If you have any questions that are not addressed below, please reach out to the Fellowships Team at fellowships(at)chs.harvard.edu.
What are the degree requirements?
The degree requirements for all three of the fellowship opportunities (Fellowships in Hellenic Studies, Early Career Fellowships in Greece and Cyprus, and Summer Fellowships) is a PhD or it’s equivalent but July 1 of the academic year prior to the start date of the fellowship.
Does the CHS offer fellowships to non-US citizens?
Yes. The Center for Hellenic Studies sponsors J1 visas for fellows (and, when possible, J2 visas for accompanying legal dependents) who meet the following requirements from the state department website: http://j1visa.state.gov/programs/professor-and-research-scholar. Determining visa eligibility is the responsibility of the prospective fellow; all non-US citizens are strongly urged to check their prospective visa status for the requested period of the Fellowship prior to applying. Please scroll down for more information about the visa process.
What is the process of obtaining a J-1 Visa?
The fellow and the CHS representative complete forms regarding the fellow’s background and fellowship appointment via ISD, the HIO’s online system. The fellow uploads scans of her/his passport and most current academic degree. The fellow provides proof of English proficiency by submitting documentation.
The HIO advisor prepares the fellow’s DS-2019 form and sends it to the fellow.
After the fellow receives the DS-2019 form, the fellow pays the SEVIS fee (https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html) and prints out the PDF receipt. The $220 fee is required for all J-1 visas and the CHS will reimburse fellows for this fee.
The fellow applies for the visa, pays the $160 application fee (also reimbursable by CHS), and schedules an appointment at the US consulate to receive the actual visa.
When going to the consulate, the fellow must have both the DS-2019 form and the SEVIS fee receipt. The fellow should contact the consulate to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. There is often a month-long wait time for an appointment.
Once the visa is stamped into the fellow’s passport, the fellow may enter the United States up to 30 days before the official start date on the visa. The fellow should travel with all relevant documentation including a passport, SEVIS fee receipt, and DS-2019 forms for all family members.
As soon as possible after arrival, the fellow contacts the HIO and confirms their arrival. The HIO advisor will activate the fellow’s SEVIS records in the government database and sign the travel validation on the original DS-2019 form. The advisor will also sign the travel validation on dependents’ DS-2019 forms.
Does a bibliography or footnotes count towards the overall count?
No, they do not.
Can I provide more than three academic references?
Please provide only three references. Due to the large volume of applications, we may not be able to thoroughly review additional references.
When can I expect to hear a decision?
Fellowship award announcements will be announced in January every year.
My application was not selected. Can I receive feedback?
Due to the large volume of applications, the CHS is unable to provide comments on individual applications.
Does the CHS provide housing?
Yes, the CHS offers a variety of furnished housing accommodations, assigned based on if a fellow is coming alone or bringing family. All fellows are guaranteed housing, however, housing for larger families is limited.
Can fellows bring their families?
Yes, fellows may bring their families. However, housing for families is limited, the CHS reserves the right to decline housing partners and children depending on housing availability. We regret that we may not be able to accommodate everyone.
Is there a residency requirement?
The fellowship award (Hellenic Studies and Summer Fellowship) comes with a residency on campus. If a fellow is local and accepts the award then they do have the option to commute. This being said, the CHS expects any fellows who choose to live off campus to make the effort to come to campus and participate in any programming, and foster the academic community as much as possible.
Is a travel reimbursement provided?
The CHS offers a one-time roundtrip reimbursement for residential fellows and their families. The cost of travel covered by the CHS varies depending on the continent the fellow is traveling from.
What workspaces are given?
All fellows receive a private office within the main building equipped with bookshelves, a desk, computer monitor and keyboard, phone, and office chair. Fellows are expected to bring their own laptop. All residences come with an office desk too.
Does the CHS provide lunch and other meals?
Lunch is provided to fellows Monday through Friday 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the dining room, it is buffet style. Spouses of fellows are allowed to join for lunch on Fridays. Children are not permitted in the main building or dining room under any circumstances.
All residences come with a fully equipped kitchen (all utensils and kitchen tools are provided) so that fellows may prepare other meals.
Lunch is the only meal provided at the CHS.
Are pets allowed?
Pets are prohibited on campus and within all accommodations and the main building. Service animals are permitted in accordance with the ADA.
Does the CHS provide health insurance?
The CHS requires fellows to have health insurance coverage for the duration of their residency. Residential fellows and their families (married spouses or legal domestic partners, and children under 21) are eligible to enroll in the CareFirst health insurance Blue Choice Opt Out policy provided by the CHS for the duration of their residency. During the enrollment process, fellows must select a primary care physician.
Due to its proximity, the CHS refers fellows to GW Medical Faculty Associates Immediate and Primary Care in Cleveland Park. If fellows choose to secure health insurance coverage through their home institution or through companies in their home country, the CHS will cover up to 85% of their premium. Fellows will be responsible for the remaining portion of the premium.
Harvard provides Medical Evacuation and Repatriation insurance to all fellows on J-1 visas.
Is there a smoking policy?
Smoking is not permitted in any building, house, or apartment. Designated smoking areas with ash trays are around the main building and the stoa.
Public Transportation?
The nearest bus stops to the CHS are on either side of Massachusetts Avenue NW, near the intersection of Whitehaven NW and Massachusetts Ave NW. The N2, N3, N4, and N6 buses stop there and run from Farragut Square (serving the Red Line Dupont Circle and Blue Line Farragut West Metro stops) to Friendship Heights (serving the Red Line Tenleytown and Friendship Heights Metro stops).
The two nearest Metro stops to the CHS are both on the Red Line – one at Dupont Circle and one at Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan.
Can I bring a car?
Yes, all residences come with a parking space, there is also general parking in front of the main building.