How To Apply

As part of the Visiting Scholars Program, 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 programs, including seminars, conferences, and other academic activities.
• Have a desk in a shared office space at CES in Adolphus Busch Hall.
• 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. This process does not require a separate application.

• German Kennedy Memorial Fellowship
• Guido Goldman Fellowship
• John F. Kennedy Memorial Fellowship
• Ramón Areces Fellowship

Note: Applicants who have been accepted to the Visiting Scholars Program and 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 application materials in English. Applicants to the Visiting Scholars Program who would like to be considered for fellowships offered by CES will have the opportunity to indicate this in the online application.

The deadline for submission of complete applications is December 12, 2025.

• Cover letter explaining your academic work and interest in the program.
• Curriculum vitae.
• 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.
• A 250-word biography.
• 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.
• Two letters of recommendation submitted directly by the referees via the online application portal.
  • Note: Applicants for CES fellowships must submit three letters of recommendation.

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 January 2026.
• 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.