The Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships, located on the second floor of
77 Dunster Street, coordinates most of Harvard’s fellowship competitions for undergraduates, and nearly all competitions that require institutional nomination to external programs. The office maintains up-to-date information on these and other programs, as well as on grantsmanship concerns.
Office Hours and Contact Information
| Office hours: |
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday
|
| Mailing address: |
Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships
54 Dunster Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
|
| Telephone numbers: |
(617) 495-8126 (main number, equipped with voice mail)
|
| Email: |
OPNFellowships@fas.harvard.edu
|
| Staff members: |
Jeffrey M. Berg, Assistant Director of Fellowships
Gregory Llacer, Director of Fellowships
Gwendolyn Thomas Volmar, Fellowships Coordinator
|
Office Policies
Archives
All application materials submitted to the Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships will be held on file for three calendar years after the submission date. File materials for fellowship recipients will be held in perpetuity through the Harvard University Archives. File materials for unsuccessful applicants will be destroyed after three years.
Eligibility
While OCS serves students and alumni of Harvard Colleg, GSAS, and Harvard Extension School, the Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships administers competitions only for students and alumni of Harvard College.
Late Applications
Application deadlines are strictly enforced. Deadlines are published in the
Fellowships Calendar each year and on every application form. As a policy, the Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships will not accept late applications. Exceptions must be appealed in advance, and with a written explanation from the applicant’s resident dean.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation submitted for a particular competition are not transferable to other competitions. The office will not release copies of recommendations to an applicant’s House file without the express consent of the recommender.
Letters of Recommendation—Waivers of Rights of Access
In compliance with FERPA, the Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships allows students the choice to waive their rights of access to letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf. If a student decides not to waive their rights of access, that letter is considered available for the student to view.
Mock Interviews
Because Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships staff members sit with all selection committees, the office is unable to offer mock interviews for Harvard competitions.
Multiple Awards
In all competitions the Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships administers, individuals who receive multiple awards are expected to notify the office (and any other sponsoring organizations) of this fact to avoid possible conflicts in expectations or obligations.
Public Access to Records
All applications for Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships competitions are submitted in confidence. The office will not release applicant names to any source outside OCS. Names of fellowship recipients, however, are considered public knowledge.
University Applications
When fellowship applications require independent application for admission to university programs, students must obtain the admission applications directly from the intended institution. The Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships does not keep copies of university applications on file.
Unsolicited Material
The Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships accepts only those materials required from applicants in each of its competitions. Unsolicited materials will not be accepted.
Fellowships Resources
Office of Postgraduate and National Fellowships Web Site
Information about fellowship competitions at Harvard and beyond—including the latest updates on application procedures and deadlines—is posted on this web site and updated throughout the year. In particular, look at:
- "Information Meetings and Workshops" for dates and locations of our information sessions
- "Application Deadlines" for a schedule of Fellowships Office competitions
- "Selected External Fellowship Competitions” for information about fellowships beyond Harvard
OCS Reading Room
The Reading Room on the first floor of OCS contains extensive information on grants and fellowships, most of which is located in Section B. Here you’ll find binders containing information from grant sponsors, interview reports from applicants, mid-term and final reports from recipients, and blank sample applications. You’ll also find many helpful print resources.
House Fellowships Advisors
While they are not Fellowships Office resources per se, every House has one or more tutors designated as House Fellowships Advisors, or HFAs. HFAs are invaluable sources of information and advice during the entire fellowship application process. Students should be certain to consult their HFAs well in advance of published fellowship deadlines, especially if a competition requires House or College nomination. House Offices and the Fellowships Office alike can provide HFA names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses.
