American Service Fellowship

The fellowship is open to public servants in the United States:
U.S. military veterans and active-duty military
Federal, state, tribal, and local public employees—including public school teachers, fire fighters, and police officers
Alumni of national service programs such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps
This new fellowship honors your service and helps you take the next step in your public leadership journey. You will learn from world-class Harvard Kennedy School faculty members, get the best public policy education in the world, and join a powerful network of change makers from across the country—each bringing a unique story, perspective, and commitment to impact. Most of all, you’ll learn how to tackle our biggest challenges and lead our country into the future.
About the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration Program
In this one-year, on-campus program, you will have the flexibility to choose from a range of courses and design your own study plan in consultation with HKS advisors and mentors. The program will connect you with a community of peers who are dynamic leaders and public servants from across the country and around the world.

Program highlights
Customizable curriculum
Mid-career peer cohort with a demonstrated commitment to public service
Access to Harvard-wide resources
Career support and leadership development

Who Should Apply
The American Service Fellowship welcomes mid-career professionals who have demonstrated leadership in public service, are looking to grow their skills, and are committed to making a lasting impact in their communities.

You may be a strong fit if you:

Have a minimum of 7+ years of public service experience in the United States, regardless of your nationality
Demonstrate excellent leadership skills and a track record of academic and professional achievement
Are ready to dedicate a year to full-time study on our campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Want to bring what you learn back to your community

How to Apply
To apply for the American Service Fellowship, you need to do two things:

Complete the application for admission to HKS’s MC/MPA Program. This application opens in early September and will be due on December 1, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) ET.
Complete the HKS financial aid application, which will be available to applicants later this fall and due on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 12 p.m. (noon) ET.
By following these steps, you will be considered for an American Service Fellowship. To get a head start on this process, you can visit our How to Apply page and fill out the Request for Information form. The application fee will be waived for those applying to this fellowship.