Kuwait Visiting Scholars Fellowship | Call for Applications

Applications are open for the Kuwait Program Visiting Scholar Fellowship. Harvard Kennedy School’s Middle East Initiative hosts this program. It brings senior Kuwaiti scholars to campus for one semester or a full year. Fellows tackle critical public policy challenges facing Kuwait and the Gulf region.

Program Snapshot

• Host Organization: Middle East Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School
• Funding: $10,000 monthly stipend, plus travel support
• Duration: One semester or one academic year, for 2027-2028
• Funder: Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS)
• Eligibility: Senior policy-oriented scholars from or based in Kuwait
• Application Deadline: December 1, 2026

Focus Areas

• Health and education policy
• Energy, environment, water, and food security
• Digital transformation and artificial intelligence
• Evidence-based public policy for Kuwait and the Gulf

About the Fellowship

This fellowship advances rigorous, evidence-based solutions to regional policy challenges. Scholars choose one of two activities during their residence. They may lead a four-to-seven-session study group for Harvard students. Alternatively, they may pursue an independent research project, ideally with a Harvard faculty collaborator.

What Fellows Receive

Fellows receive a $10,000 monthly stipend throughout their residency. They also receive travel support to and from Harvard. Fellows gain access to Harvard’s libraries and academic resources. Their work may become a published Kuwait Program report or scholarly paper.

Who Can Apply

Applicants must be senior, policy-oriented scholars or faculty. They must be from Kuwait, reside there, or hold Kuwaiti institutional affiliation. Priority goes to proposals addressing the listed policy areas. Proposals should clearly connect to Kuwait and the Gulf region.

Required Materials

Applicants submit a CV and a three-to-five-page proposal. A writing sample under 50 pages must include a 300-word abstract. Generative AI cannot be used to write it. Three recommenders must submit letters by December 15, 2026.

How to Apply

Applications opened October 1, 2026. Submit yours before December 1, 2026.

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Conclusion

This fellowship offers senior Kuwaiti scholars a generous platform for policy-relevant research at Harvard. Its stipend and publication opportunities support meaningful, lasting scholarly impact. Decisions arrive by February 27, 2027. Confirm full requirements through the Belfer Center’s official fellowship page.

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