Harvard Launches Fellowship Program for Public Servants

Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) has launched a new initiative that aims to provide full scholarships for at least 50 public servants and military veterans to enroll for a one-year, fully funded Master’s degree.

The American Service Fellowship is the largest single-year scholarship program in the Kennedy School’s history, according to an HKS statement.

The fellowship is open to those who have served at least seven years in the U.S. armed forces, including veterans or active-duty military; in federal, state, or local government, including teachers and law enforcement; and/or in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and other full-time civilian service programs.

The Kennedy School will conduct a 50-state outreach effort to recruit “excellent students, with the goal of generating applications from every state in the country,” according to HKS, which said it anticipates roughly half of the fellows will come from military service, with half coming from other public service careers.

Those chosen for the fellowship “will demonstrate academic and professional excellence, a proven track record of strong leadership, and a deep commitment to public service,” the statement noted, adding that recipients will receive $100,000 as a part of this fellowship, covering tuition, fees and an additional stipend. The application will open in September (with the application fee waived for those applying for this fellowship), and applicants will be informed of decisions in spring 2026.

“From our military to our government to our classrooms to our police stations, America’s public servants dedicate their lives to improving the lives of others,” said Jeremy Weinstein, dean of Harvard Kennedy School, in a statement.

“In this moment of political division and major challenges in America, it’s never been more important to invest in the next generation of public servants. That’s what this fellowship is all about: helping train the current and future leaders of America, who have demonstrated throughout their lives that they are ready and willing to lead their communities and our country into the future.”