

• Advance their research objectives by accessing Harvard University’s resources, including the university library.
• Receive a Harvard University research appointment and have a Harvard email account and ID card granting full access to Harvard’s facilities.
• Present their research in the New Research on Europe Seminar (NROE) and receive feedback on work-in-progress from colleagues and faculty.
• Participate in CES programmatic activities, including seminars, conferences, and other academic activities. See the CES Events Calendar.
• Have a desk in a shared office space at CES in Adolphus Busch Hall.
• Receive technical support from CES IT Team. Please note that computers are not provided in offices and Visiting Scholars are encouraged to bring a laptop.
• Engage in research and academic discussions across Harvard University.
• Audit courses on campus with the permission of the instructor. For the list of course offerings, please visit the Harvard Course Catalog Directory.

Candidates applying to the Visiting Scholars Program can be considered for the following CES fellowships if they meet the requirements:

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Fellowship (for German Citizens)

• This 10-month fellowship is for German scholars. For full details see the John F. Kennedy Memorial Fellowship.
• While candidates for this fellowship submit their full applications online to the DAAD, CES oversees the selection process.
• The deadline for applications will be published in fall 2025.

The German Kennedy Memorial Fellowship (for EU Citizens)

• This 10-month fellowship is for citizens of EU countries who are not citizens of Germany. For more information, please see German Kennedy Memorial Fellowship.

The Ramón Areces Fellowship

• This 10-month fellowship is for citizens of Spain. For more information, please see Ramón Areces Fellowship.

Applicants who have been accepted to the Visiting Scholars Program who do not receive the above fellowships must demonstrate that they have secured academic funding.

Alternative Funding Sources

Former CES Visiting Scholars have benefited from external funding resources including:

• Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Feodor Lynen Fellowships)
• Fulbright Fellowships
• European Research Council
• Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
• UK Economic and Social Research Council
• Volkswagen Foundation (Schumpeter Fellowships)

The CES Online Application Portal requires the below items. Applicants to the Visiting Scholars Program who would like to be considered for the German Kennedy Memorial Fellowship (for EU Citizens) or the Ramón Areces Fellowship (for Spanish citizens) will have the opportunity to indicate this in the online application.

The deadline for submission of complete applications will be published in fall 2026.

• Cover letter explaining your academic work and interest in the program.
• Title of the research project and 150-word abstract.
• A four-page research proposal stating the title, purpose, methodology, and implications of the research to be conducted at CES. Proposals should include a one-page research timeline noting any period that requires time away from the Harvard campus.
• Current curriculum vitae.
• A 250-word biography.
• Two letters of recommendation submitted directly by the referees via the online application portal.
  • Note: Applicants for the German Kennedy Memorial Fellowship (for EU Citizens) and Ramón Areces Fellowship must submit three letters of recommendation.
• TOEFL scores or a brief, signed letter from the applicant attesting to fluency in spoken and written English must be submitted by candidates who have not received a degree from an institution where English is the language of instruction.

Processing Details:

• Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Application materials are evaluated by the CES Steering Committee.
• Applicants will be notified of the decision in late winter 2025.
• Acceptance as a Visiting Scholar is not final until approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Governing Boards of Harvard University.