The Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice, administered by the Commonwealth Fund, is a prestigious career development program. Originally established in 1925 as a "reverse Rhodes Scholarship," it provides midcareer professionals with the opportunity to spend up to 12 months in the United States. Fellows engage in internationally comparative research on health policy and practice, working alongside leading U.S. experts to address critical healthcare challenges and drive system-level change.
Quick Summary Box
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Sponsoring Body | The Commonwealth Fund |
| Program Name | Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice |
| Target Audience | Midcareer health professionals, researchers, and policymakers |
| Location | United States (various academic and clinical institutions) |
| Duration | 10 to 12 months, beginning August or September 2027 |
| Financial Support | $8,500 USD monthly stipend, plus travel and research funding |
| Application Deadline | November 1, 2026, at 1:00 pm (for the 2027–28 cycle) |
Opportunity Overview
The fellowship focuses on advancing health care access, quality, efficiency, and equity. During their year in the United States, fellows investigate innovative policy solutions and engage in robust cross-national collaboration. The program includes a comprehensive series of leadership development activities, an orientation seminar in New York City, and in-depth reviews of state health policy. Ultimately, fellows emerge with a deep understanding of the U.S. healthcare system and a strong international professional network.
Benefits
- Monthly Stipend: Fellows receive a comprehensive living stipend of $8,500 USD per month.
- Research Funding: Dedicated financial support is provided specifically for the proposed research project.
- Travel and Relocation: The award includes round-trip airfare to and from the United States, alongside relocation assistance.
- Health Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance coverage is supplied for the duration of the fellowship.
- Tax Coverage: The fellowship covers the payment of applicable U.S. federal and state withholding taxes.
- Family Supplement: Additional financial supplements are available for fellows who are accompanied by a partner and/or dependent children under the age of 18.
Eligibility Criteria
- Residency Requirement: Applicants must be established residents of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, or the United Kingdom.
- Visa Eligibility: Candidates must be eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 Exchange Visitor-Research Scholar visa.
- Career Stage: The program specifically targets midcareer professionals who demonstrate significant promise as policy-oriented healthcare leaders.
- Professional Commitment: Applicants must be strongly committed to continuing their careers in their home countries following the fellowship.
- Demonstrated Expertise: A proven track record of informing health policy through research, policy analysis, care delivery, or clinical leadership is mandatory.
- Age Flexibility: There is no official age requirement or limit for applicants, though the program is optimized to impact the trajectories of midcareer individuals.
Eligible Healthcare Professions
- Clinical leaders and active healthcare practitioners.
- Academic investigators and health services researchers.
- Government policymakers and policy analysts.
- Health care executives, hospital managers, and insurance managers.
- Health and medical journalists.
IMG/International Applicant Considerations
- Targeted Nations: This program is strictly limited to residents of the nine participating countries and does not support applicants from outside these specific regions.
- Visa Administration: Fellows are required to enter the U.S. on a J-1 visa. Spouses and dependents will enter on a J-2 visa.
- Partner Limitations: Unmarried partners must enter on a B-2 visitor visa, which does not grant any work authorization in the United States.
- Dual Relevance: The applicant's proposed research must explicitly hold relevance for both the U.S. health system and the applicant's home country.
Required Documents
- Statement of Professional Objectives: A document outlining the applicant's career goals and fellowship expectations.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): A comprehensive overview of the candidate's professional and academic background.
- Preliminary Proposal: A detailed outline (up to five pages, excluding references) of a policy-oriented research project that aligns with the Fund's core interests.
- Work Products: Three distinct examples of written work, such as journal articles or reports (with brief descriptions required for unpublished pieces).
- Letters of Reference: A total of three letters requested via the application system: one institutional reference from a senior leader and two professional references validating past work and future potential.
Application Process
- Portal Submission: The 2027–28 application cycle officially opens on June 1, 2026.
- Reference Coordination: Applicants must independently initiate requests for all three reference letters within the digital application system. It is the applicant's sole responsibility to ensure these are submitted by the deadline.
- Review Phase: Submissions are thoroughly evaluated by Commonwealth Fund staff and national expert panels.
- Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for either virtual or in-person interviews, scheduled between January and February 2027. In-person interviews for UK applicants will take place in London.
Tips to Increase Your Chances
- Align with Fund Priorities: Ensure your research proposal directly addresses the Commonwealth Fund's focus areas, such as health equity, care access, and system efficiency.
- Secure Strong References: Select professional referees who can robustly speak to your leadership capabilities and the specific value of your proposed project.
- Prove Data Availability: If your proposal relies on quantitative research, explicitly demonstrate that the necessary data sets are both available and accessible to you.
- Request Letters Early: Initiate your reference requests as early in the process as possible to guarantee all letters arrive before the strict deadline.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying from an Ineligible Country: Submitting an application if you are not an established resident of one of the nine participating nations will result in disqualification.
- Missing the Reference Deadline: Failing to track reference submissions can ruin an application, as all three letters must be filed by November 1.
- Lack of Comparative Focus: Proposing a project that solely addresses the U.S. system without drawing clear, actionable parallels to your home country's policy landscape.
Application Timeline
- June 1, 2026: Online application portal officially opens for the 2027–28 fellowship year.
- November 1, 2026: Strict closing deadline for application materials and all reference letters.
- December 2026: Applicants are formally notified regarding interview decisions.
- January – February 2027: Interviews are conducted and final Harkness Fellows are selected.
- August – September 2027: The 10-to-12-month fellowship year officially begins in the United States.
Deadline
- November 1, 2026 at 1:00 pm (for all participating countries).
FAQs
- Q: Can I apply if I am not from one of the listed countries? A: No, the fellowship is strictly limited to established residents of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
- Q: Can my spouse work while in the U.S.? A: Yes, if your spouse is legally married to you, they will enter on a J-2 visa and can apply for U.S. employment authorization. However, nonmarried partners on a B-2 visa are not eligible to work.
- Q: Will I receive feedback if my application is rejected? A: The Commonwealth Fund does not provide critiques or feedback on declined applications. However, qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to reapply in future cycles.
Official Link(s)
Final Thoughts
The Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice offer a transformative platform for midcareer professionals seeking to shape the future of global healthcare delivery. By providing comprehensive financial backing, high-level mentorship, and an immersive 10-to-12-month policy experience in the United States, the program equips fellows with the insights needed to implement critical system-level changes. With the 2027–28 application cycle opening in June 2026, prospective candidates in eligible countries should begin designing their comparative research proposals and securing their institutional recommendations now.
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